Pressing without the ball improved dramatically against Fulham, even without six first-team starters. Two of the three goals, credited by many as ‘Fulham mistakes’ actually evolved through pressing from Danny Ings and Edson Alvarez, creating those very ‘mistakes’ on which Soler and Paquetá capitalised. It seems the silent revolution of life under Graham Potter has begun. Gone are the last-minute changes in tactics which we’d reported as ‘making it up as he goes along ‘ under Julen Lopetegui. Gone are the frantic, unsettling knee-jerk wholesale changes in personnel and formation.
The first training session which Potter took with his squad set the tone for what was to follow, first against Aston Villa in the FA Cup and then more effectively against Fulham. As per the standard.co.uk:
Potter’s first session:”Focused on high-intensity pressing, set-pieces and opposition-specific threats, but was careful not to “overload” his players with too much new information or try to “reinvent the wheel”.
And with so much to do in order to put the Hammers’ train back on the track after the Lopetegui derailing, not surprisingly, Potter sought to NOT to overload the players, but still producing results as fans saw marked changes.
The re-appearance of Guido Rodriguez, too, shows that Potter is prepared in this time of crisis to re-mould and reintegrate those who we’d deemed as of only scrap value. The Former Betis free agent displayed a “marked improvement” according to the same report. Players which Lopetegui had alienated or mentally de-activated appear to be ready to come off the scrap-heap and step up their contributions.
It would seem that the Potter charm offensive and professionalism alone is pulling players away from the West Ham ‘want-away naughty step’ and back, integrated into a squad pulling in one direction. The next few games, of course, will reveal more, but there could be massive repercussions for the club and results if the team really does work as one.
So it will feel – even with no new signings at present – that several of these sidelined players are just as good as new ones, rejuvenated and now prepared to ‘run for the manager, the shirt, the fans and the club’ or however I wrote it after the Fulham final whistle.
Mohammed Kudus appeared to keep his feelings to himself as he was substituted after an hour against Fulham. Progress indeed.
What is next, I wonder, the rapid re-emergence of Jean-Clair Todibo as a world class central defender or Edson Alvarez going through the season without another yellow card?
Such is the early stage buy – in by the West Ham squad that I wouldn’t put it past either of them. Tomas Soucek alluded to the divided dressing room which would now seem to be healing nicely. With the return of Summerville, Bowen, Todibo and Areola on the horizon, there is much to be positive about.
