Graham Potter offers so much more as a head coach both on, and off the pitch – as we discovered today with his expansive display in the pre-match press conference before tomorrow’s home Premier League fixture against Fulham. Despite a narrow 1-2 defeat away at Aston Villa, the atmosphere around the club seems very positive with the change in leadership still less than a week old.
The Hammers head coach admits freely that he’s found the team receptive:”The response and approach from the players has been really good. They’re enthusiastic to try and to connect with each other. It’s been a tough period, and we want to build together as a team.”
When speaking specifically about the attacking options following Niclas Fullkrug’s hamstring injury, Potter was forthright:” Sometimes in these situations you have to be creative, and look at your players’ attributes. We’ve got options up front, in terms of Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paquetá and Danny Ings, so let’s see.”
Which can be interpreted in many different ways but quite likely signals West Ham’s likely front man will be a ‘makeshift’ Kudus working in a central striker role. Ings was largely invisible against Aston Villa and Paquetá is more suited to a number 10 – or left sided attacking role. What’s more Kudus is the only one with the pace to trouble Fulham’s defence as a main striker. He’s been quiet this season, almost the sleeping giant (apart from the Spurs fracas!) but showed signs already after one game under Graham Potter’s stewardship that the swagger – along with the performance – might just be on the way back.
Much will depend on Summerville’s fitness situation – described in detail by Potter:“A minor one with him. He felt something after about 35 minutes, and finished the first half probably not at 100 per cent. It’s touch and go for tomorrow, so let’s see.” Summerville’s fitness could well dictate the Hammers’ formation tomorrow, so convincing was the young Hammer in the wing back role. But it won’t surprise me to see Mohammed Kudus start in the somewhat unfamiliar central striker role. Another Arnautovic? (Winger made into top – quality striker.) Don’t bet against it.
