Let’s deal with the elephant in the room first. What kind of team was that to send out in a knock-out competition. One attacker. one attacking midfielder. [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/wolves-v-west-ham-united-potter-reveals-starting-xi-for-carabao-cup-encounter/) setting up to play for penalties? Or did Graham Potter really think what turned out to be a line of nine defenders at some stages- was the best way to win away at Molineux.
For all the Manager’s fine words about playing youth – they all – Potts, Marshall, Orford, Scarles – sat on the bench. Three strikers on the bench and none on the pitch. Just when you think you’ve seen everything. This set up reeks of lack of ambition and lack of confidence.
Wolves rotated half a side and for most of the first half, both sides stumbled and mumbled without stringing decent moves together.
And West Ham still went in at half time behind thanks to Guido Rodriguez’ sloppy tackle gifting a penalty that went on at the second attempt after the spot kick cannoned back off the woodwork.
Soucek rose in the right place, at the right time early in the second half, arriving late in the box to a gorgeous Walker-Peters cross to thunder a header in for an equaliser. 1 – 1. A few minutes later Bowen, moving out to the right came up with a wicked whipped cross for Paqueta’s glancing header and suddenly the Hammers had come from behind.
Wolves then made their changes which changed the whole game, Jackson Tchatchoua, Matt Doherty, João Gomes and Jørgen Strand Larsen arriving and suddenly the West Ham defence was shown for what it was. Fragile. Potter needed to respond with changes of his own – as even the commentary team continually stressed – to get West Ham back into the game but just tweaked with Kilman for Aguerd. What?.Rabbit in the headlights.
West Ham then dropped, deeper and deeper in response to Wolves substitutions, giving possession away with the now customary capitulation: Two quick goals by Jørgen Strand Larsen put Wolves back ahead.(One of these being another virtually uncontested headed goal!).
West Ham 3-2 down, and finally, at 86 minutes, Potter makes changes and puts two strikers on the pitch and reverts to a back four. Too little too late.
This loss was on the West Ham manager whose set up, selection and tactics cost the Hammers dear. Again.
Potter looks out of his depth and it is a very tough watch: You can see some West Ham players – notably Paqueta, Bowen, Soucek, Diouf, and Kyle Walker Peters were all trying their hearts out. Bowen apparently had an altercation with a West Ham fan after the game – I’m sure we’ll hear more of that.