The coaching qualities of [West Ham’s manager](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-v-chelsea-graham-potters-team-news-with-one-surprise/) were shown out for what they really are, live in front of millions of Sky sports viewers last night. Whilst neutrals would have smiled and shaken their heads, fans of the three newly promoted sides, Leeds, Sunderland and Burnley must have been celebrating.
Like the tale of the emperor’s new clothes, Potter’s coaching and management skills have been found out. A load of puff and hype and fancy management-speak of “positivity”but naked and hollow behind the words.
Five wins in twenty one games: Potter now has a worse Premier League record than when he was fired from Chelsea. And I write as one who was ‘pro’ his appointment believing that he couldn’t be worse than Julen Lopetegui.
Wrong. As a coach he’s taken several overpriced, overpaid, bang-average players (with a few exceptions) and made them muddled, disjointed, un-coordinated and clueless. He’s sold one of the side’s talented mavericks more than likely because he couldn’t control him and the ownership needed the cash because they couldn’t run their affairs better.
After five wins in twenty games and a thrashing at the hands of local rivals, in days gone past we’d have woken up to news that Potter had done the decent thing and resigned and at least kept his dignity intact. News would have come from the club simply that a caretaker had been installed whilst a new Manager was found.
It doesn’t work like that now because Managers have such vast sums of money on the line by waiting to be sacked -and getting a multi-million payoff -that they will cling to the job every bit as ferociously as Kate Winslet’s character clung to the wreckage as the Titanic sank.
And sink the SS West Ham United will. Without action.
Sullivan can do one of two things – double down on his decision to back Potter with new signings in the next seven days, or fire him today, bring in midfield reinforcements and focus on finding someone to dig the club out of the mire. Again.
Do nothing, Mr Sullivan, and you’ll be playing into the hands of your co-investor across the Channel. Should he choose, Daniel Kretinksy can wait a year and pick up the rest of the shares for a controlling interest in this club for less than half their current value as the Irons slip into the Championship. Your call.
Will you send Potter’s mate Karren Brady out on another mission to pretend everything is ok and claim that ‘West Ham back their managers’ as if that is something to be proud of? Last night’s evidence is staring everybody in the face, much like a driver who ignores the red engine management light flashing wildly and _then being the only one shocked_ when the car disintegrates two miles down the road.
Or look beyond the short term implications of the ‘cost’ of paying Potter off and see the danger of ignoring the signs. Because much like the Emperor’s new clothes, everyone who watched that game last night saw the naked truth.