Graham Potter goes back to Chelsea as West Ham manager on Monday night very much with a point to prove.
Being thrust into the unprecedented situation Graham Potter faced at Chelsea would have tested even the most experienced manager to the limit.
So much about a side’s success relates to team spirit, being tight-knit and motivated.
But Potter is only now at West Ham because the sheer amount of money spent on that hugely bloated Chelsea squad chewed him up and spat him out.
The level of spending and scrutiny at Stamford Bridge during that period took its toll on Potter.
It says everything that he admitted he needed to take 20 months out to reflect and refresh before saying yes to taking over West Ham after Julen Lopetegui’s sacking last month.
Now he goes back to Chelsea on Monday night with the bit between his teeth if not quite a chip on his shoulder.
Before agreeing to become just the 19th permanent manager in West Ham’s 130-year history, Potter reportedly turned down 10 job offers since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023.
West Ham are Potter’s comeback story after ill-fated Chelsea spell
They include Milan, Leipzig, Ajax, Leicester and, having snubbed them to join the Irons, Everton – who then elected to bring back ex Hammers boss David Moyes instead.
Had West Ham poached Potter from Brighton – like Chelsea did – West Ham’s owners would have been hailed as ambitious and forward-thinking,
But the ill-fated spell at Chelsea – and his lengthy period out of work, albeit by choice – means West Ham are now Potter’s comeback story.
This is his stage to show why he was tipped to be a future England manager.
Bar a dismal performance in a 2-0 home defeat to Palace, early signs have been largely positive.
Nowhere more so than in the 1-1 draw away at Villa last time out.
Despite having a host of players out and four full-backs in a back five, Potter’s West Ham side dominated the ball and the chances at Villa Park.
In the end the Hammers were desperately unlucky not to beat Unai Emery’s Champions League last 16’ers.
Supporters are excited to see what Potter can do as he gets key players such as Jarrod Bowen, Crysencio Summerville and Jean-Clair Todibo back in the coming weeks.
Merson makes brutal Chelsea claim about Potter
And if he can bring in a new striker before Monday night’s deadline.
After a terrible 2024 under Moyes and Lopetegui, Potter has restored some much-needed hope for 2025 and beyond.
Chelsea away will be a big test. But have West Ham made the right appointment regardless of what happens at Stamford Bridge?
According to two top Sky Sports pundits, the answer is ‘yes’.
Paul Merson has delivered an emphatic verdict on Potter at West Ham after a brutal Chelsea claim.
And fellow Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison agreed.
As a massive Chelsea fan, Merson watched Potter closely during his short-lived spell at Stamford Bridge.
The ‘magic man’ admits the job he walked into in west London was simply ‘too big’ for Potter.
But West Ham fans will love what Merson and Morrison had to say about his appointment as the duo slammed the job done by Lopetegui.
Morrison agrees with Merson’s verdict on Potter at West Ham
“I think he’s been out of the game long enough,” Merson said on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk.
“The Chelsea one, without being horrible, I think it was a bit too big for him. It was a big, big job for him coming from Brighton.
“I think he’s been unlucky with the centre-forward situation with (Michail) Antonio – firstly I’m hoping he’s well – and the German lad (Niclas) Fullkrug, he’s injured.
“I like him, Potter. I think (the rest of) this season is just a steady, get everybody right, see what players he needs, the way he wants to play.
“But it does suit him (West Ham) because he’s got talented players, he wants to play on the front foot and the other lad Lopetegui, he was too defensive for me. And he had too much talent wasting their talent. You know (Mohammed) Kudus and (Lucas) Paqueta who I think are very special players.”
Morrison concurred with Merson’s assessment, saying he thinks Potter is a great choice for West Ham.
“I agree with Merse, I think Potter is the right fit,” Morrison said.
“I think he will get it right, you have to give him time. You can’t be spending that much money and being where West Ham are.
“Lopetegui was nowhere near good enough, they (West Ham’s owners) might as well have kept David Moyes (if they were going to appoint Lopetegui).
“I know West Ham like attacking football well they’ll get that with Graham Potter now so I think it’s a good appointment. And hopefully they start climbing up the table.”
Let’s hope they’re both right.
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