Graham Potter perfect for West Ham says Paul Merson in most exciting endorsement yet

Paul Merson rarely has too much positive to say about West Ham but that’s all changed after the appointment of Graham Potter.

As a massive Chelsea fan, Paul Merson observed new Hammers boss Graham Potter closely during his short-lived spell at Stamford Bridge.

The unprecedented situation Potter was thrust into at Chelsea would not have been easy for even the most experienced manager.

In the end the sheer amount of money being spent on a hugely bloated squad swallowed Potter up and spat him out.

It says a lot about the toll that took on Potter that he has taken 20 months to reflect and refresh before saying yes to West Ham.

Potter has reportedly turned down 10 job offers since April 2023.

They include Milan, Leipzig, Ajax, Leicester and – by virtue of turning them down to join the Hammers – Everton.

Had West Ham poached Potter from Brighton it would have been hailed an ambitious, forward-thinking move.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

The spell at Chelsea – and Brighton’s continued rise since his departure – has cast just enough doubt to divide opinion.

Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images

Potter perfect for West Ham says Merson

Early signs are positive, though.

It says a lot about how encouraged supporters were by a magnificent first half performance in Potter’s first game that there has not been too much despondency about their FA Cup exit.

Even though it was realistically the only thing the Hammers had left to play for – barring a miraculous turnaround in results sparking a late push for the European spots.

Potter had only been with West Ham for 48 hours when kick-off rolled around for their 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.

Indeed the Englishman only had 24 hours and one training session actually working with the players.

But there was plenty to like about what many supporters feel is one of the best first half performances for over a year.

Many Hammers fans feel logic suggests if that’s what Potter is capable of after one day, imagine what the next two-and-a-half years or more might look like.

Well there is every reason to be thinking that way and plenty to look forward to according to Merson.

Potter is perfect for West Ham says Merson in the most exciting endorsement yet.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson claims the players Potter has to work with in east London suit his approach down to the ground.

Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images

Merson says Potter has the players to do well at West Ham

“Julen Lopetegui was like David Moyes, but a foreign version…” Merson said.

“It was like-for-like, he doesn’t play like that (how West Ham fans want to play).

“Now they’ve learned their lesson and they’ve gone for someone who I think will be very good.

“I think Potter ticks the box. I think he likes to play forward thinking football, he did that at Brighton.

“And he’s got the players to do it.

“It’s not like he’s come in and he’s going to Everton where you go ‘Well how am I going to play like this’. He’s got players (at West Ham). Paqueta, Kudus people like that. You know they’re proper, proper players.

“You’ve just go to get them playing, let them play and then get people around who are going to win the ball back for them.”

It’s so nice to hear some positivity about West Ham right now.

It has been a dismal season, made worse by the owners dragging their heels on Lopetegui for two full months when it was clear for all to see it wasn’t working.

In that time West Ham have fallen miles behind the European spaces.

But three consecutive victories would change the entire complexion of that situation.

Because this is the most wide open Premier League season for 12 years.

And that means the points needed to finish seventh – which looks highly likely to be a European spot – will be lower than usual.

As low, potentially, as 55 points.

That would require Potter’s West Ham to better their first half of the season by just four wins and a draw or two.

That is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility.

Beating Fulham and Palace in a home double header this week would be a great way to start.

Click here to read article