For the second successive house recreation at London Stadium, West Ham have completed with a lot of their followers having left lengthy earlier than the ultimate whistle.
was greeted by boos from these nonetheless inside the bottom at full-time.
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Two defeats, eight targets conceded and simply the solitary purpose scored on house soil makes for depressing studying for supervisor Graham Potter that’s solely going to extend the stress he’s below.
However afterwards, the previous Chelsea boss remained defiant.
“I perceive as a result of the scoreline is the scoreline and I perceive why individuals are upset,” he informed Sky Sports activities.
“We’re a brand new staff and we’ve got to stay collectively and concentrate on the issues we have finished properly and see the place we are able to enhance.”
How dangerous is it at West Ham?
West Ham followers may have their very own ideas on this query, however the statistics don’t make for nice studying:
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West Ham have conceded 11 targets within the Premier League this season – their second most at this stage of a single season within the competitors. They conceded 12 in 2010-11 and have been relegated.
The Hammers’ three defeats within the Premier League this season have all been by a 3+ purpose margin (0-3 v Sunderland, 1-5 v Chelsea, 0-3 v Spurs). The fourth spherical of fixtures is the joint earliest a aspect has misplaced three video games by a 3+ purpose margin in a season within the competitors, stage with Bournemouth in 2022-23.
Potter has the second-worst win proportion within the Premier League of any West Ham supervisor with 27.3%.
West Ham have misplaced their opening two house Premier League video games for the third time up to now 4 seasons (additionally 2022-23 and 2024-25). It’s the eighth time they’ve finished, three greater than every other aspect.
Since Potter’s appointment on 9 January, West Ham have the worst Premier League document of the 17 ever-present Premier League groups in that point.
What’s the issue at West Ham?
West Ham made 5 signings in the summertime, with extremely rated full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and former Newcastle striker Callum Wilson amongst these to reach.
Regardless of bolstering his defensive choices that has been the principle concern for West Ham this season.
Other than the alarming variety of targets they’ve conceded, additionally it is the kind they’re letting in.
No staff has conceded extra headed targets (5) than West Ham this season, whereas they’ve additionally let in six targets from corners – solely two fewer than they conceded from corners in the entire of final season (eight).
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“We conceded 9 or 10 set-pieces earlier than the purpose [against Tottenham] and defended them properly,” stated Potter.
“We made a mistake on the far put up and received punished.”
However for ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, it isn’t simply in regards to the poor begin to the season however extra the poor kind that has been happening longer.
“Everybody stated choose Graham Potter when he is had a full pre-season and an opportunity to get his personal gamers in, however there’s been no enchancment,” he informed BBC Sport.
Seeing the stadium half empty within the second half, identical to it was towards Chelsea, will fear the West Ham hierarchy.
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“Tomas Soucek’s purple card did not assist however that’s six wins and 11 defeats in 22 league matches for Potter. They’ve began so poorly. Will he be given extra time? I am unsure.”
Persistence wanted or time for change?
BBC Sport’s chief soccer information reporter Simon Stone:
Even when they’re being subjected to the form of criticism they’re getting for the time being, West Ham’s possession have a tendency to not go in for knee-jerk reactions in terms of coping with managers.
Chairman David Sullivan is extra possible to present somebody a recreation or two additional slightly than act when there may be nonetheless a chance the scenario may be pulled spherical.
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Clearly although, heavy house defeats by two of the membership’s fiercest rivals and slipping into the underside three is just not a very good look, particularly when Potter’s appointment final season did not set off the development hoped for.
If there’s a slight optimistic so far as Potter is anxious, it comes from figuring out we’re nonetheless extremely early into the brand new season.
Julen Lopetegui collected solely 5 factors from his first six Premier League video games in cost final season and it was January earlier than he was sacked. In 2022-23, West Ham collected 5 factors from seven video games with David Moyes in cost.
The secondary level is that West Ham made 4 signings between 29 August and the switch deadline closing two days later. Given there was a global break in between, how a lot time has Potter needed to work together with his new-look squad?
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Subsequent week, unbeaten Crystal Palace go to London Stadium for a recreation the place big demonstrations towards the possession are deliberate. If that recreation does not go properly, a tense environment might flip poisonous.
After that it is a journey to Merseyside and a gathering with Moyes’ enhancing Everton earlier than a visit to Arsenal, the place West Ham have gained on their previous two visits, together with below Potter in February.
That feels a extra apparent time to reassess, even when many West Ham followers really feel eliminating the supervisor is just the beginning of the change they really need.
‘Supervisor is not the problem’ – what the followers assume
Bonny: Graham Potter? At this fee, even Harry Potter would battle to work his magic. This has relegation written throughout it.
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Matt: 11 targets (and counting) conceded in 4 video games is relegation ready to occur. For all of the homeowners want to go away for West Ham to be successful, the lack to defend to this point this season has to sit down with Graham Potter.
Andy: West Ham have been poor below Moyes, poor below Lopetegui and poor below Potter. The supervisor is not the problem. Moyes is doing properly at Everton as a result of they provide him a wage funds and again him with transfers. West Ham do neither, for any supervisor.
Martin: As a lifelong Hammer and a multi-decade season-ticket holder this membership is shedding its soul. I worry the supervisor pays the value however the reality is the blame for a complete lack of technique and the destruction of that soul lies with the homeowners. No-one else.