West Ham’s 3-0 defeat to Spurs has piled the pressure back on Graham Potter and even Match of the Day believe his time in east London may be coming to an end.
Hammers fans are intending to make it perfectly clear who they think is to blame for the club’s current mess in the next few weeks.
Supporter groups issued a public vote of no confidence in West Ham’s ownership two weeks ago.
Fans met with West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady ahead of the Spurs defeat and it remains to be seen what, if any, action the club takes to address grievances raised.
The London Stadium emptied with nearly 30 minutes left to play in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham.
Things could have been a whole lot worse too had Thomas Frank not shown mercy on Graham Potter by making sweeping changes as Spurs took their foot off the pedal to conserve themselves for the start of their Champions League campaign.
Pressure mounts on board and Potter at West Ham
A seat at Europe’s top table was the ultimate goal behind West Ham’s move from Upton Park to the London Stadium.
But there is now every chance the Hammers will bring up a decade at the Stratford bowl in the Championship rather than the Champions League.
While the club’s board will get another reminder of fan opinion during protests planned before the Crystal Palace clash next weekend, there is also a new focus on the position of Potter.
Most Hammers supporters believe Potter is a symptom rather than a cause of West Ham’s ills.
It is equally true, though, that the much-hyped 50-year-old English coach could, and should, be doing much better.
West Ham have won just six of the 24 games under Potter since his arrival in January.
His record is inferior to that of his predecessor Julen Lopetegui and the worst since the disastrous Avram Grant, who took West Ham down.
Many are now understandably concerned that will prove to be West Ham’s fate this season if Potter remains in charge.
What a way to mark the club’s 130th year in existence.
Fans have been critical of his team selection, tactics and a perceived lack of leadership from the touchline.
The mild-mannered, softly-spoken coach has been labelled a PE teacher with a psychology degree by some fed-up fans.
There is a complete disconnect between the fans and the team at home. That’s hardly surprising given West Ham have won just two games there under Potter in the last eight months.
Even Match of the Day think ‘baffled’ Potter’s time is up
That must surely become three against Crystal Palace next weekend if Potter is to make it to the October international break.
Potter rather bravely turned the blame on West Ham’s owners after the Spurs shambles.
It is perhaps no coincidence then that West Ham are eyeing Nuno Espirito Santo after their Jose Mourinho verdict.
Now even Match of the Day think ‘baffled’ Potter’s time is up at West Ham.
BBC’s flagship football show Match of the Day is renowned for being more considered when it comes to analysis and discussing the future of managers.
But MOTD’s panel believe Potter does not have the answers to stop the leaking Hammers ship from sinking.
Fans cannot believe some of Potter’s tactics whether that is not playing a striker against their biggest rivals, persisting with Mads Hermansen and James Ward-Prowse or blindly sticking to zonal marking which simply isn’t working.
During his struggles of last season, Potter argued he inherited a mess from Lopetegui, especially defensively.
Ahead of the start of the new season, the Hammers boss said fans could now judge him having had a full pre-season and some of his own signings in the door.
But things have got worse, not better.
Goals are being shipped at an alarming rate and the first five games of the season have seen four defeats with a minimum of three goals conceded in each of them.
The Hammers have also crashed out of the League Cup at the first hurdle.
Statistics on Sky Sports after the Spurs loss showed West Ham are bottom of all key metrics when it comes to the 17 teams who have been Premier League ever-presents over the last two seasons.
Match of the Day: Potter doesn’t have the answers at West Ham
Potter’s win rate so far is one in every six. If that continues West Ham stand no chance of making 30 points let alone the 40 many believe will be needed this season.
With calls for change – at the top and in the dugout – growing louder in east London, it is rather telling that Match of the Day have even cast doubt on Potter’s future.
“It just looks flat,” host Mark Chapman said on Match of the Day after watching Potter’s team offer another meek surrender.
“It’s a mess,” Premier League legend Shay Given responded.
“I think the problem for Potter is that he finished last season very poorly as well.
“People said judge him on this season, he’ll have a pre-season, he’ll get his methods across and get his players in.
“But again it’s such a poor start and you can see after, I think the pressure is mounting on Potter for sure.”
Ex Premier League defender Ashley Williams agreed, saying Potter looks clueless as to what he needs to do.
“Even when they cut to him in the game it doesn’t look like he has the answers,” Williams said.
“He just seems a little bit baffled on the sideline.”
It is starting to feel like the beginning of the end for Potter unless he can oversee a dramatic turnaround.
Crystal Palace now feels like a must-win.
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