West Ham Vice-Chair Supports Manager Amidst Disappointing Start
Karren Brady, vice-chair of West Ham United, has stated that the club will not overreact following a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Sunderland in their Premier League opener. Manager Graham Potter will be given time to improve the team's performance.
The Hammers suffered a setback against the newly promoted Black Cats at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, marking a continuation of inconsistent results under Potter since his appointment in January.
Since taking over from Julen Lopetegui, the former Brighton and Chelsea manager has recorded five wins, five draws, and ten losses in 20 matches.
Following the recent defeat, some frustrated fans have called for Potter's dismissal, expressing concerns about a potential relegation battle this season.
However, Brady reassured supporters in an interview with Talksport, stating, "Graham is a forward-thinking manager. He remains calm under pressure, is detail-oriented in his approach, and excels in managing players. He builds strong relationships with them and they understand his vision. His modern mindset means that assembling a cohesive team takes time."
She emphasized that West Ham is not a club that panics regarding managerial changes. "We typically support our managers and see things through. I genuinely hope he succeeds; he is a pleasure to work with and highly professional. I am aware that his relationship with the players is solid, and I expect him to engage with them to analyze what went wrong and to seek a swift response."
During the match, Potter introduced Senegalese full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, a £19 million signing from Slavia Prague, and Danish goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, who joined for £20 million from Leicester City. Striker Callum Wilson made his debut as a substitute after transferring from Newcastle, while Kyle Walker-Peters, another recent addition, remained on the bench.
West Ham has yet to find a direct replacement for Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Kudus, who transferred to Tottenham for £55 million. Although they performed well in the first half, coming close to scoring through Jarrod Bowen and Diouf, their performance deteriorated after Eliezer Mayenda's opener in the 61st minute, leading to two additional goals conceded in the final 17 minutes.
Brady expressed her disappointment, saying, "I wish we could start yesterday over again. It is tough to accept, especially in the opening game of the season. I spent considerable time with the manager and squad during our pre-season tour in America, and the spirit among them was fantastic. I know they will be the most disappointed individuals today. I am confident we will see a reaction from them as they strive to turn things around quickly."
'They folded like a pack of cards'
Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer criticized West Ham's performance on Match of the Day, particularly their response after conceding the first goal. "If I were a West Ham fan, I would be concerned; this is Graham Potter's largest defeat as manager," he remarked. "They have not replaced Kudus, and while two new players started, with Callum Wilson coming on, Bowen was their main threat in the first half. The second half is particularly worrying; once they conceded, they collapsed like a pack of cards. There was a noticeable lack of spark, energy, and no reaction at all, which is alarming at this early stage of the season."