Graham Potter’s monumental task at West Ham was laid bare last night as the Hammers suffered a defeat to Aston Villa. During the newly appointed mangers initial interviews, he twice referred to having to ‘look under the bonnet’ of the club.
Ordinarily, one would do this BEFORE buying a car but poor old Potter has just discovered his shiny new Hammers 4×4 is in need of more than just a new timing chain . . . we need a new engine.
The early stages of the game offered glimpses of promise, with West Ham’s new boss aiming to instil a playing style that is both front-footed and defensively sound. Some of the initial combinations involving Lucas Paquetá, Niclas Füllkrug, Mohammed Kudus, and Crysencio Summerville were impressive, hinting at potential building blocks for the team’s future.
However, Potter may already have concerns about key players. Füllkrug, unfortunately living up to his “injury-prone” reputation, is proving unreliable. Meanwhile, Paquetá jumped between being a creator and scorer to a theatrical prima donna, indicating why Potter might find it challenging to depend on him. Kudus displayed moments of selfishness that, while concerning, seem fixable; the Ghanaian international may benefit from Potter’s coaching to release the ball more quickly.
The reality for West Ham’s new manager likely dawned just before after the final whistle. Despite a summer spree that brought nine new signings, the squad remains in desperate need of reinvigoration and an overhaul.
There were bright spots, such as the bold deployment of Summerville at right wing-back and the impressive performance of young Ollie Scarles. These signs suggest that Potter has fresh ideas, but the aging squad he inherited needs significant rejuvenation. Realistically, five of the current starting XI will need replacing for West Ham to progress under Potter’s leadership
