Merson makes Graham Potter admission in West Ham v Crystal Palace prediction
Paul Merson feels Graham Potter has plenty of work to do to change things at West Ham as he predicted a draw with Crystal Palace.
The new Hammers boss got his first win under his belt on Tuesday (14 January) as West Ham beat Fulham 3-2.
The East London outfit welcome Crystal Palace to the London Stadium on Saturday (18 January) and the 49-year-old will be hoping for another win against a side they sit two points ahead of in the table.
However, Merson has warned the Irons not to run before they can walk as he wrote in his Sportskeeda predictions (16 January: “If I’m being honest, I thought West Ham were quite fortunate to beat Fulham in the last game.
“Fulham had chance after chance at the start and then shot themselves in the foot later. That 3-2 win is definitely a case of a result covering over the cracks at West Ham in my opinion!
“Graham Potter will need time to make West Ham play the way he wants. It’s completely different, and certainly positive football, compared to what we saw them play under David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui.
“Potter has good talent in that squad so that ticks one box. Now he needs time and I hope the board will give him that. For now, I see West Ham as a team that will score goals while letting in quite a few at the other end as well.”
“Even Crystal Palace were quite lucky to win 2-0 and keep a clean sheet against Leicester in the last game. But they have too much quality and won’t get relegated. Palace desperately needed that win over Leicester though, beating teams in and around them in the table is what will help them at this stage.
“I think this will be a hard-fought game where both teams share points in the end. Prediction West Ham 2 – 2 Crystal Palace.”
Graham Potter needs to back up West Ham win
As Merson points out, Potter’s work at the Irons will surely be seen as a long-term project, with any major success this term unlikely so those at The London Stadium need to give the boss time to put his ideas into place.
Furthermore, if the 49-year-old is able to bring a more positive style of football to East London, this will surely earn him the credit to have patience from the supporters as it would represent a serious change from the spells of David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui.
However, if the Hammers lose this game to a side who sit below them in the table, it could ring familiar to the tenure of Potter’s Spanish predecessor who was unable to get his side going consistently throughout the season so far.
The Irons are struggling at the top of the pitch with key attacking players Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug all injured, as well as a late decision being made on Crysencio Summerville so if they can score goals, as suggested by Merson, this will be a positive.
A point isn’t the worst result but West Ham won’t want anything less.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are keen on an Arsenal player who is eager to quit the Gunners.
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