'Potter can turn things around' - fan opinionpublished at 15:56
15:56
Media caption,
West Ham fan Holly Turbutt believes Hammers boss Graham Potter can turn things around if backed in summer.
While itting Potter is under pressure, she said: "It's always an option to change head coach and expect improvements, but we've seen our challenges lie deeper than this.
"While we are playing more organised football, results show we have a long way to go.
"Personally, I have faith Potter can turn things around if he is given the resources to rebuild in summer and given the trust to do this.
"We can see progress in the number of goals we concede each game - it just doesn't look so glamorous yet."
Potter on Bowen's England exclusion and finishing above Man Utd and Spurspublished at 14:34
14:34
West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Ipswich Town (kick-off 16:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen being excluded from the England squad: "Well, it is not my thing to pick that squad. I have full respect for the England manager. [I'm] disappointed for Jarrod, but we will him, and he'll carry on doing what he's doing for us. He will be naturally disappointed of course - every player wants to play for their country. He has trained well for us and he will be looking forward to the game [on Sunday]."
Potter said it is "very important" to finish above Manchester United and Tottenham at the end of the season: "In the end, we want to finish as high as we can - a win would help us move up a place possibly."
On what he has learned from his time in charge at London Stadum: "You are always learning about yourself all the time. How you can improve and what you want to do with the rest of your life. As the numbers [in your age] get bigger, you start to think about that. [About] how important your family is, how important being in a job that you are ionate about, that you believe in, that you work with good people and that you understand that the road to anything meaningful is a struggle."
He thinks that journey is worthwhile: "It means there is ups and downs, there are periods where you have to suffer, you have to dig in and then the moments when it goes well is when it is all worth it."
On what he wants to see from his team against Ipswich: "As always, building on the things that we have been doing well. We need to be competitive, and we need to be solid. Ipswich will want to finish in a good way. We always respect the opponent and the competition. We want to play with a purpose, a positivity and try to win the match. It's about being consistent with what we're trying to do. Attacking the game as best we can and going for the win."
Potter rejected any suggestions of wholesale changes: "Mixing things up with one game to go doesn't make sense."
He also confirmed West Ham didn't have any new injury doubts.
On the preparation for the final game of the season: "We have been disappointed after the game [losing 2-1 last week to Nottingham Forest] because the result was not what we wanted. You have to deal with that. We make sure to give the players time to clear their heads."
Potter believes Ipswich's centre forward Liam Delap is "a bit of the old school", adding Delap has a "good background" and is "benefiting from Kieran's [McKenna] help."
Pick your West Ham player of the seasonpublished at 12:27 21 May
12:27 21 May
James Jones Fan writer
We asked our West Ham fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.
Jarrod Bowen
Has found it tough at times in his first season as club captain, but has still delivered double figures for goals for a fourth consecutive season and is only one goal contribution away this term from making it 20 or more in all competitions for a fourth straight campaign. The man is priceless.
Tomas Soucek
Many expected him to be one of the first casualties of David Moyes' departure last summer. Instead, he has doubled down on his importance to this football club with another nine goals from midfield, most of which have been so important. Criminally underappreciated.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Found it difficult under Julen Lopetegui because he was asked to play so high up the pitch, almost like an inverted right wing-back. But under Graham Potter he has flourished and has arguably been our best defender since the turn of the year. A snip at £15m.
Max Kilman
Has come under a lot of stick because of the amount goals we have conceded this season but - his mistake against Tottenham aside - he has barely put a foot wrong. Was arguably a victim of poor tactics earlier on in the season but, in reality, worth every penny of the £40m paid.
'We go again next season'published at 12:35 20 May
12:35 20 May
James Jones Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Another week down and another week closer to a much-needed break for West Ham fans.
This season has been a cocktail of disappointment, anger, frustration and disbelief. It is fair to say every West Ham er on the planet will be overjoyed when the final whistle blows at Portman Road on Sunday.
Having parted ways with David Moyes last summer, there was an element of excitement and anticipation for what the future might hold, especially after new boss Julen Lopetegui wasted no time in splashing almost £150m on new players.
The Spaniard flopped, though, and despite impressive away wins at Crystal Palace and Newcastle, failed to convince anyone he was the man to lead the club into a new era.
Graham Potter has also struggled to convince many fans at this stage, but it is still very difficult to make a fair judgment on him, given he is working with a squad of players who were on the decline under Moyes and struggled for any kind of form under Lopetegui.
It will take at least one transfer window, if not more, for Potter to really put his own stamp on this team.
That is why I am trying so hard to remain positive about what next season might bring. I know many are pessimistic and many have already written Potter off, but I am reserving my judgement until we are able to see a squad of players built by Potter playing in Potter's preferred system.
Until then, I am just looking forward to the final whistle this weekend. Because I need a break from this team after this season.
West Ham 1-2 Nottingham Forest - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:14 19 May
11:14 19 May
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League match between West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
Here are some of your comments:
West Ham fans
Mark: Sack the board, manager and all the players - woeful display.
