When Graham Potter’s teamsheet came out at Old Trafford, West Ham fans went into meltdown and understandably so.
West Ham supporters packed out the away end at Man United once again despite the miserable 18 months they have endured following four memorable years.
There had been just 13 wins from the last 54 Premier League games for the Hammers between January 2024 and the visit to Old Trafford.
Julen Lopetegui was much maligned during his ill-fated and short stay in east London.
Especially for some of his bizarre team selections and tactics.
The pressure eventually told on Lopetegui back in January.
But the jury has been very much out on Graham Potter since.
Potter team selection for Man United sparked fan meltdown
The Englishman had only managed three wins in his 16 games ahead of Man United.
He too has been struggling to convince Hammers fans he is the man to get the club back competing for Europe in the years to come.
West Ham were booed off after a 1-1 draw with Tottenham last week – and not for the first time.
The Hammers have had a terrible habit of collapsing late in games under Potter, as evidenced in recent matches against Brighton, Southampton, Liverpool, Bournemouth and Everton.
West Ham have struggled to score goals under their new manager.
Potter has been labelled weak by Simon Jordan.
Potter-ball has also been described as boring by Tony Cascarino, who predicted the board could be forced to sack the former Brighton boss if things don’t drastically improve.
Fans have given Potter a period of grace this season until he has his own players in the door.
But it means he will be under immense pressure from the off next season.
In the meantime, though, supporters want to be given some hope and a glimpse of what Potter might bring once he has his own team in place.
So when the teamsheet was published ahead of kick-off at Man United and Niclas Fullkrug was dropped while the likes of Guido Rodriguez, James Ward-Prowse, Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell started, reaction was scathing.
The general consensus among Hammers supporters was ‘what is Potter thinking’.
Rodriguez in particular was a strange one. The Argentine has barely played since joining, especially after Lopetegui’s sacking.
The central midfielder has been frozen out by Potter but was suddenly drafted in for his first start in months.
Fullkrug being dropped angered West Ham fans, who made their feelings clear from the stands by chanting relentlessly about their big outspoken German.
Major Potter gamble pays off after damning new West Ham board leak
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For all the criticism of Potter, Rodriguez was superb after a shaky start and very much key to a 2-0 win.
Yes Man United were no great opposition and most definitely had more than one eye on the Europa League final – understandably so.
But while the midfield three of Tomas Soucek, Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse clearly has no future at the club, it worked – for this particular game at least.
Mohammed Kudus had one of his better games.
And both Coufal and Cresswell – once again – rolled back the years with brilliant displays which should see them have little trouble finding new clubs.
Goals from Soucek and Jarrod Bowen secured a pretty comfortable 2-0 win all things considered.
It is just as well too.
Senior West Ham figures had Potter reservations, claims source
Because on the eve of the match overnight, a top source close to majority owner David Sullivan made a revelation about Potter which would only have brought renewed pressure had his side flopped again at Old Trafford.
Sean Whetstone stated that senior leadership figures at West Ham had reservations about appointing Potter.
So his dismal 19 per cent win rate since taking charge would have been doing his standing no favours at all.
Whetstone also revealed the board were more hopeful than convinced about next season under Potter.
“West Ham’s board of directors are just as frustrated as everybody else with the last 18 months, adding they completely understand how supporters feel,” Whetstone said on X.
“Those eighteen months of pain started in January last year with a downturn in form under David Moyes, which ultimately led to the former manager having a contract extension offer withdrawn.
“His overall win ratio in his second stint was an impressive 45% and 1.5 points per game, but his last six months dropped to a win rate of 22% with just four wins, seven draws and eight losses in the second half of his last season in charge, averaging just over 1 point per game. Last summer, the board appointed Julen Lopetegui, but West Ham’s fortunes didn’t improve on the pitch, both from a results and entertainment point of view and the Spanish manager was let go with a £3.3m pay off in January this year with win ratio of 32% and an average of 1.2 points per game.
“Graham Potter took over the reins despite reservations by some on the senior leadership team at West Ham. He has only managed a poor 19% win ratio so far and 0.9 points per game. It is hoped that a full pre-season and a rebuild of the squad this summer will improve West Ham’s fortunes in terms of results and entertainment value next season.”
Beating Man United 2-0 away from home is a good line in the sand for Potter and West Ham.
It should be the benchmark for the team moving forward and a solid foundation to build on.
The win comes after West Ham’s owners gave Potter their 100 per cent backing ahead of the game.
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