West Ham Online

Sir Alf" wrote: ↑18 Mar 2025, 08:55 Agree he is somewhat dull and pragmatic in his tactics so far. Away games that is acceptable but at home is the problem and would be his undoing.

For me, I will wait until the sunmer business concludes. If he gets pace, “legs” in that central midfield I will start to feel there is hope ( yep cruel in the context of West Ham ).  It comes down to our inability to transition quickly and generally play at pace thru midfield that limits our attacking play.  Players in centre mid that play on the “half turn”. We dont have any. We cannot link the defensive third to the attacking third other than a long out ball. That invariably comes from Areola but also any player as we get pressed high and do not have the speed and movement from our central
midfielders to make space. That midfield also makes it very risky to commit to many players forward as a turnover high in the opposing half can see the opposition cut thru us with our midfielders and a lot of the defenders ( Todibo AWB aside ) looking like they have divers boots on as they chase back.

Add to that we cannot jump into pressing effectively ourselves as teams do with us to pin them in, get turnovers and generally stretch them. We are so slow.  Having said all that, a good central striker is still needed to help Bowen and Kudus etc who are not suited to receiving it and holding it up.  



 

stubbo-admin wrote: ↑18 Mar 2025, 08:04 For those who want the 'post game' nerd breakdown...

Sir Alf" wrote: ↑18 Mar 2025, 08:55 Agree he is somewhat dull and pragmatic in his tactics so far. Away games that is acceptable but at home is the problem and would be his undoing.

For me, I will wait until the sunmer business concludes. If he gets pace, “legs” in that central midfield I will start to feel there is hope ( yep cruel in the context of West Ham ).  It comes down to our inability to transition quickly and generally play at pace thru midfield that limits our attacking play.  Players in centre mid that play on the “half turn”. We dont have any. We cannot link the defensive third to the attacking third other than a long out ball. That invariably comes from Areola but also any player as we get pressed high and do not have the speed and movement from our central
midfielders to make space. That midfield also makes it very risky to commit to many players forward as a turnover high in the opposing half can see the opposition cut thru us with our midfielders and a lot of the defenders ( Todibo AWB aside ) looking like they have divers boots on as they chase back.

Add to that we cannot jump into pressing effectively ourselves as teams do with us to pin them in, get turnovers and generally stretch them. We are so slow.  Having said all that, a good central striker is still needed to help Bowen and Kudus etc who are not suited to receiving it and holding it up.  


 

So, what you're saying, is that we need a whole load of new defenders, a whole load of new midfielders, and a striker.  

(I agree with you, btw)

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑18 Mar 2025, 08:02

Manuel wrote: ↑17 Mar 2025, 14:25 Geo and his mate Frankie have just put out a vid and they are far from convinced with Potter. Yes, their opinions, but they make some good points near the end off the vid. Apparently in Potter's third season at Brighton he won only 4 home games all season and went 4 months without a home goal. Geo thinks that next season we will be playing exactly how his Brighton side played.

For me it's too early still, but what I do think is that he's a proper spikey cսnt and has a very high opinion of himself with very little to back it up.

I am not sure how you find Potter spikey. I don't get that from him at all. As for a high opinion of himself, really not sure about that either as I don't think he has said anything in his pressers that indicates that to me. I suppose he comes across as confident in himself - But, then again, wouldn't you have to be in that job? 

Personally, I am quite happy with Potter, mainly because we look about 100 times better than we did under Floppy. Although, being brutally honest, I genuinely believe that I could've gone in to West Ham and got them playing better than we were. So, for me, although a little frustrated at our home form, I am generally content with Potter.

I think he is the type of coach that is a slow burner - We may not see any major improvements until the season after next. I just think Potter needs time to slowly plot and develop the squad and change the mentality. He was Brighton four seasons and you could clearly see their upward curve. Problem for Potter, does he have enough time at West Ham? 

As you say, people are on the fence with him. I get that. He hasn't exactly 'burst onto the scene' at West Ham. You yourself aren't convinced, and other supporters I know are the same as you. I get that too. West Ham is a big club with demanding supporters. The majority of the fanbase are not going to be content with being competitive whilst also being compact and, without sounding too negative, a little bland. It will just end the same way it did with Moyes, except Moyes had the Europa to show for his efforts so had added kudos which gave him time. 

For me, Potter needs to inject some power, pace and craft into our attack. I hope he does. He seems to have shored us up defensively. So hopefully with Fullkrug and Summerville back, we have some more of what we need. Will it be enough? Not sure. He will absolutely need to address our lack of box to box pace and power in midfield in the summer. And, another priority if he is to succeed, is to make us unbeatable at home. That's where you set your stall out. You have to be the favourites at home in almost every game bar obviously the top four. That's where he has fallen this season. Not good enough results at home. 

The performances for me are there generally (bar Palace) but results are not yet. Long way to go. 

C+ 

Manuel wrote: ↑17 Mar 2025, 14:25 Geo and his mate Frankie have just put out a vid and they are far from convinced with Potter. Yes, their opinions, but they make some good points near the end off the vid. Apparently in Potter's third season at Brighton he won only 4 home games all season and went 4 months without a home goal. Geo thinks that next season we will be playing exactly how his Brighton side played.

For me it's too early still, but what I do think is that he's a proper spikey cսnt and has a very high opinion of himself with very little to back it up.

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑17 Mar 2025, 13:13 Plus Kilman is here to stay unless we are prepared to take an enormous loss on him and likely subsidise his wages wherever he goes. Even if we choose not to play him, he ain't going to walk out on the deal we gave him as he won't get a better one anywhere else. 

Manuel wrote: ↑17 Mar 2025, 13:07

Lee Trundle" wrote: ↑17 Mar 2025, 11:55 We really need 2 decent centre backs this summer, to go with Todibo.

We can't go on next season having to play 3 at the back because 2 of them aren't good enough to play as a pair.

Fuck me, your Kilman obsession is getting close to Fordstar's with Noble.

Lee Trundle" wrote: ↑17 Mar 2025, 11:55 We really need 2 decent centre backs this summer, to go with Todibo.

We can't go on next season having to play 3 at the back because 2 of them aren't good enough to play as a pair.

stubbo-admin wrote: ↑17 Mar 2025, 12:10

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑17 Mar 2025, 11:42 Was interesting that Bowen went to the left against Everton.

I didn't see the game, but have been advictaing for this for a long time as a way to get an effective Kudus and Bowen in the same side.

Did it work or was he nullified when operating on that side?

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑17 Mar 2025, 11:42 Was interesting that Bowen went to the left against Everton.

southbankbornnbred wrote: ↑16 Mar 2025, 23:06 One of the positives of the past few weeks has been an improvement in Kilman’s form and role.

Unsurprisingly, he’s better in a back three because there’s an extra man centrally to compensate for the lack of pace.

I still don’t think he justifies the price tag - but definitely a little more secure in that role.

Won’t comment on Mav!


 

southbankbornnbred wrote: ↑16 Mar 2025, 11:36 I’ll give you an example. On the day we signed Ferguson, Ajax loaned Chuba Akpom to Lille. He’s 29 and has plenty of experience in England - and scored many goals for Boro.

He’s started five games since, and scored twice.

I’m not at all saying Akpom would be a saviour of West Ham. But as an emergency loan, I know what would have made more sense.