Potter May Have Dodged a Bullet With Poisoned West Ham Challice. Not much has made sense at West Ham during the past 24 hours of the Julen Lopetegui saga.
The misguided, muddled, and indecisive thinking that has plagued the club for years appears to have taken grip, with the Hammers board seemingly in a state of paralysis.
However, there was one decision I was in total agreement with: offering Graham Potter a short-term deal. Reportedly, it was the short-term nature of this agreement that Potter rejected, but it was what was best for the club.
The former Brighton and Chelsea manager is damaged goods, having failed miserably at Stamford Bridge, and he needs the chance to resurrect his career. In much the same way as David Moyes during his first stint at the London Stadium, Potter would benefit hugely from performing a rescue job. If he is half as good as he thinks he is, he’d probably get the gig
Potter could well be an excellent manager, and his stint on the South Coast suggests he is. However, his time at Chelsea has raised doubts, and understandably, West Ham are uncertain of his pedigree.
One accusation levelled against Potter is that he is weak and unable to lead, and that is not a quality anyone needs in the Claret and Blue part of East London. Whoever ends up in the Hammers hot seat will need to be incredibly strong to lead a club in absolute disarray and lacking identity.
Strong leadership and character are a must for anyone daring to take the top job at West Ham, which is why the club are right to negotiate a “try before you buy” option.
West Ham have a director of football who has fallen out spectacularly with the last two coaches he has worked with. Now, it could be that Tim Steidten is completely innocent and both David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui are at fault, but if I were the next Irons coach, I’d be sleeping with one eye open.
Then there’s the utter mess at boardroom level, which often makes the club seem rudderless. A large percentage of the club’s shares remain up for sale, Daniel Kretinsky is wielding increasingly more influence without having the time to get involved, and David Sullivan still oversees everything.
Potter is nobody’s fool, as his degree in psychology demonstrates, so he must be aware of the fractious nature of West Ham, yet he still wishes to join. That in itself is commendable, but the London Stadium is no place for a shrinking violet.
Apparently, Potter has been put off by the lack of a long-term contract, but he may well find that, once he’s peeked behind the curtain, a six-month stint in Stratford will suit him just fine.
