Potter Needs Patience Amongst Summer of Change at West Ham | OneFootball

It was just over a year ago that Julen Lopetegui arrived in the capital to take over a managerial seat previously heated up by David Moyes during his trophy-winning second spell at West Ham United. A year since the club released a motivational video on the eve of the 2024/2025 season opener in which Lopetegui embraced a ‘new story to be written in East London.’ Four months later, with nine defeats in 20 Premier League games, the 58 year-old was dismissed from his role.West Ham, having hit the reset button, heads into another top-flight season, a switch that has been kept in close proximity through recent years. The Hammers hierarchy was searching for their eighth manager since David Sullivan’s takeover back in 2010.

Graham Potter was given the job in January, following a break lasting almost two years after an underwhelming spell across the capital with Chelsea. The former Brighton and Östersunds manager, however, does need a quick start to the new season to keep the faith of the Hammers fans after a difficult beginning to life at London Stadium.

Early Struggles

Following his appointment at the start of 2025, 50 year-old Potter has lost nine of his first 19 matches in charge, a win rate lower than his Spanish predecessor, having overseen a few matches less.

Even the most successful coaches would have faced significant challenges given the dysfunctional squad they were inheriting. Despite Bowen’s presence, the players who were expected to be creative were hardly exhibiting the same level of performance as in previous years.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 15: Graham Potter, Manager of West Ham United, acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Everton FC and West Ham United FC at Goodison Park on March 15, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Mohammed Kudus seemed invisible at times, the recent move to Tottenham now potentially a sign his mind had been elsewhere ahead of a summer move. Brazilian playmaker Lucas Pacquetá too had a dip in form, not helped by a slow response from the FA regarding the betting allegations clouding over him. Michail Antonio, lucky to be alive following his car crash, was also ruled out for the season, dampening an already fragile front line.

The club were relying on new signing Nicholas Füllkrug for goals, the German coming back from a long injury layoff, as well as Danny Ings, who had scored just four goals for the club in 52 appearances.On the South coast, the English manager found success with fast, pacey attacking play at Brighton. A young team, mixed with intelligent signings, helped utilise the plan set in place, with the use of quick counterattacks and wing play.

As he assumed his role at West Ham, he encountered a midfield that lacked both pace and creativity. Tomáš Souček, Carlos Soler, James Ward-Prowse, and Edson Álvarez, who are as good as they can be, are not the ball carriers you would expect to see bursting forward to start an attack, with the midfield easily split open on too many occasions this season.

Financial Pressures

The club are still paying the price for a string of bad decisions last summer, ranging from the decision to appoint Lopetegui to the involvement of technical director Tim Steidten, as well as questionable recruitment ending with a net spend of £140 million on five players during last summer’s window. Worryingly, among the five players signed for large amounts, only two—Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Max Kilmann—became regular starters.

Potter has reunited with Kyle Mcauley, his head of recruitment since breaking into management back in 2012. The pair worked together at Brighton, where their signings helped to establish The Seagulls as a Premier League club, including the likes of Moisés Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, and Leandro Trossard. The summer transfer window will be Potter’s first opportunity to cherry-pick players he can work with, after the sole loan signing in January of Brighton youngster Evan Ferguson proved ineffective.The biggest issue for the pair? Being held back by a budget hampered by last year’s spending spree and the pressure of PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) with no European football income last season or forthcoming.

The sale of Kudus to Spurs, the first piece of business between the two clubs since Scott Parker’s move from East London to North London back in 2011, demonstrated the need to sell before any incomings can be finalised. Rumours within the club indicate a limited number of incoming signings.

Dubbed ‘The Academy of Football,’ there is a healthy contingent of youngsters available coming off the back of successful loan spells. 20-year-old George Earthy enjoyed a healthy loan spell at Bristol City last season, while Freddie Potts (Son of former Hammers player Steve Potts) was a prominent player in Portsmouth’s midfield.

The statistics since the Solihull-born manager’s arrival in comparison to Lopetegui have improved defensively, with the team now conceding fewer shots a game on average (14 compared to 16), as well as showing a lower xG (Expected goals) against ratio (1.4 compared to 1.8). The 2023/2024 season, Moyes’s final season in charge, saw the team concede 74 Premier League goals, making improving the defensive structure a priority. At the other end of the pitch, fans are struggling to get off their feet in excitement with a lack of attacking intent. The need for a prolific striker is still clear to see, with the team performing slightly worse in the final third with fewer shots per game (9.5 compared to 14.6), despite holding higher spells of possession (49% compared to 46%), during the second half of the campaign.With a key summer now upon us, West Ham’s first English manager since Sam Allardyce has the opportunity to work with the squad to ensure they are looking more towards the top half of the table.

Unless the team is lingering in the bottom three, Potter will need time from the Hammers faithful to establish his mark on a declining team, with the famous night in Prague now feeling like a distant memory.