Credit: Imago/BBC MOTD2

Declan Carr

Mon 5 May 2025 8:15, UK

Graham Potter’s disastrous start at West Ham continued as they drew 1-1 with Tottenham on Sunday.

The Hammers fell behind after 15 minutes when Wilson Odobert opened the scoring at the London Stadium (4 May).

However, Jarrod Bowen equalised just before the half-hour mark and that was how the clash finished between the London rivals.

The result means that the former Brighton man has won just three of his 16 matches in charge of the Irons since taking over from Julen Lopetegui.

Rooney urges West Ham to stick with Potter

Potter is under huge pressure at West Ham after a miserable run of results, with some observers even suggesting that he could be sacked.

However, Wayne Rooney has urged the East Londoners to stick with the ex-Chelsea man despite the poor run, while looking at the latest stats.

Speaking on Match of the Day 2 (4 May, 23:35), he said: “You look at his record since he joined West Ham, it is not great, but we talk about managers needing their own players, having time to get their principles in and the process they go through.

“I think Graham Potter needs the summer to come quickly, really, to have his ideas imprinted into the team.

“It’s been a difficult start, but I still think he has a lot of ability to make West Ham into a better team.”

Potter deserves the summer to turn West Ham around

Rooney is spot on, Potter deserves the chance to transform the squad in the summer into one that reflects his tactical perspective rather than sticking with what he inherited.

Former sporting director Tim Steidten and Lopetegui preceded over a dismal transfer window last summer, and ultimately, they both paid with their jobs as a result, and the 49-year-old has been left to pick up the pieces.

There needs to be a significant rebuild in the offseason to get the squad up to scratch, and up to nine first-team players could leave the London Stadium.

That should give the ex-Brighton man a decent kitty to reinvest in higher-quality players, which should serve them well for the new campaign, if they get it right.

He should at the very least be allowed to fix the mistakes of his predecessors before he is judged, and no decision should be made on his future yet, despite the abysmal run that he has overseen, leading to sack rumours.

If Potter struggles after bringing in his players at the start of next season, then it may give David Sullivan a decision to make, but he should be safe in his job for now.