Not for the first time, West Ham United icon Tony Cottee found himself sifting through Graham Potter’s squad and wondering where the excitement is supposed to be.
A 3-0 defeat away at Sunderland, newly-promoted Sunderland, meant West Ham kicked off 2025/26 with a humiliating loss.
And while Graham Potter vented his frustration towards the Hammers’ centre-back trio of Max Kilman, Nayef Aguerd and Jean-Clair Todibo – both Eliezer Mayenda and Dan Ballard scored with a pair of unchallenged second-half headers – his midfield hardly fared any better at the Stadium of Light.
While one-time West Ham target Habib Diarra ran the show alongside the imperious Noah Sadiki and the evergreen Granit Xhaka, Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse barely mustered a meaningful kick of the ball between them.
As far as Cottee is concerned, West Ham United’s biggest Achilles heel lies not at centre-half but in a midfield devoid of the energy and intensity of Declan Rice’s heyday.
Tony Cottee has major doubts about West Ham United duo Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse
Speaking to talkSPORT, Cottee went as far as to label a one-paced midfield the ‘biggest problem’ facing Potter in the London Stadium dugout.
The good news is that, after West Ham made a £30 million bid for Mateus Fernandes of Southampton, it’s clear that he is not the only one aware of such an issue. Reports from Brazil claim that West Ham are targeting Chelsea’s Andre Santos, too.
A pair of imposing, athletic midfielders who would represent an instant upgrade on those currently at Potter’s disposal.
“Sometimes, the players have to stand up and be counted,” fumes Cottee, who scored 146 goals across two spells in claret and blue. “Sunderland scored two headed goals, and West Ham were playing three centre-halves!
“If you’re a centre-half, you’ve got to head the ball clear! The lad who scored the first goal [Mayenda], he looked smaller than our three centre-halves and it was such a poor goal to concede.
“[But] the biggest problem at West Ham at the moment is there are no legs in midfield.
“Rodriguez, I don’t see what he brings to the table. Ward-Prowse is a good footballer but there’s no athleticism or pace there. No one who can get up and down.
“Of course we miss Declan Rice! Dec would be perfect in there now but he’s gone! They’ve got to try and replace him. They need to get someone who can get about in midfield.”
“[Edson] Alvarez, not an athletic player, [Tomas] Soucek not an athletic player. There is no one to come on and give you a bit of variation. West Ham have to go out and get one or two midfield players.”
Cottee disappointed by Mads Hermansen debut as Edson Alvarez exits
Cottee will be pleased to learn, then, that not only are West Ham determined to bring Fernandes to the capital, they are also looking to move on some of those currently taking some substantial wages at the London Stadium.
Hammers News can confirm that West Ham are open to selling Rodriguez and Soucek. However, all is quiet around the latter at present. Rodriguez is hoping for a return to Spain with Real Betis but it appears the beaten Europa Conference League finalists have other ideas.
Fenerbahce are set to sign Edson Alvarez on loan with an option-to-buy clause, though, while covering his £100,000-a-week wages. This will free up some additional funds which could be put towards meeting Southampton’s £50 million asking price.
In the meantime, while Tony Cottee was delighted to see Mads Hermansen arrive in an £18 million deal from Leicester City, he accepts that Graham Potter’s new number one hardly covered himself in glory during a debut to forget on Wearside.
Hermansen failed to prevent Wilson Isidor’s very savable curling effort late on.
“The goalkeeper had a bit of a nightmare,” Cottee concludes. “And I am a fan of the goalkeeper.”
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