West Ham boss Graham Potter looking anxious, Dean Ashton in inlet.
Credit: Imago/talkSPORT
Declan Carr
Wed 27 August 2025 15:10, UK
Graham Potter’s spell at West Ham has been nothing short of miserable so far.
West Ham’s Carabao Cup loss to Wolves was their third defeat in as many matches this season, which has left Potter under significant pressure.
The West Ham boss will need a huge turnaround to appease David Sullivan, and the chairman may decide to relieve the ex-Chelsea man of his duties shortly.
West Ham may sack Potter by October if he cannot change his fortunes in a relatively quick fashion after the dismal start to the campaign.
West Ham owner David Sullivan watching his team in action.
Credit: Imago
Dean Ashton moots where it has gone wrong for Graham Potter at West Ham
West Ham’s transfer business under Sullivan is a major reason why Potter is struggling at the London Stadium.
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Former Hammers star Dean Ashton has sympathy for Potter’s situation and shares the view that the Irons’ dealings have played a part.
Speaking live on talkSPORT on 27 August (7:25 am), he said: “There is part of me that, not feels sorry for him, but ultimately he has inherited a side that was built for David Moyes then Julen Lopetegui.
“A team that sits there and defends, then counter-attacks, and he is not that, he is a manager that wants to play out from the back and get the team up the pitch.
“All of a sudden, the team, especially the defence, looks massively exposed, for the lack of athleticism in the side, aggression and desire, that is a big worry.”
David Sullivan needs to bring in the right players for Graham Potter
Sullivan has had a poor transfer window; while he has brought in the likes of Mads Hermansen, Malick El Hadji Diouf, Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters, it is nowhere near enough.
The issue is that Potter’s side is still lacking the kind of dynamic, technical players that Potter needs to make his system work in East London, especially in the engine room.
First team midfielders at West Ham:
James Ward-Prowse
Guido Rodriguez
Tomas Soucek
Freddie Potts
Andy Irving
George Earthy
If he cannot secure them before the 1 September deadline strikes, then it seems as though there will only be one likely outcome, with Potter heading for the exit door.
Whether the controversial chairman can seal deals for the players that the former Brighton man wants in the final knockings of the window remains to be seen, but if he fails to do so, it is nothing short of negligent, having had a whole summer to sort things out.
Potter will be the one who gets it in the neck, but Sullivan will have to take a huge portion of the blame for the mess that the Hammers find themselves in right now.
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