As a final reflection — at least for this weekend — on the fallout from yesterday’s collapse, it appears that both Graham Potter and his German striker, Niclas Füllkrug, are firmly aligned in their views about certain members of the West Ham squad. Much like Füllkrug, who recently criticized the team by claiming that only half the players were focused on defending while the other half attempted to follow the manager’s tactics, Potter seems to be directing his frustration at a number of his players for their lack of concentration late in the game. A failure to stay switched on during the final corner cost West Ham yet another valuable point. Worse still, several players could be seen wandering off and facing away from the action as Brighton took the corner that led to their winning goal — a lapse that no coach can easily fix if the players themselves lose focus.
Listening closely to Potter’s post-match interview, as reported by imrfootball.co.uk, it was clear he had run out of polite phrases and positive spin. Trying hard not to directly blame his players for yet another late-game meltdown, Potter’s frustration was unmistakable. “I’m sick of positives,” he admitted — a rare raw moment showing just how drained and exasperated he had become, with little management-speak left to mask his emotions.
Meanwhile, although Liverpool’s five-goal thrashing of a dreadful Spurs side provided some entertainment today, next week’s clash between West Ham and Spurs is shaping up to be a grim “battle of the losers.”
Leave a Reply