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Graham Potter
Posted: 08 Jan 2025, 11:28
by 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.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 17 Feb 2025, 08:24
by Lee Trundle
It does make you wonder if any of our managers have bothered watching us before they got the job with us.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 17 Feb 2025, 08:24
by Far Cough UKunt
wils wrote: ↑17 Feb 2025, 08:19
The big difference with Potter is the team are always in the game. There are clearly problems that are going to take time to fix but the team is not going three behind in a few minutes and just seeing the game out like they were under Lop. Although it could have been like that in the first half against Brentford. But they adapted and looked like they might snatch a draw until the dying minutes. So my verdict so far is things are still a bit shit, but it's not dire.
You're joking aren't you, if not for a very fortunate VAR, we could have been 0-3 down at HT.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 17 Feb 2025, 08:19
by wils
The big difference with Potter is the team are always in the game. There are clearly problems that are going to take time to fix but the team is not going three behind in a few minutes and just seeing the game out like they were under Lop. Although it could have been like that in the first half against Brentford. But they adapted and looked like they might snatch a draw until the dying minutes. So my verdict so far is things are still a bit shit, but it's not dire.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 16 Feb 2025, 12:03
by ,
On the positive side we only conceded one goal which is better than our average.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 16 Feb 2025, 11:59
by Mex Martillo
Season is kind of over. The players aren't on for it, already thinking about their holidays. Going to be hard for Potter.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 16 Feb 2025, 10:14
by southbankbornnbred
Sir Alf" wrote: ↑16 Feb 2025, 09:44
Good summary Nutsin. Potter reverted to a back 4 and got central midfield wrong relying on the slowest double pivot central midfield in the Premiership. A back 3 seems a better fit but also when Paqueta dropped deeper we had 3 in the central mid and stopped Brentford having so much space to run into when they countered. As u say, Paqueta has to play deeper with the game ahead of him.
Not writing Potter off yet but he has to learn we cannot play a 2 person central midfield of Alvarez and Soucek and that Mavro in a 4 man back 4 us going to be risky. Hopefully wont see either mistakes repeated? Main other thing we need is Ferguson and Todibo to get and stay fit
Yeah, interesting summaries, Alf and Nutsin.
I also think it’s far too early to judge Potter. These are not his players and there’s just no way he’d have signed most of them. I’m not saying he’ll rip it up at West Ham (who knows), but his teams don’t generally look like us right now.
This old, slow and tired squad has a LOT of problems. But by far the biggest problem I can see is in central defence.
Nutsin summed it up nicely: “Mavrapanos still getting in the side as a starter makes you wonder just how good he must show at practice all week because on match day he is always one of the worse players on the field.”
Its not that Mavrapanos is any good - he’s fucking terrible. A mistake waiting to happen. It’s just that we don’t have any depth, and the other centre halves are also woeful - or injury prone.
We’ve spent (or agreed to spend) a small fortune on some absolute dross. Kilman is the worst £40m footballer I’ve ever seen. He has the turning circle of an oil tanker and regularly gets destroyed for pace over ten yards - let alone 20+. It means we can’t really play, or get, high up the pitch quickly enough. So he forces us to play a way that Potter probably doesn’t want. Absolute waste of that huge outlay. Slow, off the pace mentally, and too easily exposed because of it. His saving grace is that he doesn’t really make “mistakes” like Mavrapanos - and he is a battler. It’s just that his physical attributes are poor for the modern Premier League, where opponents are often athletes more than footballers.
Mavrapanos was in excess of £20m. We've agreed to spend £34m on Todibo, who is a good player but injury prone - and clearly nursing his way through the season. And we spent £30m on Aguerd who started well, deteriorated under Moyes and then got loaned out by a hopeless manager who had no idea what he was doing.
Thats £125m worth of “talent” and we’re catastrophically poor at the back.
Fixing that will take some doing. Who, for example, will want to sign Kilman at his fee/wages - unless it’s a move like a return to Wolves for half the money?
Moyes and Lopetegui royally lumped us in it.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 16 Feb 2025, 09:44
by Sir Alf
Good summary Nutsin. Potter reverted to a back 4 and got central midfield wrong relying on the slowest double pivot central midfield in the Premiership. A back 3 seems a better fit but also when Paqueta dropped deeper we had 3 in the central mid and stopped Brentford having so much space to run into when they countered. As u say, Paqueta has to play deeper with the game ahead of him.
Not writing Potter off yet but he has to learn we cannot play a 2 person central midfield of Alvarez and Soucek and that Mavro in a 4 man back 4 us going to be risky. Hopefully wont see either mistakes repeated? Main other thing we need is Ferguson and Todibo to get and stay fit
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 16 Feb 2025, 06:31
by Nutsin
Yeah, Potter dropped a bollock today. I’m not gonna jump all over him for it but it’s noted.
