Following on from their disaster of a season opener against newly promoted Sunderland, West Ham don’t have long to wait to try and put in an improved performance – world champions [Chelsea](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-vs-chelsea-preview-team-news-and-predicted-line-ups/) come visiting the London Stadium on Friday night. Important to stress that whilst West Ham sources claimed ‘we are on the floor’ with ultra-low morale, a trip around Blues supporters’ sites suggest Chelsea fans are a teeny bit wary of the trip to east London knowing that West Ham have a habit of turning it on against their West London neighbours.
It would be very ‘West Ham’ to deliver a similar performance to that which saw off the Gunners last season in a battling rearguard action at the Emirates.
One good news factor for Graham Potter is the return to availability of young striker Callum Marshall who impressed so much in pre-season. The 20 year old received a straight red card at the end of last season during his Huddersfield loan stint and so was suspended for the first game. Graham Potter’s words will come under scrutiny in his selection: often the Hammers’ manager has professed to want to offer youth its opportunity. However, remember this is the same Hammers manager who has restricted Ollie Scarles to a handful of appearances and selected Guido Rodriguez ahead of Freddie Potts, again impressive in preseason.
Potter surely has to ring the changes and bring his young talent forth on Friday night after the intense criticism of last weekend . A start for Potts is a must, considering how poor was Guido Rodriguez contribution at the Stadium of Light. Both he and Marshall have already proved they are ready to ‘hit the ground running’.
Time on the pitch for Callum Marshall- especially since the Irons are almost certainly going to be chasing the game – would at least win over the supporters and show that Potter is prepared to look to the future instead of continuing with the same old failed selection routine.