Graham Potter

[stubbo]

https://www.whufc.com/news/graham-potte ... head-coach

​​​​​​In the past he's favoured a 3-4-3 formation...hard to see how we can do that currently with only 3 senior CBs, one of whom is injured. He's also played wingers (Solly March as an example) in the wing back roles.

Typically when a 3-4-3 gets announced on a match day the manager is immediately described as being too negative, too cautious etc. I guess it depends on the composition of the 4.

He's given young players chances...hopefully that continues at West Ham.

Welcome Graham.

 

[Gaffer58]

Definitely need an extra striker but also needs to be one for the next 2/3 seasons also.

[lowlife]

Yes - we definitely need a striker, I’m hoping (again) that Potter will have the power to veto any that are past their prime.

[Massive Attack]

I’d like to think he knows it’s imperative that we get a striker in, but was just playing it down / didn’t want to look or sound desperate.

Possibly. It's just the way he spoke about the alternatives in the Squad that suggested to me he thinks we have enough anyway to cope. Even though Ings himself is a ticking time bomb with his bad injury history as well, just like he did pulling up in the Leicester game 1st half. We need at least 1 new Striker in amd hopefully we can get one in, we need it in my opinion.

[lowlife]

I’d like to think he knows it’s imperative that we get a striker in, but was just playing it down / didn’t want to look or sound desperate.

[Massive Attack]

Always comes across well which is nice to see and says the right things. I think he'll get a very warm reception tomorrow night and it will set the game up nicely to take it to Fulham. 

He was asked if it was imperative to get in a Striker this window and said it wasn't. I disagree. I'm uneasy with just going with Ings and a couple of make shift Strikers to get us by till the end of the season, especially if we have ambitions still for Europe. Fullkrug, Bowen, Antonio are all long term out, so for me we have to get in a proper Centre Forward. Far too risky to leave it as it is thinking we can cope without one.

[happygilmore]

Encouraging hearing him say that, while a striker is needed he wouldn't get one in for the sake of it if the right player that can fit in is not available. 

Which is exactly the mistake we made giving Ings that big contract. 

[Russ of the BML]

We will need Kudus to be successful to an extent if he plays centrally, Summerville to return and Guilherme to make an impact wide right to give us an attacking outlet because without the outball second half we retreated too deep and invited Villa onto us. Ings was anonymous and like playing with 10 men at times.  Potter has got to come up with some innovative solutions from our threadbare squad and gawd help us if we get anymore injuries. 

 

The problem that Ings has had is that he’s been brought on in a straight swap with the striker (Antonio or Fullkrug) and absolutely nothing else has changed. Asking a nippy little finisher to do the hold up job of the big target man won’t ever work.

When Potter made his changes against Aston Villa he modified the shape and transitional movement at the same time. What he did with the defence was a bit weird and didn’t work but it makes me think that if he plays Ings up top (and he’s going to have to, isn’t he?) it won’t be as a lone target man in the way that Antonio and Fullkrug are used and he’ll make better use of our attacking players who aren’t strikers to play a system that brings the best out of them and Ings.

This is both a hope and an expectation but we’ll see soon enough.

Agreed. And it culminated on Ings getting two chances that should've won us the game. 

[Gank]

We will need Kudus to be successful to an extent if he plays centrally, Summerville to return and Guilherme to make an impact wide right to give us an attacking outlet because without the outball second half we retreated too deep and invited Villa onto us. Ings was anonymous and like playing with 10 men at times.  Potter has got to come up with some innovative solutions from our threadbare squad and gawd help us if we get anymore injuries. 

 

The problem that Ings has had is that he’s been brought on in a straight swap with the striker (Antonio or Fullkrug) and absolutely nothing else has changed. Asking a nippy little finisher to do the hold up job of the big target man won’t ever work.

When Potter made his changes against Aston Villa he modified the shape and transitional movement at the same time. What he did with the defence was a bit weird and didn’t work but it makes me think that if he plays Ings up top (and he’s going to have to, isn’t he?) it won’t be as a lone target man in the way that Antonio and Fullkrug are used and he’ll make better use of our attacking players who aren’t strikers to play a system that brings the best out of them and Ings.

This is both a hope and an expectation but we’ll see soon enough.

[Keep dreaming]

Two out of two press conferencees I haven't turned off after two minutes. Really hope this turns out well for all parties.

[scott_d]

I quite like the idea of giving the players a clean slate when a new manager comes in.

Let the new manager judge the players and whether they can do a job with the way he wants to set-up and play.

So Ings, Rodriguez, Mavropanos (just), I'm quite prepared to let them play the Potter way and then judge them.

[Manuel]

the thing I've always wanted is a manager that plays a system that ties in with the younger age groups, we have that now. I said when potter was confirmed that kodua should be recalled if possible, but obviously some of the younger lads are out for the full season. if we manage to sign the striker david who's in his final contract year (I don't want ferguson), we'll be set up nice for next season

Would love to get David, but talk is he's letting his contract run down and likely to join a CL club in the summer.