I want to k ow when is he gonna sit down with Paqueta and Kudus and tell them to look for the easy ball forward. It stands out every game how these two constantly and needlessly give the ball away in the attacking 3rd because they try something cute or flashy. If I was the manager I’d rip them a fucking new one by now. It’s been going on far too long.
Also is it just me or is it obvious that Paqueta can’t play with his back to goal, he is far too easily dispossessed when he has his back to goal, he can’t shield the fucking ball or make a turn and a simple touch back and go or a quick one two is never an option because it’s not show boat enough.
He needs to drop deeper so he has the time and space to get his foot on the ball and turn to face the goal, he is much better when he does but even then he’ll try a next to impossible long ball at times which is another waste of possession.
Mavrapanos still getting in the side as a starter makes you wonder just how good he must show at practice all week because on match day he is always one of the worse players on the field.
Scarles, start the kid ffs!
stop playing Soucek and Alvarez together.
And If we are getting out classed sub quicker don’t wait till half time ffs. How we went in only 1 down was amazing. Gotta be quicker to act, we were lucky we weren’t 3-0 down at the half or worse.
Start Ferguson, he gives us a legitimate target, he’s pretty mobile too, he has some legs on him, So far I like what I see, I think he will do well with more playing time.I like his first touch, he makes intelligent runs too.
All this is on the manager, fuck knows how he can’t see it as it looks obvious to everyone else.
Today’s loss was entirely on Potter. We should never have lost that game. Fucking wake up!
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 16 Feb 2025, 02:22
by BRANDED
Absolute FRAUD of a manager. No wonder Chelsea got shot. FUCKING HOPELESS cսnt.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 16 Feb 2025, 01:39
by Manuel
At least Nick from C&B nailed it. No excuses for Potter, unless you come on here of course.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 16 Feb 2025, 01:20
by Manuel
Two full weeks on the training field and he puts that side out and yet some of you soft cunts are still giving him a pass?? Still conceding two goals a game at home? Do fuck off. He fucked up and I can't say I'm impressed. Still, he has a degree in phycology and leadership, so we're in good hands.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 21:00
by southbankbornnbred
Sir Alf" wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:32
It was mentioned in the week that Ferguson is still not match fit or sharp and they are being a tad careful with him to avoid a reoccurence of the ankle problems that have blighted this and last season. So I get why he tried Paqueta in the false 9 role since it worked well against Villa.
He got the set up in midfield wrong alans that was the root of most of our first half problems. By replacing Soucek who was simply too slow and Soler with JWP and dropping Paqueta to give us an extra man in that area, the space Brentford had first half disappeared and we controlled possession all the 2nd half and no longer looked so open when they tried to counter. Wissa and Mubemba were kept really quiet after that. Our issue 2nd half was an inability to stretch or open up a very well organised Brentford side.
Potter hopefully learnt at home, with teams that sit deep and counter fast, you cannot just have.a double pivot of Soucek and Alvarez. Hopefully Ferguson stays fit too.
Still very early days. It will take time and he has inherited a poor squad
It’s not our biggest problem by any means. But you do have to wonder why we signed an “emergency” loan striker - as cover for three injured forwards - when he isn’t fit himself!
What was the point if he can’t start games? By the time he’s fully fit, Fullcrock will be close to returning for 10 minutes.
It’s ridiculous West Ham logic. If you need to sign cover for injured Fullcrock, Antonio and Bowen - primarily right away - at least sign a striker who can start. We basically went through the transfer window with Ings as our only fit striker. And that’s still the case!
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 19:19
by goose
There was talk of him having a break clause at the end of this season…………
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 19:18
by Sir Alf
Wait and see on Potter. Needs a win but not expectinhbone next game unfortunately
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 18:54
by Browno22
Ladysmith wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 17:06
THUNDERCLINT wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 17:04
If the flaky nonce bearded cսnt quit tonight would anyone care?
Looking like yet another total fraud sadly. Should have gone for Conceciao or Fonseca.
Would we have honestly got those managers though?
I agree, both are well above spurs' level
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 18:53
by Browno22
I agree, they are both way above spurs level
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 18:36
by Maverick180180
goose wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:35
Maverick180180 wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:27
twoleftfeet wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:24
No you haven’t. You joined within days of mad ferret and lady smith, you don’t even have an old WHO number.
Cos the site changed and I couldn’t log in, so I signed up again and slightly changed the number in my username
so well done Sherlock, you couldn’t of got that more wrong you fucking cretin
Watch out for ‘feet, his ex old bill lol
if he’s really angry he’ll ‘foe’ you.
