West Ham Faces Pressure After Disappointing Start to Premier League Season
"West Ham is not a club that panics about its managers. We tend to stick with them, support them, and see it through."
These comments from West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady followed the team's 3-0 defeat to newly promoted Sunderland in their Premier League opener.
After this disappointing start, the club's management and fans were eager for a strong response against Chelsea on Friday. Instead, they witnessed a 5-1 defeat at home, which resulted in boos from the crowd at the final whistle.
Many supporters chose to leave the London Stadium long before the match concluded, highlighting their dissatisfaction.
While it may be premature to place a manager under pressure after just two games, the disappointing performances have raised concerns about the team's direction under manager Graham Potter, who took over from Julen Lopetegui in January.
Since his appointment, Potter has secured only five victories out of 21 matches. Following the loss to Sunderland, West Ham has conceded eight goals in their first two games of a top-flight campaign for the first time in the club's history.
Additionally, Potter is the first West Ham manager in Premier League history to fail to reach double digits in points from his first ten home games, accumulating only nine points from two wins, three draws, and five losses.
Potter acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "It’s the reality, but we’ve had a tough week. We’ve played two matches and conceded eight goals; there’s no getting away from that, so that has to drastically improve."
What’s Wrong with West Ham?
This summer, West Ham made five new signings, including highly-rated full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, and former Newcastle striker Callum Wilson. However, there has been little indication of improvement on the field.
The team has shown significant defensive vulnerabilities, particularly from set-pieces, with three of the five goals conceded against Chelsea originating from such situations. Hermansen was at fault for two of those goals, struggling to handle corner kicks.
Captain Jarrod Bowen expressed the frustration within the West Ham dressing room, telling Sky Sports, "Fuming. Disappointing. All the emotions that come with conceding eight goals in two games and not picking up a point yet. I thought the goals we conceded were really cheap. We didn’t make them work for those three from set-pieces, which we’ve always prided ourselves on over the years. We gifted the goals away."
Former West Ham and Chelsea goalkeeper Rob Green commented on Sky Sports, saying, "It was just so far from good enough. The goals they concede, the energy that’s not there in the side, and already you’re worried. It’s such a long time to wait until the next game. You’ve got to sit and live through this; it is a brutal experience."
Are Hammers in a Relegation Battle?
While it may be too early to suggest that West Ham is facing a relegation battle this season, the concern among supporters is palpable. With only one goal scored and eight conceded, the team is demonstrating a troubling combination of offensive struggles and defensive frailties, which does not bode well for their aspirations of avoiding a difficult season.
Next, West Ham will face Nottingham Forest, followed by consecutive London derbies against Tottenham and Crystal Palace—three challenging fixtures that will require significant improvement from the team.
Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp remarked on Sky Sports, "If I’m Sunderland, Burnley, or Leeds, I’m looking at West Ham and thinking, ‘They’re the ones, the weakest team in the Premier League we’re going to catch.’ That squad isn’t good enough. They haven’t got enough quality players. That midfield just couldn’t keep up; they need someone with real pace."
While new signings can help rejuvenate a squad low on confidence, Potter did not indicate that many acquisitions would be made before the transfer window closes on September 1. He stated, "I think it would be a bit obtuse of me to speak about signings when clearly we have to improve and do better with what we have. We need to do more as a group, and as always, we will look to strengthen while the window is open."
Potter is aware of the pressure he is under, and the outcomes of the coming weeks—both in terms of match results and transfer activity—will significantly influence his future with the club. "You’re under pressure all the time in these jobs; in this situation, that’s how it is," he added. "I know the territory, I understand what comes with poor results, and I accept my responsibility."