Graham Potter finds himself clinging to his West Ham United job, becoming the latest manager to experience David Sullivan's trademark indecision that has plagued the club for over a decade. The 50-year-old manager faces a crucial period with the club's hierarchy already exploring potential replacements while giving him what appears to be one final opportunity to save his position.
West Ham have held talks with Nuno Espírito Santo about potentially replacing Potter, with the former Nottingham Forest manager emerging as the preferred candidate after becoming available this month. However, financial considerations may complicate any immediate move, while Slaven Bilic represents a more cost-effective alternative until the end of the season.
Sullivan's familiar pattern emerges
Potter joins a long list of predecessors who have endured similar uncertainty under Sullivan's ownership, including Gianfranco Zola in 2010, Avram Grant in 2011, Sam Allardyce in 2015, Slaven Bilic in 2017, Manuel Pellegrini in 2019, and most recently Julen Lopetegui in January. This dysfunction, disguised as loyalty, has become Sullivan's standard practice over 15 years.
The 76-year-old's approach represents an inefficient way of conducting business, exposing the short-termism that has triggered mass protests against West Ham's board. Potter cannot claim ignorance about Sullivan's methods, having witnessed the pattern that has made the club a managerial graveyard.
Some board members believe Potter should have already been dismissed after losing four of the first five league games and exiting the Carabao Cup to Wolves. The timing of potential change may be influenced by two challenging away fixtures: Monday's trip to Everton and next Saturday's visit to Arsenal.
Tactical struggles mount pressure
Potter's attempts to introduce a possession-heavy style have failed to resonate with supporters or deliver results on the pitch. West Ham's defensive frailties have become particularly evident in set-piece situations, creating what has developed into a psychological issue that undermines team confidence.
The defensive setup has proven baffling throughout Potter's tenure, with the team shipping six goals from corners in the league this season. The problems reached a nadir when Potter was forced to drop his new £15 million goalkeeper Mads Hermansen against Crystal Palace.
Potter stressed that meaningful change requires time and context when assessing his tenure. However, his calm approach contrasts sharply with David Moyes' more direct style, with the former manager having successfully managed Sullivan's expectations during his successful spell at the club.
Systemic issues run deeper
Potter and recruitment chief Kyle Macaulay underestimated the scale of their task, appearing to believe the job was simply making the team more progressive after the Moyes era. West Ham's loss of identity means they lack clarity about their desired direction, while the club's financial constraints limited summer transfer activity.
Moyes proved the outlier among Sullivan's appointments, developing a solid core that made West Ham resilient. Unlike Potter's measured approach, Moyes would have publicly criticised the team's defensive failings and demanded higher standards from his players.
The international break offers a potential reset opportunity, though discussions about appointing an interim manager with 33 games remaining highlight the absence of strategic thinking. Potter's previous success at Brighton and his traumatic Chelsea experience make his current predicament particularly poignant, having waited for the right opportunity before choosing Sullivan's chaotic environment.
Sources used: "Original Article" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
![Test indyjskiej kolejowej wyrzutni pocisków balistycznych średniego zasięgu Agni-Prime [Wideo]](https://zbiam.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/agni-prime.jpg)