[Sir Alf]

We will need Kudus to be successful to an extent if he plays centrally, Summerville to return and Guilherme to make an impact wide right to give us an attacking outlet because without the outball second half we retreated too deep and invited Villa onto us. Ings was anonymous and like playing with 10 men at times.  Potter has got to come up with some innovative solutions from our threadbare squad and gawd help us if we get anymore injuries. 

[Takashi Miike]

the thing I've always wanted is a manager that plays a system that ties in with the younger age groups, we have that now. I said when potter was confirmed that kodua should be recalled if possible, but obviously some of the younger lads are out for the full season. if we manage to sign the striker david who's in his final contract year (I don't want ferguson), we'll be set up nice for next season

[El Scorchio]

I think most can see, or hoping of a vision of Potter getting the best out of what we have/blooding some youth/bringing some new bodies in/getting rid of some crap - if all that comes together by say August it could be good. A big job though.

Important though that we continue to see the improvement tomorrow. 

Agree. To be frank I’ve gone with this game from expecting a certain defeat and a poor disjointed performance to very optimistic of a good performance and three points. Obviously depending on the state of the squad and who we actually have available. Haven’t been this excited to rock up to the stadium for a very long time. 

[twoleftfeet]

Although it was a good first half for us, let's not forget that Villa were absolutely woeful in that first half. They were not much better in the second but still made their win look comfortable.

Potter has got his work cut out and will have to sail choppy waters.

Fingers crossed!

[Manuel]

I think most can see, or hoping of a vision of Potter getting the best out of what we have/blooding some youth/bringing some new bodies in/getting rid of some crap - if all that comes together by say August it could be good. A big job though.

Important though that we continue to see the improvement tomorrow. 

[El Scorchio]

Although it was a good first half for us, let's not forget that Villa were absolutely woeful in that first half. They were not much better in the second but still made their win look comfortable.

Potter has got his work cut out and will have to sail choppy waters.

Fingers crossed!

But first half l, were Villa so bad because we were so good? It's rare both teams play well when part of the job is to stop the other team playing.

Exactly. We took it to them and didn’t let them settle. So refreshing to see the complete opposite to a Moyes setup where we just immediately concede the ball and 3/4 of the pitch. We made them look bad first half. Just injuries and not being able to sustain the workrate, as well as them being a good side and making some adjustments at half time swung things back in their favour. With some more training and a few additions, things could be very promising. 

[stubbo]

Although it was a good first half for us, let's not forget that Villa were absolutely woeful in that first half. They were not much better in the second but still made their win look comfortable.

Potter has got his work cut out and will have to sail choppy waters.

Fingers crossed!

But first half l, were Villa so bad because we were so good? It's rare both teams play well when part of the job is to stop the other team playing.

[Ladysmith]

Although it was a good first half for us, let's not forget that Villa were absolutely woeful in that first half. They were not much better in the second but still made their win look comfortable.

Potter has got his work cut out and will have to sail choppy waters.

Fingers crossed!

[Russ of the BML]

That first half was the most organised and compact we have looked all season. How Potter managed that in one training session is beyond me. I suppose the power of speaking the same language helps, instead of the players hearing "Jez. Jez jez jez jez. Jex, jez jez jez, jez jez jez Chrissy Waddle"

Anyway, first half shape was a positive as was Scarles performance. If the ref could see and had reffed properly then Villa would've been down to ten and they don't get the corner and Morgan doesn't score the winner. Although, when you have Paqueta acting the cսnt and fannying around like a fucking homo then you really do leave yourself vulnerable. 

Disappointed to be knocked out but positives clear.

[Takashi Miike]

we need Kodua back, can play either side in that wide role and also move inside if needed. that then keeps Coufal away from the team

[Fauxstralian]

After one training session & one match it must be pretty obvious to Potter that Ings, Mavropanos & Rodriguez for starters have to go.
Suspect we will be looking at a couple of loans & maybe only purchases if we can sell some
Id be in favour of bringing Potts & Earthy back even just for him to assess them
Send them back out if not considered ready

His first positive move with Emerson out was to pick Scarles instead of Cresswell. 
If Mavropanos is going to continue as a walking mistake I’d pick Casey ahead of him

[Takashi Miike]

[Keep dreaming]

Good first half…poor second after Villa woke up…and injuries clearly changed our game…

Well done for a promising start by Potter and team…

Kudus…Alvarez…need to improve…

Agree Tex
Our squad has been neglected the past 5 years, so whenever our top players gets injured or are misfiring there are no subs lifting the team
IT was very encouraging to se a whole different take on tacti6, and we even scored a beautiful open play goal.

Let's hope that the injuries to Bowen, Todibo, Summerville, Antonio and Fullkrug gives Potter a real opportunity to add to the squad.

Also it's worth mentioning that the absence of Emerson was close to zero. Scarles is ready to be a full member of the squad, and even a starter. I'm pretty sure there are more youngsters ready to step up and compete for other places in this team.

Let Potter work with this team for a while, shift out some obvious deadlegs, and bring in som new faces.

I'm more positive than I've been for years just by listening to his interviews and watching yesterday's first half.

Fingers and arms crossed. COYI

[nychammer]

The immediate problem is injuries, we’ll need to be patient as we are pretty toothless up front and I can’t see us not going in for some attacking reinforcements in this window.