Graham Potter will know modern managers stand or fall by how they deal with their club owners.
He failed spectacularly at Chelsea by allowing Todd Boehly his trolley-dash in the transfer market – whereas Enzo Maresca made it clear from day one which players he wanted, even if meant big acquisitions like Raheem Sterling being jettisoned.
Now Potter faces the same dilemma at West Ham following Saturday’s disastrous 3-0 defeat at Sunderland, as damaging to the East Enders as it was glorious for the Premier League newbies.
Having spent pre-season sounding half glass-full despite limited transfer business, Potter needs to develop a tougher skin and demand David Sullivan gives him the tools to rebuild at the London Stadium.
Otherwise, results will get him the sack and West Ham relegated.
While the Stadium of Light bounced in delight to second-half goals from Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard and Wilson Isidor, West Ham were a copy and past of last season; slow, predictable and lacking in character once falling behind.
Graham Potter felt the pinch from an unproductive transfer window in West Ham’s Premier League opener
On Saturday the Hammers were summarily defeated by newly-promoted Sunderland
‘Fuming,’ was the summing-up of captain Jarrod Bowen. ‘We didn’t start the second half with the same intensity as the first. It’s annoying.’
It was an angry Hammers dressing-room after their capitulation and their supporters will be anxious with Chelsea next up on Friday night.
Potter blamed poor basic defending for costing his team on Wearside but once he peels away the excuses and is honest with everyone, he’ll know the current squad is not creative and mobile enough for this league. Changes have to be made before the window closes.
Lucas Paqueta is not fit for purpose without a Declan Rice next to him. If Newcastle are genuinely interested, West Ham should drive him up to Tyneside. It would suit the player to have his fellow Brazilian Joelinton as a midfield bodyguard.
At West Ham, he plays alongside Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez, who can’t cover ground or pick a pass. For his own survival, Potter has to instruct the board to sell them – even at a loss – and bring in a brighter young model like Matheus Fernandes from Southampton.
Really, he needs three players in defence, midfield and attack with more energy than at his current disposal. Only then will West Ham get the best out of Bowen’s persistence and Niclas Fullkrug’s power in the air.
It is probably no coincidence that Potter’s best spell in England came at Brighton where the hierarchy were experts in recruitment, allowing the manager to concentrate on coaching and building a holistic culture.
At his last two jobs, he’s not been given the right players from “upstairs” and has lacked the natural authority in his personality to challenge them. That needs to change, and quickly.
Players like Lucas Paqueta are unable to fulfil their potential due to a lack of quality in midfield
Even club captain Jarrod Bowen cannot work his magic in front of goal without adequate service
West Ham were alright in the first half and deserved to reach the interval level but they never gained a significant upper hand against the bookies favourites to go down.
The second half was far worse. Mayenda outjumped the defence to open the scoring after an hour and West Ham wilted in the sunshine. Ballard produced another thumping header and Isidor scored a solo third when Sunderland broke from a West Ham corner.
‘We turned the ball over and were more lethargic. The goals we conceded were easy,’ added Bowen damningly.
He is a true West Ham hero but after games like this he must wonder why he didn’t agitate for a move this summer like Mohammed Kudus who is now at Spurs.
A big London derby under the lights at home does give West Ham the chance for redemption but Potter will have to find 11 players rather than three or four who can match Chelsea physically for 90 minutes.
‘We want to put Saturday’s result right straight away,’ concluded Bowen. ‘We don’t want to fall in a rut. We have to react Friday. If that doesn’t gee you up, then we’ve got something wrong.’
Sunderland won’t care about West Ham’s issues. After eight years outside the top flight, it was party time in the north-east.
Regis Le Bris has signed 12 new players and the midfield axis of £30million Senegal international Habib Diarra and former Arsenal captain and Bundesliga winner Granit Xhaka is far better than perceived relegation candidates.
The Hammers face an even sterner test in the form of Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea on Friday
Unlike West Ham, Sunderland have both legs and power. They can play on the counter, controlling Saturday’s game with 40% possession, and put it in the mixer when required.
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They have also kept some of last season’s promotion heroes, most notably Northern Ireland defender Dan Ballard who scored their play-off semi-final winner against Coventry and repeated the feat against West Ham.
‘I am going to be pinching myself watching the goal back. I never thought I’d play in the Premier League,’ he said disarmingly.
If Sunderland can exploit a favourable early fixture list, they look capable of bucking the recent trend of promoted teams always going back down.
Next weekend they are at Burnley. ‘Another winnable game,’ acknowledged Ballard. ‘It is important we get points.’