West Ham paid a heavy price for a lack of leaders as they were relegated to the Championship and experienced players will be a necessity if they want to bounce straight back.
While the owners must shoulder most of the blame for West Ham’s demise, Graham Potter committed a sin by releasing West Ham’s core leadership group Aaron Cresswell, Michail Antonio, Vladimir Coufal and Lukasz Fabianski last summer.
Antonio slammed Potter for letting so much experience walk out of West Ham, saying he didn’t want players with authority in the dressing room.
If West Ham thought they needed more leaders in the Premier League, that necessity will be even more acute in the Championship where character and experience is just as important as quality.
Coufal sends relegation rallying cry to West Ham
Take one look at West Ham’s team the last time they were promoted from the Championship 14 years ago.
It was packed full of leaders from Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble to Rob Green, Winston Reid, James Tomkins, Julien Faubert, Jack Collison, Matty Taylor, Gary O’Neil and Carlton Cole.
Relegation confirmed – where do West Ham go from here?
With West Ham’s current captain Jarrod Bowen being tipped to leave the club after relegation was confirmed, there will be a black hole of leadership in the dressing room.
So the Hammers could do a lot worse than right one of Potter’s wrongs and bring back Coufal after his message of hope to his old club.
Coufal has left Potter red-faced by being statistically the best right-back in the Bundesliga with fifth-placed Hoffenheim following his release by West Ham.
The Czech warrior right back has revealed since he was angry and devastated that Potter let him go in a shock 30-second conversation after five years of stellar service to the club.
Coufal has kept close tabs on the Hammers ever since, often speaking positively about the club and the fans in interviews and on social media.
His best friend Tomas Soucek is still at the club and is believed to want to stay and help the Hammers back into the top flight.
West Ham must bring back leader Coufal
The Hammers could and should reunite the duo if they want to stand any hope of promotion.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has fallen out of favour with West Ham fans for a perceived poor attitude and will likely demand to leave.
How does Bowen’s snub impact our chances of keeping him this summer even if relegated? 🤔
Kyle Walker-Peters is a decent option but West Ham will need at least one more right-back to get through a gruelling Championship campaign.
Coufal would not cost a lot to bring back given his age and relatively low wages at Hoffenheim.
After West Ham’s relegation was confirmed, Coufal sent a rallying cry to his old club and praised the fans – insisting the Hammers will bounce back.
“I will be FOREVER blowing bubbles, till I fade and die,” Coufal said on social media.
“Now it hurts but I am 100 per cent sure (come the) first game of (the) new season fans will be here again, (the) London Stadium will be full, cheering for Claret and Blue army. COYI.”
How on earth Potter allowed that man to leave this club is beyond baffling. It is bordering on gross negligence.
West Ham won’t have much money to spend in the Championship and need players who understand the club and what is required.
Offering Coufal a two-year contract to return to the London Stadium at this stage of his career would undoubtedly appeal.
It is the biggest no-brainer and would set the right tone for the club’s intentions if Coufal was brought back.
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