Graham Potter under ‘serious pressure’ at West Ham as worrying sign emerges
West Ham United have endured a torrid start to their Premier League season, losing their opening two games and now they sit bottom of the table.
As results on the pitch have slumped, attitudes around the club have soured, with Troy Deeney suggesting there’s “too much finger pointing” going on.
A surprising 3-0 loss away at Sunderland was followed up by getting “slaughtered” 5-1 at the hands of Chelsea, and Graham Potter is now under increasing pressure.
To rub salt in the wounds of West Ham fans, the club looked sure to be going through to the third round of the Carabao Cup, being 2-1 up in the 80th minute away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but a late two-minute double from Jorgen Strand Larsen propelled the hosts through.
Football Insider exclusively reported earlier that West Ham have moved to line up a new manager to replace Potter.
Potter’s side will now travel to Nottingham Forest, who could be set to sack Nuno Espirito Santo, on Sunday, before heading into what could be a crucial international break for many head coaches.
Graham Potter is under pressure and concerning trends are emerging
As the pressure rises on Potter, and West Ham’s results continue to take a nose dive, one BBC journalist has identified some key concerns for the 50-year-old.
Talking on BBC Sport’s Q&A (August 28), chief football writer Phil McNulty responded to a question of where West Ham’s issues are flowing from, saying: “A combination of things. Poor recruitment as a result of poor decisions at the top, and also poor managerial choices such as Julen Lopetegui.
“Potter has also failed to inspire, looking lost and a shadow of the manager who impressed so much at Brighton. He has a reputation as a builder, not a quick-fix manager,” he continued.
“So in some ways it is still early days, but results and Potter’s defeated body language and lack of impact mean he is under serious pressure.”
McNulty went on to discuss the other negativity that is currently revolving around the club: “There is also serious fan unrest, with Jarrod Bowen – a player totally beyond reproach and the current heartbeat of West Ham – involved in an altercation with a supporter after the Carabao Cup defeat at Wolves.”
But the chief football writer did offer some hope for Hammers fans: “Maybe a busy last few days of the transfer window will help change the course of The Hammers’ season.”
Graham Potter is capable of turning things around at West Ham
Football Insider verdict
It wouldn’t take too long to stroll down memory lane and remember the promising manager Potter was at Brighton just over five years ago.
An impressive spell with the Seagulls, along with his reputation as a young up-and-coming English manager, earned him the job at Chelsea.
| Clubs | Years |
| Leeds Carnegie | 2008-11 |
| Ostersund | 2011-18 |
| Swansea City | 2018-19 |
| Brighton and Hove Albion | 2019-22 |
| Chelsea | 2022-23 |
| West Ham United | 2025- |
The jump was a big one, combined with the turmoil that was Chelsea amid the sale of the club from Roman Abramovich to Todd Boehly, and Potter fell victim to a club in transition.
There’s no escaping Potter’s poor record since taking over at the London Stadium in January and as the poor results keep piling up, questions over the ex-Swansea boss become more intense.
However, Potter has undeniable qualities, that were on display for everyone to see at Brighton, and if he can be backed properly by West Ham’s hierarchy, Potter possesses the tools to work his magic in East London.