AFFILIATE SEARCH | Shop Amazon.co.uk using this search bar and support WHO!
Ad blocker detected: Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.
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.
Mex Martillo" wrote: ↑26 Feb 2025, 18:38
Does that tell us today's fans are not much better than an empty stadium?
RIP the 12th man.
I suspect it's more a case that the game has swung back in favour of fast paced counter attacking sides, which is a style that typically suits the away team more than the home team.
fraser wrote: ↑25 Feb 2025, 10:51
It did happen at home to Brentford though they should have scored a few. Because we set up completely different to how we have away.
Teams in the Premier League are struggling at home generally. Second worse Premier League season, for percentage of games won at home. The worse season for home wins, was in Covid, with largely no fans.
Sir Alf" wrote: ↑25 Feb 2025, 11:21
We have not been great dealing with teams that sit in for a long long while. It dates back to BFS and certainly since we've been in the Bowel ( sorry bowl ). Brighton, Palace and Brentford have won a lot. The nerds on Analytics United explain very well why we might beat Arsenal away one game and struggle the next at home to Leicester. In short, we won't be able to set up the same way and hit them on the break and exploit the space they leave. They will likely sit back with bodies behind the ball and there will be no space in behind. Kudus and Bowen, AWB's strengths need to be used but its much harder with a low block, defence, compact in front of us.
Fortunately, Albert Steptoe up front is not what he was ( but still able to score against us it seems ) and they will look to get the odd counter and do a "smash and grab".
But the point, as the Analytics Utd lads say, is Potter needs to find a different set up, tactics or certainly adapt them. He has to solve this issue at home. He tried unsuccessfully against Brentford to press high and force errors but our squad limitations led to us being ruthlessly exposed by a team that counters very fast.
In my opinion, he does not fully solve the problem until next season perhaps the season after as it will take time. There will be losses and bad days still. Will the fans, owners be patient?
It's still a mystery to me why he set up with four at the back against Brentford contrary to every other game so far. Clearly something he thought would work specifically that game but didn't. Not that i think it's the reason we lost but still....
fraser wrote: ↑25 Feb 2025, 10:51
It did happen at home to Brentford though they should have scored a few. Because we set up completely different to how we have away.
But yeah we should have scored a load away to Leicester... I expect us to win
Kind of, although Brentford played quick one twos with pace and movement of the front three to move the ball fast through us. That's just what they do and it's somewhat more sophisticated than one simple through ball from midfield bisecting our whole defence and a runner in the left or right channel instantly being already behind the full backs and one on one or with only one defender near seen as we were set up with one player centrally 10-15 yards behind everyone else, playing any runners onside 40 yards from goal. That's definitely not happening any more.
We have not been great dealing with teams that sit in for a long long while. It dates back to BFS and certainly since we've been in the Bowel ( sorry bowl ). Brighton, Palace and Brentford have won a lot. The nerds on Analytics United explain very well why we might beat Arsenal away one game and struggle the next at home to Leicester. In short, we won't be able to set up the same way and hit them on the break and exploit the space they leave. They will likely sit back with bodies behind the ball and there will be no space in behind. Kudus and Bowen, AWB's strengths need to be used but its much harder with a low block, defence, compact in front of us.
Fortunately, Albert Steptoe up front is not what he was ( but still able to score against us it seems ) and they will look to get the odd counter and do a "smash and grab".
But the point, as the Analytics Utd lads say, is Potter needs to find a different set up, tactics or certainly adapt them. He has to solve this issue at home. He tried unsuccessfully against Brentford to press high and force errors but our squad limitations led to us being ruthlessly exposed by a team that counters very fast.
In my opinion, he does not fully solve the problem until next season perhaps the season after as it will take time. There will be losses and bad days still. Will the fans, owners be patient?
I can't believe they haven't fired RVN, to be honest. This is Leicester at home ffs, bollocks to any tactics, if we can't win this then we really do have a problem. They are fucking hopeless.
They are- and clearly well versed in shithousery, timewasting and hanging onto a lead too. They played it very 'professionally', shall we say. They do have the type of team to do that though. I don't think Leicester do.
Even though they beat us last year and 3-1 looks convincing on paper, we absolutely battered them for most of that game and all the goals were classic 'Lop' goals with our high line getting absolutely raped with a simple, single through ball to put a striker clean through one on one. That just doesn't happen any more thank goodness.
Be interesting to see how we cope if Leicester sit in, we've not been good at that recently. Hopefully we will be Thursday.
Brentford did it second half and apart from the Kudus missed sitter we hardly troubled them. Granted Brentford are much better organised than Leicester.
He did the right thing starting JWP and Scarles Saturday. Hopefully that win will start a bit of forward momentum and result in two consecutive wins for the first time in ages. Come on Graham son ! 7/10 so far but keep up the good work
El Scorchio" wrote: ↑24 Feb 2025, 11:16
Potter will get his home win on Thursday.
Hope so mate. I know it's a rose tinted comment but I genuinely believe he deserves it.
Came in during a difficult spell. A squad low in confidence, lots of injuries, players out of form and some unhappy in general. A support and board that are disconnected.
He and the players have obviously been working hard in training. The difference in the team and the way they play is night and day from when under Lope. Bar Palace, which was just a disaster all round. I think they have played pretty well in most games - Even Brentford second half they looked decent. Unlucky against Chelsea.
The win against Arsenal meant so much. Almost guaranteed our safety - Which although was unlikely that we dropped - It was looking a bit grim. But most important thing for me after Arsenal was to see the way Potter and the players celebrated. Lots of positivity, lots of genuine love for each other. Potter has obviously reunited the squad and put a lot of negativity out the door.
And regardless of all the shit going on with the stadium, ticket pricing and board - Potter has given us all a ray of hope for next season.
Lee Trundle" wrote: ↑24 Feb 2025, 10:58
You've got to be a bit of a bore to harp on about our home form, or what Moyes did years ago, after a win at Arsenal in which has likely put an end to their title charge after they've been unbearable most of the season.
Oh sorry about that son, I thought it was a valid point. Let me know at what point it's OK to bring it up. Now don't you go policing the forum, that's frowned upon these days. As for BRANDED, he's become a poor fisherman these days. At least he's stopped talking about his alleged trips to Europe.
Lee Trundle" wrote: ↑24 Feb 2025, 10:58
You've got to be a bit of a bore to harp on about our home form, or what Moyes did years ago, after a win at Arsenal in which has likely put an end to their title charge after they've been unbearable most of the season.
The win last year was completely different we really rode our luck.. They had a record amount of touches in our box and shots on goal.. This was much more controlled.
You've got to be a bit of a bore to harp on about our home form, or what Moyes did years ago, after a win at Arsenal in which has likely put an end to their title charge after they've been unbearable most of the season.
I'm thinking this pattern of playing well away and shit at home is happening too often now for it just to a coincidence, which is a big concern as your home games are your bread and butter. So let's see on Thursday if it's a big improvement on previous home games, and without waning to go over old ground I'm sure it works against us playing in that big, silent bowel.
Graham Potter
