A stark warning from a Guardian journalist about Graham Potter’s West Ham reign is no laughing matter with Leeds and Burnley highlighting just how serious the situation could become.
David Moyes steered West Ham away from relegation trouble in 2020 and the dreaded ‘R’ word has not been a concern since.
The same cannot be said of Leeds United and Burnley.
Bar a brief flirtation with the relegation battle two seasons ago, the Hammers have been European challengers and winners rather than bottom half stragglers.
This season, though, West Ham are extremely fortunate they’re not in real danger of switching places with Leeds and Burnley.
Graham Potter’s side sit 17th with five games to play after a disastrous campaign off the back of spending £155m last summer.
In any normal, competitive Premier League campaign, the Hammers would still require another couple of wins from their remaining matches to ensure survival.
Dark clouds are gathering over West Ham yet again following a dismal 18 months which has seen a paltry 13 league wins from the last 52 games.
That is relegation form spread over a season and a half.
Leeds and Burnley prove grave Potter warning is no joke
Leeds United and Burnley know all about relegation. But both are back in the big time after sealing promotion on Easter Monday.
After beating Stoke 6-0, Championship leaders Leeds were waiting on the outcome of second-placed Burnley’s clash with third-placed Sheffield United.
Burnley won the game 2-1, sealing automatic promotion for themselves and Leeds with two games to go.
West Ham meanwhile were very lucky not to lose in a 1-1 draw at home against Southampton – the joint-worst team in Premier League history.
All three promoted teams will be relegated for the second consecutive season.
It has raised legitimate questions about a widening and unbridgeable gap between the Championship and top flight.
Burnley and Leeds will close the gap on West Ham
But Leeds and Burnley prove a Guardian journalist’s grave Potter warning is no joke for West Ham.
West Ham’s owners spoke out about Potter’s situation amid fan discontent following the draw with Southampton on Saturday, after which his side were booed off – and not for the first time.
Winning has become a way of life for Leeds and Burnley in the Championship, amassing 53 between them and counting this term.
The Hammers have won just three of Potter’s 14 games in charge and only 10 in 36 all season long.
Reporter Jacob Steinberg counts West Ham majority owner David Sullivan among his close contacts.
And Steinberg has warned Sullivan the Hammers will be relegation candidates under Potter next season.
Some may not have taken the prediction seriously given the gap that has existed between the promoted clubs and the 17 who will remain unchanged for a third season running.
Leeds and Burnley look to be a very different proposition altogether, though.
So West Ham and the owners should not be taking anything for granted whatsoever ahead of a crucial summer.
Both clubs have ambitious, wealthy owners with room to spend.
Steinberg’s West Ham relegation prediction not to be scoffed at
Leeds and Burnley also put West Ham to shame in many ways with their younger, hungrier and more dynamic starting XIs.
The Hammers have the oldest squad in the Premier League and the second oldest average starting XI.
Both Leeds and Burnley have younger starting XIs, the Clarets but over three years.
Burnley don’t look like they will be anything close to Premier League cannon fodder either.
Their Championship record this season under former Hammers hero Scott Parker has been nothing short of unbelievable.
While West Ham have shipped goals for fun again this season, Burnley have conceded just 15 in 44 games.
West Ham warning signs are there for next season
For context the Hammers conceded that amount in less than a month over the turn of the year.
Parker’s Clarets have kept 29 clean sheets and haven’t conceded more than one goal in any game as they stretch their unbeaten record to 31 games.
Yes the Premier League will be a completely different level. But those numbers are no fluke.
There’s a reason West Ham have been linked with half of Burnley’s backline – including goalkeeper James Trafford – of late.
The average age of Leeds’ attack is just 25.
Meanwhile West Ham’s striker pool of Michail Antonio, Niclas Fullkrug and Danny Ings have a combined age of 99.
Antonio and Ings are out of contract at the end of the season – but there is talk the former could see his contract renewed for another year given West Ham’s PSR issues.
So if anyone connected with West Ham scoffed at Steinberg’s grave relegation battle prediction, they need to get in the real world – and fast.
Because Burnley and Leeds will be nobody’s whipping boys next season and look the most capable promoted sides for many years.
They’re teams and clubs on the up, riding a wave of positivity.
West Ham have been a club on the decline for 18 months and are engulfed by negativity.
Sullivan and co must do what is needed to arrest the slide this summer – because next season will be no walk in the park or lark with Parker and Daniel Farke.
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