Much like Bill Clinton’s strategist who yelled ‘_it’s the economy, stupid_” as the big reminder of what needed focus ahead of the ’92 election, I found myself wanting to message [Graham Potter](https://www.claretandhugh.info/graham-potters-strengths-and-how-they-could-help-the-hammers-grow/) with a similar reminder:” _Its the midfield, stupid”._
So far the Irons have a new goal keeper (excellent), new left and right wing backs (good) and a new striker (no comment).
**New midfield? Nada.**
Freddie Potts in the first half at least offered Alvarez-type bite and looks as if he will be an improvement but he’s still learning his craft.
You’d hope Potter knows it, but after four signings the same midfield structural problems remain and were only too evident when the Manager made his second half substitutions. _The terrible trio of JWP, Soucek and Rodriguez_ were back and immediately Lille started to play straight through the middle.
The pace was so slow that at one stage, Fullkrug, tackling back actually overtook Rodriguez and Soucek in pursuit of the ball. I kid you not.
James Ward-Prowse is being selected on reputation alone and flatters to deceive as a play-making midfielder – but fails to move either himself or the ball fast enough. As one far cleverer fan than I put it on the forum I was plugged into: _JWP=Just Walking Pace._
West Ham desperately need a driving, fast, aggressive midfield ball player, _as was painfully evident all of last season as we watched in frustration, shouting ad infinitum at our TV screens._
Without a new midfield recruit, preferably two, and the disbanding of the ‘midfield that cannot run’_, expecting a different outcome from the same personnel becomes an ultimate exercise in football insanity._
_They’ve got to go. Time for Potter to get ruthless._