Graham Potter has endured a torrid start to life at West Ham and is probably starting to wonder whether he has made a mistake.
After just three wins from his first 15 games, questions are already being asked about Graham Potter at West Ham.
Some had reservations about appointing Potter after he was chewed up and spat out by Chelsea.
Especially after he spent 20 months out of the game following his Stamford Bridge sacking.
But Potter was attractive to the West Ham board as a free agent – and became increasingly so as things went from bad to worse under Julen Lopetegui.
After an initial spike in performance levels, the Hammers have actually gone backwards under Potter.
Lopetegui left West Ham 13th in the Premier League table – way below pre-season expectations to fight for a place in Europe.
Things have actually got worse under Potter, with the Irons slipping to 17th.
After the defeat at Wolves last month, West Ham fans started venting discontent about the lack of impact from the new manager.
Uncertainty reigns over West Ham’s window plans
Potter promised West Ham were in for an ‘exciting summer window’ in the aftermath of that dismal defeat.
That was despite a steady stream of leaks from the Hammers board claiming that the club has reached its PSR limit and must sell to buy this summer.
Journalist David Ornstein called West Ham’s bluff over their PSR position when suggesting they would once again be active in the summer.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has also questioned West Ham’s claims.
That has left many believing the Hammers are trying to feed a red herring to rival clubs in a smoke and mirrors attempt to protect themselves from paying big fees for targets this summer.
Worryingly, though, Potter backtracked somewhat on his transfer pledge last week, saying he doesn’t believe a ‘major rebuild’ is needed.
Fans would disagree given the team’s woeful league position and performances this season.
When Potter first arrived in east London, he was asked ‘Why West Ham’ were the club who managed to lure him out of his near two-year hiatus.
In response the 49-year-old stated the club’s ‘ambition and resources’ were key factors.
There has been talk Potter would not be retained this summer had David Sullivan signed him up to the initial six-month deal he planned before Everton’s interest forced him to hand over a two-and-a-half-year deal.
But the opposite could be true if things continue as they are.
Potter could walk after demoralising new boardroom leak
Potter could walk out on West Ham after a demoralising new boardroom leak.
The pressure is clearly already getting to the Hammers boss, as was evident in his press conference after the 3-2 collapse at Brighton last time out.
Simon Jordan questioned Potter’s authority in a bad West Ham dressing room in light of Niclas Fullkrug’s recent outburst.
The only saving grace for the manager and fans is that when the Hammers get to the transfer window, they can really take action to do something about the situation.
But a new leak from a source close to majority owner Sullivan will surely leave Potter already wondering where he goes from here.
Hammers board say Potter’s targets are unrealistic
Arguably West Ham’s biggest transfer priority this summer is up front.
The Hammers need at least one, if not two, new strikers.
Danny Ings is leaving on a free and Michail Antonio is also out of contract with a decision to be made on the 35-year-old’s future.
Fullkrug was also being heavily linked with a move away before his injury in January.
And relations are clearly not sound between the German and the manager after their back and forth of late – the latest being Fullkrug sending a warning to Potter on social media after the Brighton defeat.
Now Claret and Hugh, which counts Sullivan as a key source, has made a damning claim about what the board think of Potter’s summer transfer plans.
The site claims Potter – who has brought in Kyle Macaulay as head of recruitment – has a shortlist of striker targets.
The good news is the site’s top source says signing a striker remains a top priority.
But the bad news for Potter is that Sullivan and co have let it be known they think the manager’s targets are ‘overly ambitious’ – pouring cold water on West Ham’s chances of attracting or affording them.
West Ham risk Potter quitting if goalposts have moved
One name mentioned is Samu Omorodion, who the Hammers wanted to sign last summer.
The top West Ham source even states that ‘it could be Jhon Duran all over again’ – a nod to the striker saga which dragged on all of last summer only to end up with the Hammers missing out.
It doesn’t bode well that the board are already putting it out there that Potter is essentially being unrealistic with his aims and ambitions.
If there is such a disconnect already then what hope is there once the window opens in just over four weeks.
Given how exasperated Potter already looks, would it be beyond the realms of possibility that he walks this summer – knowing he can’t get the players he wants.
And could anyone blame him?
Especially if the goalposts have been moved from the vision sold to him when he was brought in just four months ago.
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