Journalist: West Ham considering Potter’s position after setbacks | OneFootball

West Ham’s Crisis Deepens as Graham Potter Faces Fan Revolt

When Graham Potter arrived at West Ham in January, there was quiet optimism that the former Chelsea and Brighton boss could steady a side that had drifted under Julen Lopetegui. Instead, the atmosphere at the London Stadium has turned toxic. Saturday’s dismal 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace sparked chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” and “You’re getting sacked in the morning”, the first time Potter has faced such open hostility from the home support.

The Athletic reports that Potter’s decision to substitute Mateus Fernandes for Soungoutou Magassa in the 78th minute proved the tipping point. The boos that had already rung out at half-time grew louder at full-time, with many fans leaving well before the whistle. West Ham’s position now looks perilous, with just one win from their opening five league games and four defeats leaving them 19th.

Results Paint a Grim Picture

Potter’s record since taking charge does little to inspire confidence. He has won just six of his 25 matches, a return that only Avram Grant has fared worse than in the club’s Premier League era. As The Athletic highlights, Karren Brady personally championed Potter’s appointment and backed it with a two-and-a-half-year deal, with no break clause. Yet with the club staring at a relegation battle, the mood has shifted dramatically.

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Defensively, West Ham have been alarmingly frail. They have shipped 13 goals already, seven from corners, the worst record in the league. Saturday’s loss summed up their issues when Jean-Philippe Mateta nodded home after Marc Guehi’s header hit the bar. For context, they conceded only eight from corners across the whole of last season.

Potter has struggled to settle on a system. He abandoned his wing-back shape after the 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest but the 4-2-3-1 formation has left the midfield pairing of Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse exposed. Maximilian Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos have been far from convincing at centre-back. Promising youngster Freddie Potts, who impressed in pre-season, has been limited to just 45 minutes of league action.

Dressing Room Concerns and Boardroom Calculations

One source quoted by The Athletic expressed sympathy for Potter, citing the difficult hand he has been dealt, but questioned the lack of a clear tactical identity. The atmosphere feels fractured, with defender Jean-Clair Todibo out of favour and £20 million goalkeeper Mads Hermansen dropped for the Palace game.

Asked about his job security, Potter said: “I have no reason to think not but I also understand the environment and the results. I understand we’re in a tough situation. We want to do better than we are and at the moment we’re not. We have to work, stick together and find those solutions.”

Yet patience is wearing thin. The Everton match could be decisive, with a daunting trip to Arsenal to follow before the international break. That window offers the West Ham board a natural point to make a managerial change should results not improve.

Nuno Espirito Santo Emerges as Potential Successor

The Athletic has reported that West Ham have sounded out potential replacements, with Nuno Espirito Santo at the top of the list. The former Nottingham Forest boss, who guided Forest to a seventh-placed finish and an FA Cup semi-final last season, is said to have held talks with the club.

Adding fuel to the speculation, a picture circulated of Nuno dining near David Sullivan’s home last week, further heightening fan intrigue. While the authenticity of the photo cannot be verified, it has intensified the sense that change may be coming.

Relegation Fears Loom Large

West Ham have been here before, battling at the wrong end of the table with a squad that should be performing better. The contrast with last season’s European campaign is stark and the fans’ patience appears exhausted. The next two weeks could determine whether Potter gets the chance to turn things around or whether the board decide that new leadership is required to avoid another relegation scrap.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

As concerned West Ham supporters, we cannot ignore the writing on the wall. “You’re getting sacked in the morning” was not just a chant, it was a cry of frustration. This side lacks an identity, shipping soft goals and looking beaten before half-time in too many games. The stats speak volumes, 13 goals conceded in five matches is relegation form and the set-piece defending is abysmal.

There is a sadness about Potter’s tenure, as many felt he deserved a fair chance after what happened at Chelsea, but his decision-making has been questionable. Leaving Freddie Potts on the bench while sticking with an ineffective midfield pairing has drained optimism.

Nuno Espirito Santo feels like a realistic and exciting option. He showed at Forest that he can organise a side and get results quickly. If West Ham act now, they could still salvage the season. Delay, and the trip to Arsenal could leave them adrift by the international break.

This is a club that prides itself on attractive football and defying the odds. Right now, it feels like we are sleepwalking into disaster.