West Ham Online

It's too easy to say 'He's Shit'. 

He played decent football once, but recent performances are woeful. 

- What is going on with his game - confidence, age, league getting faster? 

- Why does he keep getting picked? What is he MEAN"T to do in midfield? 

- Does he have a future here at all under a new manager? 

Please help me understand what is going on here. 

Not talented enough to get away with his lack of pace & movement 
Renowned for his free kicks so in true West Ham style he hasn’t come close to scoring one

I could see Soucek as an occasional late sub when looking for a goal
JWP could maybe have a role collecting plates in the training ground canteen

The League has got faster for sure. People may not remember but JWP had periods where he could only make the bench at Southampton even in his prime.  

He is physically too small allied to being too slow and passive to compete in the Prem Lge.  He is what 30/31? And getting slower. He cannot carry the ball, but plays a simple pass albeit rarely if ever forward. He had the set piece skills and ability to create from set pieces and crosses etc to compensate but they have dried up now.  

It is baffling that Potter picks him every time to start. Almost favouritism, subjective assessment from Potter? Why because of JWPs reputation? JWP is perhaps a “really nice bloke”, goes along with everything Potter says, fully committed to doing what Potter wants tactically or the fact that JWP was once an England player and so he picks him on past reputation or looks at his work rate? He does work hard, running etc just like Soucek but like me, if I played in my 60s, it would be totally ineffective.  And I have noticed in many games opposition players just running by him , him losing most if not every 50:50 or second ball. 

Its a mystery. To a lesser extent Soucek’s selection is baffling but he does score the odd goal and contribute defensively in the air as he did yesterday even. But he also should no longer be first choice starter unless we revert back to a low block, low possession game.   

JWP and to a less extent Soucek and Guido will be the “crosses” on which Potter will die. Its not the only issue but the biggest one.  A GK that is not fit for purpose, 4 CBs, one a £40 million worth that also never gets dropped, just because he cost £40 million? No minutes for Potts who was better than JWP and Soucek in pre season. Minimal minutes for the Scottish Iniesta despite looking no worse if not better than JWP and Guido and Soucek.  

It beggars belief.  Every fan or regular watcher of West Ham can see the issues expect thr highly paid manager and his team.  

 

For a player to have his physique and his lack of pace, you need to have something truly exceptional to your game to be a Premier League starter. He was at one time the best set piece taker in the league, and if he was wrapping in 25 yard free kicks every 5-10 games and causing havoc at corners, you could half suffer the fact he does fuck all, and I mean fuck all, else.

At the moment, he is just a body on the pitch. According to the two virgins who do the Youtube analysis who everyone on here take as gospel, their expert opinion is that he is excellent off the ball tactically, or something like that. I mean, fucking hell.

The only bonus from yesterday was we don't have to see Soucek for a few games. But one thing you can absolutely guarantee is we'll see JWP meandering his way through 90 minutes.

His golf swing is pretty good though.

violator wrote: ↑14 Sep 2025, 17:05

Maverick180180 wrote: ↑14 Sep 2025, 17:02 The worst player I’ve ever seen at West Ham to get a consistent run in the side, and I’m not exaggerating, the only worse players I’ve seen than him were just squad players 
awful at everything 
good at nothing 

Kovac was another 

Maverick180180 wrote: ↑14 Sep 2025, 17:02 The worst player I’ve ever seen at West Ham to get a consistent run in the side, and I’m not exaggerating, the only worse players I’ve seen than him were just squad players 
awful at everything 
good at nothing 

The worst player I’ve ever seen at West Ham to get a consistent run in the side, and I’m not exaggerating, the only worse players I’ve seen than him were just squad players 
awful at everything 
good at nothing 

I still think he has a lot to offer.

Not really that old ;

Younger than Fullkrug, Wilson, Rodriguez

Only two years older than Bowen, Paqueta, Kilman
.