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So it's the worst team in the league against the 4th worst team in the league...should be a cracker!
It would be very West Ham to scrape a 1-1 draw, or even worse, fall to a scrappy 1-0 defeat, but I'm hopeful we'll be better than that.
Prediction: 2-0
Expect Potter to go for a ball playing lineup, all be it not what we would like.
Areola
Wan Bissaka Todibo Kilman Scarles
Soler JWP Paqueta
Bowen Kudus Guilherme
Would obviously like to see Füllkrug start, but sounds like he won't be risked. Can't much see the point in giving Ferguson any game time since we know he's not staying...so hoping rather than Soucek coming in, he gives Guilherme the nod.
need a solid convincing performance from the off and a win. Southampton now have nothing to play for and may throw caution to the wind. If they do pour forward and try and play it should leave plenty of gaps for us to exploit.
Thunder, I like you am ok to accept more average results so long as its better, more exciting footie but Im not sure many fans do these days especially the younger ones? The world, our culture and sport generally is now much more about winning at all costs especially for teams in the Premier League and worst still teams that have recently won something. That Conference Lge cup win, whilst not the strongest in terms of opposition, was such a great experience, and after 40 odd years waiting, fans naturally hoped it was the start of a period of relative success. Expectations increased disproportionately?. Many had not noticed that our league form had fallen off a cliff and got carried away or drunk on the success of that win.?
If we accept there are some obvious limitarions or constraints to the squad he inherited like no “legs” in midfield and having limited availability in terms of a central forward / target man ( do we accept that is the case? ) how much has this limited what he has or can achieve both in terms of results and entertainment?
Perhaps another question to ask, or discussion to be had, is whether Potter switches to starting, rather than ending, games with our best attacking 11 players? He’s gone exclusively for the latter. The physical demands of the Premuer League naturally sees teams tire or “drop off” in terms of pressing and running in 2nd halves and certainly after 60 mins. Its why so many subs start happening at that point. Potter seems to have decided, like many managers, and especially with the squad he has, that its better or more effective to getting results - and to not get battered - to keep it tight and defensive first half, restrict the opposition and hope to come in at half time either level or only 1 down. Then wait until the opposition tires to make his changes ( Fullkrug, 3 forwards, less defensive midfielders etc ) ?
Does not seem that effective in terms of results but has meant, in his words, “we have stayed in almost all games” since he rocked up and not been battered.
My “armchair WTF do I know” fans view on this is “ dont know to be certain” if Im honest. If he, as many fans demand, starts us on the proverbial “front foot”, best attacking 11 ( and in this context Im thinking its home games we really want this in ) and we dont get ahead or only get 1 or 2 ahead, then get pegged back or overrun second half and lose will it be even more depressing and create even more “Potter out” thinking? I suspect it will anyway. Basic psychology suggests losing or drawing after leading is worse than getting back to draw or even win after being 1 down?
To summarise ( very unlike me ), should Potter, Looetegui, have got or be getting more from the squad and players “available” and would anyone else be able to ( Iraola, Perreria at Wolves, Silva) in 3 months? Some will say look at the bloke at Wolves, they have a worst squad than us? We certainly have 4 or 5 maybe more better players in specific positions but the counter to that is that their squad overall, in all positions, does not have the “holes” or imbalance ours does in terms of pace, athleticism, physicality in the key area of central midfield. They have also had a central striker available to pick every game since he took over?
Keeps going back to, wait until October 2025 after the summer transfer window and pre season for me ( cue for adaptation of that Green Day song). Im certainly not convinced Potter is the answer but equally not totally totally sure, given a bit more time, he cannot improve results, performances and entertainment. The odds are against him for sure. especially with our owner, and our shocking history of recruitment.
( **** pulls large splinters from arse cheeks *** )
Not ideal but seems the best 3 or most balanced selection for central midfield Mike.
Kudus? 2nd season syndrome where your strengths are now understood and teams set up to nullify them. That allied to switching agents to his family? Who tell him he’s too good for little West Ham results in an attitude problem. Potter seems to have sorted out the latter or is it because its end of season and he needs to be seen in the “shop window”? Although he has also been struggling for his national side for the last year. Everything stopped going his way and he didnt initially seem to have the mental strength to cope or realisation that he needs to improve his game further to become or remain a stand out player at the very highest level.
I have seen an improvement recently but he still does not play enough the team imho. He’s been better in possession, less selfish although decision making still questionable but out of possession Im not seeing the modern attacking wide man or midfielder busting a gut to help with pressing or quickly tracking back to help with a counter attack. Bowen does but he doesnt.
Anyway, as you say, he’s gone this summer. Just hooe he finds his finishing boots in these last few games to get his price up.
Sir Alf" wrote: ↑19 Apr 2025, 07:52
Its all simple really. Not like me to condense things down to a binary choice but if he gets results he can become the “new messiah” but continue losing more than he wins ( draws not included ) he will be vilified and forced out by the fans. Same with any manager or coach. Doesnt matter what you say, what you are trying to do ( even if fans can see it ), you have to get results. For a West Ham manager or head coach its worse still, we want results and a style of play that is exciting and entertaining. The last 2 in the job have failed ( Moyes after 18 months of relative success ) and at this juncture Potter is on course to go the same way. We will know definitively by October / Nov this year.
I'll happily accept a manager that wins, loses ands draw in equally measure and attempts to be brave, innovative with grit and flair. Win a game, lose a game, draw a game is 48 points a season.
Is that really a lot to ask?
This Potter cսnt and his fucking crab-ball shite can't manage anything close to that and is going to make us look ridiculous today when he sets up to play the worst team in Premier League history like their genetically enhanced footballing super soldiers full of coke and steroids.
yes, that's what I'd go with. one either side of alvarez, with licence to push on and alvarez's only responsibility to break things up. the continuing problem is where to play kudus (it won't be a problem for much longer) if we go 4-3-3, as he can't/refuses to play LW/LAM. all I want is a striker starting, that three in midfield and bowen the right side of the attacking three. then, we might see some excitement
Its all simple really. Not like me to condense things down to a binary choice but if he gets results he can become the “new messiah” but continue losing more than he wins ( draws not included ) he will be vilified and forced out by the fans. Same with any manager or coach. Doesnt matter what you say, what you are trying to do ( even if fans can see it ), you have to get results. For a West Ham manager or head coach its worse still, we want results and a style of play that is exciting and entertaining. The last 2 in the job have failed ( Moyes after 18 months of relative success ) and at this juncture Potter is on course to go the same way. We will know definitively by October / Nov this year.
It the rumours are true and Fullkrug only has 45 minutes in him, surely you start him, to get on the front foot and try to get ahead in the game, rather than keeping it tight in the first half and rely on him to change the dynamics?
If this manager doesn't do that today, and we don't get a proper 90 minute performance (I'd say that's more important than the result at this point, even though the result against this utter shower shouldn't be in doubt) than we really do need to be looking to go in a different direction in the summer.
