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By JAMES SHARPE Published: 11: 00 AEST, 4 May 2025 | Updated: 11: 00 AEST, 4 May 2025 1 View comments It was only January when Graham Potter strode out for his unveiling at the London Stadium in his new club tracksuit and declared that becoming West Ham’s new manager was like ‘Christmas for adults’. Potter spoke that morning with the excitement of a boy ready to find a bright, shiny bicycle under the tree. His exasperation after West Ham’s defeat at Brighton last weekend told of a man who has since discovered that beneath the wrapping lay a lump of coal and an orange in a sock. Deep down, though, the former Brighton and Chelsea manager always knew he would have a job on his hands. Those of us who speak to him often have heard Potter talk time and time again about how many goals the team conceded before his arrival — more than 80 goals in 40 matches. Nearly four months on, though, and fans are yet to see much of a bounce. There’s been the odd high moment, like the magical win at Arsenal, but there’s not been the instant turnaround of Vitor Pereira at Wolves or even, say it quietly, former Hammers boss David Moyes at Everton, who was six points behind his old club when he took over at Goodison Park and is now two ahead. The bare numbers make grim reading for Potter. West Ham’s defeat at Brighton was their eighth in his 15 games in charge. Potter has taken 13 points from a possible 42 and the capitulation on the south coast made it seven matches without a win and eight points dropped in their last six games due to goals scored after the 88th minute.   Four months on from Graham Potter's appointment, West Ham fans are yet to see a bounce. The Hammers' defeat at Brighton last weekend was their eighth in Potter's 15 games in charge West Ham are seven matches without a win ahead of facing fellow strugglers Tottenham  Potter’s win percentage stands at 21 per cent. His predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, accepted now as a terrible appointment by club insiders, won 32 per cent of his. So, on the face of it, you could perhaps understand why the travelling fans agreed with striker Niclas Fullkrug when they chanted at the Amex Stadium, ‘the German’s right, we’re f****** s****! ’. Potter has been fortunate that the promoted sides, now the relegated ones, have been so bad and that fellow falling giants Manchester United and Sunday's opponents Tottenham have stolen more of the spotlight. For all the understandable frustration in the stands, there’s still a sense of calm behind the scenes, and rightly so. Potter’s bosses know what a mess he inherited and that he needs the summer, at least, before he can really be judged.   What would be the point of hiring him — and his recruitment specialist Kyle Macaulay from Chelsea — to make yet another change before they can put their plans into action. ‘With a few changes and a better pre-season, we expect a much better campaign next year, ’ a senior West Ham source told Mail Sport. ‘Potter will 100 per cent be the manager [next season]. ’ In his first few weeks in charge, Potter made a strong impression. ‘It feels like the club are pulling in the same direction, ’ an insider told Mail Sport at the time.   For all the understandable frustration, there’s still a sense of calm behind the scenes  Niclas Fullkrug had blasted the club's 'mentality problems' after their draw with Southampton Players and staff were impressed by his clear communication, something sorely lacking in Lopetegui. One of his first acts as manager was to call a full team meeting to air frank views about the side’s struggles in which club captain Jarrod Bowen took the lead. The garden feels less rosy now, of course, but dressing-room sources insist the mood is not as bad as the form and league position might suggest. Sources close to Bowen, who will surely attract interest this summer, insist the forward remains happy at the club and is proud to be captain. ‘There haven’t been many jokes this week, to be honest, ’ said Potter. ‘We were all annoyed and upset after that type of experience [at Brighton]. ’ Potter insisted, though, that he’d seen a ‘togetherness’ among his squad. ‘How they act on the training ground, ’ he said.   ‘How they communicate with each other, how they train, the intensity and the effort they put in. There’s no sulking around, no whining at each other. It’s an acknowledgment that, come on, we’re not in a good place here, this isn’t good enough but we have to get on with it and do it better. ’ It is in the summer when the real work will start and Potter wants to do plenty of it. Over the past few weeks, he has spoken of the ‘baggage’ his players are carrying in dropping points late in games as well as being unable to live up to the ‘mental and physical demands’ to win matches.   Most damningly, after the loss to Southampton, he spoke of a team unable to control games with attacking football. Since his first Premier League game in charge, only the bottom three have scored fewer goals than West Ham and only they and Everton average fewer shots per game. Sources close to Jarrod Bowen insist the forward remains happy and is proud to be captain The Hammers are still yet to replace Declan Rice after spending almost £400m on transfers They, after all, are a club who received £105million for Declan Rice, have spent more than £400m over the previous three seasons yet still lack a midfield with the legs to dominate a contest and a striker to build the team around. Despite his protestations at his team-mates’ lack of ‘motivation’, Fullkrug mustered only a single sprint in 80 minutes against Southampton. When asked for the reasons why West Ham have struggled this season, the senior club source suggested ‘bad buying’ was a key aspect and told Mail Sport that they would need to sell before they can make any purchases. Few things sum up the recruitment shambles that Potter inherited than the situation surrounding French defender Jean-Clair Todibo. West Ham’s survival means the club are now obligated to turn his loan from Nice into £36. 3m permanent deal. That’s a hefty chunk of money spent in Potter’s first transfer window, for a player he may not want and may then try to sell. It was sanctioned by a sporting director in Tim Steidten who is no longer at the club. It’s why the club are also looking at picking up free transfers where they can, such as Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill, who is out of contract in the summer. West Ham are prepared for a summer overhaul. Loanees Carlos Soler and Evan Ferguson are expected to return to Paris Saint-Germain and Brighton. Danny Ings, Vladimir Coufal, Lukasz Fabianski and Aaron Cresswell, a key link in a dressing room with a few cliques, are out of contract in the summer. So, too, is Michail Antonio, who is still returning to full fitness after his car accident. Potter wants to cut the average age of one of the oldest squads in the Premier League this season while trimming the number of senior players to leave room for youth to blossom. West Ham are now obligated to turn Jean-Clair Todibo loan into a £36. 3m permanent deal Selling winger Mohammed Kudus will be West Ham's most likely way to drum up cash While it’s easier, of course, to do it when there’s no real threat of relegation and no cups or European ambition to play for, Potter has been more proactive in giving academy players their chance in the Premier League than his predecessors. One of his first moves was to bring Ollie Scarles into the first-team dressing room. He plans to bring young midfielders Freddie Potts and George Earthy, currently on loan at Portsmouth and Bristol City respectively, into the fold next season. Selling winger Mohammed Kudus will be their most likely way to drum up cash. The winger is understood to be keen to move on and Mail Sport revealed the winger’s contract includes a staggering £125m release clause for Saudi clubs this summer, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr one of the clubs interested.   For Premier League clubs, that clause drops to £85m and it is understood West Ham would accept an offer around that price. Potter will use the last four matches, starting at home to Tottenham on Sunday, to decide who he wants to stick around. ‘We have to make decisions that make sure the club are in a better place going forward, ’ he said. ‘There’s a saying, isn’t there? If you can’t change people, change people. ’

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