West Ham United’s 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace not only left Graham Potter on the brink, it also shone a harsh light on the very different directions in which the two London neighbours are heading.
Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to a staggering 17 matches at the London Stadium. A run which includes successive Wembley triumphs over Manchester City and Liverpool, not to mention those Europa Conference League qualifiers.
As for West Ham United, an unbeaten run of two games feels rather fanciful right now, let alone 17.
Tyrick Mitchell’s winner on Saturday afternoon – Crystal Palace deepened Graham Potter’s gloom while scoring yet another set-piece goal in the process – means that the Hammers have lost five of their six matches so far in 2025/26.
And while reports suggest that West Ham will not sack Potter just yet, his seemingly inevitable departure is in stark contrast to the influence and the rock-solid confidence Oliver Glasner wields 16 miles south at Selhurst Park.
Darren Bent says West Ham United have no chance of luring Oliver Glasner away from Crystal Palace
Former England striker Darren Bent, speaking on talkSPORT, would not be surprised if some at the London Stadium were dreaming of luring Glasner away from a local rival. He would, however, be mightily surprised if the extremely highly-rated Austrian even glanced in their direction.
If West Ham and Graham Potter are a ‘match made in hell’, to quote Bent, then Crystal Palace and Oliver Glasner remain very much in love.
“I think they need to be aiming for top eight. The last time they lost a game of football was April 16th! Last April!,” says the one-time Tottenham and Aston Villa striker with a great deal of astonishment.
“[Glasner] is a top, top-drawer manager.
“It’s hard for him because he’s at a football club where people are going to come and steal your players. Marc Guehi will be gone [before next season]. Adam Wharton probably won’t be there. Dean Henderson is putting in performances where someone is going to say, ‘Give me him’.
“And Glasner has ensured they are still a really good team in terms of getting results, performances… [They have] learnt the system exactly,” Bent adds, aiming a dig towards a certain other coach who gave up on his three-at-the-back formation after conceding 11 goals in just three matches.
“[Crystal Palace show] how you play that ‘three’ system. Palace this season should be looking at top eight, 100 per cent.
“West Ham, you would probably say, is a bigger club than Palace. But West Ham are not in the position Palace are. Palace are in such a good position, from top to bottom. Palace know what they are and what they are doing, and Glasner is absolutely incredible.”
So, Bent suggests, do not waste any ink writing Glasner’s name onto any post-Potter wishlists. Furthermore, while his contract expires at the end of the season, one suspects Sullivan in particular would like to avoid a tense, drawn-out negotiation with a manager tied down to a rival club.
Bent talks up former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil with Potter on brink
Hammers News can confirm that vice-chair Karren Brady spoke to Nuno Espirito Santo last week. The former Nottingham Forest boss is keen on a quick return to management.
But while Brady appears to be pushing for Nuno – a man who took Forest from a position similar to West Ham’s right now and guided them to European football – owner David Sullivan reportedly prefers Slaven Bilic.
A coach he sacked back in 2017, and who has achieved very little since even if he remains a highly popular figure in East London.
Darren Bent talked up Gary O’Neil – a former West Ham midfielder – as another potential Potter replacement a few days ago.
“West Ham and Graham Potter, that is a match made in hell,” Bent adds. “There has been some appalling performances.
“They played that game at Villa Park [Potter’s debut back in January] and I thought, ‘I like this. I can see what they are trying to do’. But it’s been a disaster really.
“The fact they are talking to Bilic and Nuno, he hasn’t got long left.”
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