A leading Sky Sports pundit has launched a scathing attack on West Ham, insisting three of Graham Potter’s players were ‘non-existent’ and ‘may as well not be there’ after a disastrous start to the new season.
Graham Potter is feeling the heat again at West Ham – just one game into the new Premier League season.
Pressure was building on Potter during the second half of last season.
But he was given grace until he had a full-preseason under his belt and his own players in the door.
However, things looked worse than ever as the Hammers were thrashed 3-0 by newly-promoted Sunderland on the opening day.
The performance and result is all the more concerning considering Sunderland are of the teams many believe the Irons will be competing with to stay in the top flight this season.
A host of journalists, pundits and fans were tipping West Ham to be relegated this season before the season-opener at the Stadium of Light.
Potter’s side provided little evidence those predictions will be inaccurate as they shipped three woeful second half goals in shambolic fashion to bring memories of the last two seasons flooding back.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Pressure piles on Potter one game in after West Ham shambles
The narrative that West Ham’s summer business has been positive – as perpetuated by Potter himself who says he is ‘pleased’ with what the club have done in the transfer window – were quickly dismissed as the new season started in chastening style.
It means Potter has now won just five of his 20 games as West Ham manager.
The Englishman has the worst win percentage of any Hammers boss in history as things stand.
West Ham have now won just 15 of their last 58 Premier League games, a wretched run which charts back to January 2024.
West Ham lack power and power in attack with old, immobile strikers Niclas Fullkrug and Callum Wilson simply not cut out to compete in the increasingly competitive modern day Premier League.
Sunderland still have a Championship defence yet kept the Hammers alarmingly quiet.
Had it not been for Jarrod Bowen, West Ham would not have created anything at all.
West Ham's player apologise to the club's fans after the shocking defeat to Sunderland
Photo by Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Midfield is Potter’s biggest issue, yet it has been inexplicably neglected so far this summer as the head coach persists with sideways passing passenger James Ward-Prowse, who Hammers News understands has been made West Ham’s vice-captain.
West Ham’s defence has not improved one iota despite claims from Potter to the contrary.
He has naively reintegrated Nayef Aguerd who, like Ward-Prowse, was bombed out of West Ham on loan for a reason last season.
The Moroccan has already proved he is not up to it at Premier League level. He cannot cope with the physicality, pace and power of the English game.
He was expected to be one of the first out of the door this summer but now somehow finds himself starting again for the Hammers.
West Ham have three ‘non-existent’ stars says Sky Sports pundit
Unsurprisingly Aguerd once again struggled alongside West Ham’s totally unconvincing £72m duo Jean-Clair Todio and Max Kilman.
West Ham’s abysmal recruitment over the last few years is perhaps best illustrated by the fact the club has spent £102m on Aguerd, Kilman and Todibo.
Hammers News warned repeatedly in pre-season that West Ham’s defence was a major issue, highlighting that Potter had three centre-backs who cannot – and do not want to – head the football.
That was brutally exposed by Sunderland with two ridiculously soft headed goals conceded.
Aguerd was beaten to one by a player he had a clear height advantage on.
Todibo and Kilman were nowhere to be seen for the other with Lucas Paqueta failing to even mount a challenge.
Nayef Aguerd looks dejected after West Ham's defeat to Sunderland
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Throw in the fact the trio do not seem to have a backbone between them when the going gets tough and it is a recipe for disaster.
When there’s goals to be conceded by West Ham, Aguerd won’t be too far from the action.
Just as he proved when he formed a central part of the Hammers defence which conceded a club Premier League record 74 goals the season before last.
New signing Mads Hermansen started well but had a debut to forget as he could have arguably done better for all three goals.
Potter’s decision to throw him straight in when he has barely met his new teammates let alone trained or played with them looks seriously questionable.
A leading Sky Sports pundit who watched the Sunderland vs West Ham clash for Soccer Saturday has raised grave concerns over the Hammers’ Premier League status after what he witnessed.
Morrison: Aguerd, Todibo and Kilman ‘may as well not be there’
Clinton Morrison says West Ham have three ‘non-existent’ players who ‘may as well not be there’.
“West Ham have three big centre halves, they’re non-existent,” Morrison said on air.
“They might as well not be there because how you can’t mark (Dan) Ballard (Sunderland’s biggest aerial threat)?
“I don’t know how West Ham are letting Paqueta mark him at the far post, poor defending from West Ham.
“West Ham are in trouble this season.”
"West Ham have three big centre-halves, they're non-existent, they might as well not be there!"
Daniel Ballard doubles Sunderland's lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/B2fROUJtIP
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 16, 2025
View Tweet
Paul Merson called it during the summer that West Ham would be in a relegation battle.
Jamie Carragher went one further ahead of the opening game, going on record that he thinks Potter’s side will go down.
West Ham have two weeks to address glaring weaknesses in the team and squad.
Because there will be no gimmes this season like the last two where all three promoted sides went straight back down.