Graham Potter has officially taken the role of manager for West Ham United, having signed a deal to replace Julen Lopetegui. The club has scheduled a press conference for Thursday at 9 a.m. at the London Stadium to introduce the former Chelsea coach to the public.
Potter, who has not been involved in management for the last 20 months following his quick exit from Chelsea after only seven months, is returning for a challenging role. His initial challenge may be an FA Cup third-round match against Aston Villa on Friday.
A Timely Appointment
Kaveh Solhekol from Sky Sports News believes that this appointment comes at an ideal time for both parties. “Potter has been on the lookout for a chance like this, and West Ham needed some stability after letting go of Lopetegui,” he stated.
Solhekol referred to Potter as a “great match” for the Hammers, emphasizing his commitment to nurturing young talent and promoting progressive football. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that Potter will face immediate expectations to achieve positive outcomes, with five of the next seven Premier League games being London derbies, including a trip back to Stamford Bridge.
Focus on Sporting Director Steidten
Dharmesh Sheth, a reporter for Sky Sports News, pointed out that attention will also be directed towards West Ham’s sporting director, Tim Steidten. “The board was in agreement to bring on Lopetegui at first, but some fans were not impressed. Now that he’s departed, Steidten is likely to face increased scrutiny,” Sheth commented.
West Ham spent over £100 million in the summer transfer window while under Steidten’s leadership. With the January transfer window now open, there will be close observation of the sporting director’s recruitment strategies as Potter aims to adjust the team.
West Ham’s Upcoming Matches
Potter’s leadership starts with a tough slate of fixtures, kicking off with an FA Cup matchup and several key Premier League games:
January 10: Aston Villa (away), FA Cup
January 14: Fulham (home), Premier League
January 18: Crystal Palace (home), Premier League
January 26: Aston Villa (away), Premier League
February 3: Chelsea (away), Premier League
