Holly Turbutt
As West Ham’s clash with Everton draws closer, thoughts turn to whether this could be Graham Potter’s final game in charge.
Saturday’s home defeat against Crystal Palace has left fans feeling disconnected, with frustrations mounting and many asking… where have things gone so wrong?
Where do West Ham’s issues lie?
There are two points that are impossible to ignore. The first is that West Ham’s results have not been good enough.
Our fourth defeat of the season leaves Potter with an average of 0.96 points per game at the Club, giving him the worst points-per-game average of any manager in West Ham’s history.
To put this into perspective, Lopetegui had an average of 1.18 points per game, while Avram Grant averaged 1.21 in the season we were relegated. It goes without saying that we cannot keep up this form, with Potter having 12 losses in 23 League games for the Hammers.
The second issue is that the same patterns are repeatedly turning into losses. A prime example of this is our inability to defend against set pieces, with West Ham amounting the highest number of goals conceded from corners in the League and no signs of this stopping any time soon.
In fact, just five games into the season, seven of our 13 goals conceded have been from corners, just one less than we conceded from a corner over the entirety of last season.
This significant drop in form has seen us go from committing to a long-term project with Potter, to being at a crossroads where we may have no choice but to cut our losses to stay in the league this season.
Expectation vs. reality
When Potter was appointed in January, the premise was that he had the rest of the season to use as a bit of a free hit. Expectations were at an all-time low following Lopetegui’s spell at the club and the general consensus was that Potter had time to introduce his coaching methods gradually, building in pre-season with a full squad.
Most fans agreed that it would take time to get us back to a competitive level, but that we should be in a good position to contend with the better sides in the 2025/26 Premier League season.
There were initial signs of progress after Potter’s appointment, going from heavy defeats to conceding less goals and looking more organised overall. That said, despite seeing glimpses of a more structured approach to games, results still needed to drastically improve.
An underwhelming transfer window
West Ham’s summer transfer business caused frustration amongst fans, with key pieces of business being done very close to the deadline. Last season, it became apparent that we needed to invest heavily, particularly in our midfield to introduce some pace and creativity, yet we made our two midfield signings after the season had kicked off.
Overall, the players West Ham brought in have already shown a positive impact, but the timing has meant that the new recruits are now under pressure to find their feet quickly.
While our recent transfer business hasn’t been the most inspiring, we do still have a squad that should be able to compete in the Premier League.
A step backwards
As the 2025/26 season kicked off, it became clear that there has been a regression, despite the initial improvement in organisation under Potter.
Whichever stats you see, they’re deeply concerning, from the manner and volume of goals conceded, to the home defeats and the lack of chances that we are creating.
We now find ourselves in a position where last season seemed significantly better and the question has changed from not if we should part ways with Potter, but when.
Potter’s potential replacements
The Club look to be initiating conversations with potential replacements for Potter, but rumours of reuniting with Slaven Bilic haven’t given much cause for optimism.
Talks of another short-term fix, just five games into the season, also haven’t gone down well at a time where West Ham desperately need to find stability.
The fans’ choice at this stage appears to be Nuno Espírito Santo, given the fact he’s taken Wolves and Forest from similar positions into European football. But what does that mean for West Ham’s long-term future after we paid to secure Potter’s choice for Head of Recruitment, Kyle Macaulay?
After making signings that fit Potter and Macaulay’s vision, the question has to be asked… would Macaulay stay if Potter goes, or would West Ham need to start again?
There’s no doubt that big decisions will have to be made in the coming days.
Looking forward to Everton
West Ham prepare to travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday, where Everton remain unbeaten. Ironically, this will see us face former Manager, David Moyes, who will be looking to extend that home record.
The pressure is now firmly on Potter to get a result, with it feeling inevitable that a heavy defeat could spell the end of the Head Coach’s reign at West Ham.
Want to read more? Head over to our YouTube channel for the latest news, views and opinions.