Bet he looks like Tosh
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 18:35
by goose
Maverick180180 wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:27
twoleftfeet wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:24
No you haven’t. You joined within days of mad ferret and lady smith, you don’t even have an old WHO number.
Cos the site changed and I couldn’t log in, so I signed up again and slightly changed the number in my username
so well done Sherlock, you couldn’t of got that more wrong you fucking cretin
Watch out for ‘feet, his ex old bill lol
if he’s really angry he’ll ‘foe’ you.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 18:35
by Maverick180180
fraser wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:30
Maverick180180 wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:27
twoleftfeet wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:24
No you haven’t. You joined within days of mad ferret and lady smith, you don’t even have an old WHO number.
Cos the site changed and I couldn’t log in, so I signed up again and slightly changed the number in my username
so well done Sherlock, you couldn’t of got that more wrong you fucking cretin
This cսnt claims he was a detective, thick as shit he is.
This is what’s wrong with shit today, you try and have a discussion about football on a football forum and you get nerds claiming you’re fishing for something, fishing for what???? The weirdos even looked up when I signed up, why? I wouldn’t even know how to do that, probably why I’ve had sex with a girl before
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 18:32
by Sir Alf
It was mentioned in the week that Ferguson is still not match fit or sharp and they are being a tad careful with him to avoid a reoccurence of the ankle problems that have blighted this and last season. So I get why he tried Paqueta in the false 9 role since it worked well against Villa.
He got the set up in midfield wrong alans that was the root of most of our first half problems. By replacing Soucek who was simply too slow and Soler with JWP and dropping Paqueta to give us an extra man in that area, the space Brentford had first half disappeared and we controlled possession all the 2nd half and no longer looked so open when they tried to counter. Wissa and Mubemba were kept really quiet after that. Our issue 2nd half was an inability to stretch or open up a very well organised Brentford side.
Potter hopefully learnt at home, with teams that sit deep and counter fast, you cannot just have.a double pivot of Soucek and Alvarez. Hopefully Ferguson stays fit too.
Still very early days. It will take time and he has inherited a poor squad
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 18:30
by fraser
Maverick180180 wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:27
twoleftfeet wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:24
No you haven’t. You joined within days of mad ferret and lady smith, you don’t even have an old WHO number.
Cos the site changed and I couldn’t log in, so I signed up again and slightly changed the number in my username
so well done Sherlock, you couldn’t of got that more wrong you fucking cretin
This cսnt claims he was a detective, thick as shit he is.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 18:28
by nychammer
Maverick180180 wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:18
nychammer wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:09
Give the man a fucking chance. Anyone is going to struggle to come in and turn that ageing slow squad around and make them contenders for anything again. A lot of damage has been done with sub par expensive signings, competing influence over signing players and leaving gaping holes in the squad unaddressed.
There were positives today despite that poor start. He made HT changes and seems amenable to giving youth a chance. We need to give Potter the summer window and into next season before hanging him out to dry.
The problem is at the top. Sullivan needs to back Potter and staff on the players he needs and stay away from his agent mates. That is how successful clubs operate.
I don’t see making half time changes as a positive
I want to see us being set up correctly to start with, with the best players available
in context it was positive. Agree I'd b happier not seeing that starting line up EVER again so lets hope it sticks.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 18:27
by Maverick180180
twoleftfeet wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:24
No you haven’t. You joined within days of mad ferret and lady smith, you don’t even have an old WHO number.
Cos the site changed and I couldn’t log in, so I signed up again and slightly changed the number in my username
so well done Sherlock, you couldn’t of got that more wrong you fucking cretin
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 18:24
by twoleftfeet
Maverick180180 wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 17:54
twoleftfeet wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 17:53
Maverick180180 wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 17:21
Lopetegui - 1.15 points per game
Potter - 0.8 points per game
I’d say that’s massively worrying
I’ve been on here for years
No you haven’t. You joined within days of mad ferret and lady smith, you don’t even have an old WHO number.
Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 15 Feb 2025, 18:18
by Maverick180180
nychammer wrote: ↑15 Feb 2025, 18:09
Give the man a fucking chance. Anyone is going to struggle to come in and turn that ageing slow squad around and make them contenders for anything again. A lot of damage has been done with sub par expensive signings, competing influence over signing players and leaving gaping holes in the squad unaddressed.
There were positives today despite that poor start. He made HT changes and seems amenable to giving youth a chance. We need to give Potter the summer window and into next season before hanging him out to dry.
The problem is at the top. Sullivan needs to back Potter and staff on the players he needs and stay away from his agent mates. That is how successful clubs operate.
I don’t see making half time changes as a positive
I want to see us being set up correctly to start with, with the best players available
