West Ham are only three games into the new season but Graham Potter is already fighting to stop a crisis developing.
Potter was powerless to halt another West Ham collapse against Wolves on Tuesday, as the Hammers conceded two late goals to crash out of the Carabao Cup.
Jarrod Bowen’s heated exchange with a fan in the away end after the 3-2 defeat at Molineux only added to the sense of chaos that is building at West Ham.
Potter needs to find answers quickly, with games against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham to come either side of the international break and scrutiny on him building.
New signings are imperative before the transfer window closes on Monday, to add some energy in midfield, increase the quality of the squad and lift the mood around the club.
Last season’s malaise has continued into this season and fans’ apathy is quickly turning to anger with no signs that improvements are around the corner.
Bowen is not to blame. He cares deeply about West Ham and has acted as a one-man show for too long, dragging his side up the pitch with little to no support.
“If some of his team-mates cared even half as much as he did about turning things around, West Ham would not be in this slump.
The mess is not all on Potter either, and it was admirable the way he handled himself after the Wolves defeat as he kept his cool on a night of high tension.
Potter, who has not been helped by West Ham struggling to sign players to suit his system, has been quick to take responsibility and play peacekeeper, where other Premier League managers have voiced their frustrations about their clubs’ efforts in the transfer market.
The 50-year-old hopes to have two midfielders through the door before the transfer deadline, with Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa due to have a medical on Wednesday.
Potter deserves to be given time to make it work with a midfield he can call his own.
Even after two defeats and eight goals conceded in the Premier League, relegation talk remains premature at this stage of the season. But Potter will know results must improve.