Steve: Same old West Ham, a season to forget. Too slow and negative in the build-up and really not got going after Forest scored their second goal. So much money spent on average players, aside from Wan-Bissaka, although there are a couple of hopeful names like Guilherme and Summerville who look promising.
Peter: Thank goodness the season is over and we can put it behind us, get a complete makeover and claw our way back to where we belong.
Forest fans
Callum: Nottingham Forest played well - we really needed that win! Here's hoping we can get a win next week against Chelsea at home, I look forward to being there at the world famous City Ground cheering them on! YOUUUUU REEEEDS!
Ben: It is a simple formula for Forest: score first, and you win. And so it proved. A dogged performance from them (despite a late wobble) gives us the final day showdown we were all hoping for. Now if one of the other contenders could play their part and lose then we can all finish the season happy!
John: Phew! When the second goal was finally confirmed that should have been it. But substitutions, indiscipline, VAR and a brilliant volley from Bowen made for a very nervy extra time but, Forest held on to do the double over a questionable West Ham. Too busy bringing their kids on beforehand after beating Manchester United to really get anywhere in this game.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 08:23 19 May
08:23 19 May
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
Graham Potter spoke to BBC Match of The Day after West Ham's defeat against Nottingham Forest: "We started the game well. Had a good chance with Tomas [Soucek] and Vlad [Coufal] we're competing against a good team competing for the Champions League. It was an even game, we concede the early goal from a mistake which is disappointing then we made changes and they scored straight after. Marginal offside that took a while to sort out. Credit to the players they kept pushing, they gave everything we just came up a bit short.
"Forest going for what they are and we wanted three points and it was a bit stop start. The goal makes it difficult for the referee and it was stop-start.
"They scored after the subs but then we pushed and pushed, scored a good goal and had other opportunities but fell short."
"It is [frustrating day] when you want to finish with a win at the last home game of the season with some players making their last appearance you want to go out in a positive. We have to lick our wounds and go again next week.
"We focus on Ipswich first because we have another week and we ant to finish with three points. We use the summer to try to improve it's as simple as that."
Analysis: West Ham 1-2 Nottingham Forestpublished at 16:54 18 May
16:54 18 May
Emma Smith BBC Sport journalist at London Stadium
Image source, Getty Images
In the 58th minute of this near two-hour epic, Graham Potter made a quadruple change and it worked - West Ham became much more flowing and dangerous.
Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus flanked Niclas Fullkrug to great effect, and the change of shape from 5-3-2 to 3-4-3 caused Forest serious problems.
Which raises the question as to why Graham Potter left all those attackers on the bench, naming nine defensive-minded players in the starting XI.
It meant West Ham struggled to respond to going behind early on. And soon after the change was made, Forest scored their second goal which proved decisive.
There is no question that West Ham need to rebuild in the summer, and Potter can only be judged at London Stadium once he has a full pre-season.
But he could help his cause, and win over a few Hammers fans already tired of their poor form, by taking off the handbrake and letting the attackers free.
Sutton's predictions: West Ham v Nottingham Forestpublished at 16:56 17 May
16:56 17 May
This is a huge game for my boyhood side, Nottingham Forest.
They need to win to keep their hopes of a top-five finish alive, but my fear is they have already blown it.
I played at the City Ground many times but I think my stint there as a Sky pundit for last weekend's draw with Leicester was the first time I've watched a game there rather than been on the pitch, and it was not enjoyable viewing for us fans.
I thought that game was a must-win for our Champions League hopes, and if they drop more points here they could drop out of contention completely.
I've heard some people say that Forest have bottled it, but I don't agree. They have just run out of steam.
Forest's aim now is to get to next weekend and still be in touch before they host Chelsea in their final game of the season, but whether that happens or not relies on which West Ham team turns up.
The Hammers were on a poor run before they went to Old Trafford last weekend and won. That would usually be an impressive result but it is not much of an achievement at the moment.
I know who I want to win but, for different reasons, it is hard to back either side here.
Potter looks forward with Soucek published at 17:09 16 May
17:09 16 May
Image source, PA Media
West Ham United head coach Graham Potter is confident that midfielder Tomas Soucek will still be a Hammer next season.
The 30-year-old is contracted with the club until June 2027 and Potter is more than happy to continue the West Ham project with him, despite Soucek being linked with moves to the likes of Everton and Leeds.
"He's been a fantastic g for the club, first and foremost, to deliver what he has delivered over a period of time," he said.
"He's a top professional, he has been a fantastic servant to the club, and I am looking forward to working with him in the short, medium and long-term future."
Potter tried to sign the Czech Republic international five years ago during his spell with Brighton and his opinion on the player hasn't changed in that time.
He added: "What did I see in him at Brighton? The same. The same that West Ham have seen in him, and what he has developed in fairness.
"He's a midfield player that can do both sides of the game. Affects the game. Scores. In the boxes, he's fantastic, defence and attack, set pieces.
"Add to that, a really, really good professional. He is a quiet man but leads by example in of how he conducts himself every day."
The answerpublished at 16:00 16 May
16:00 16 May
Image source, Getty Images
Earlier, we asked you to identify the current West Ham player.
The answer is Crysencio Summerville.
Potter on improving for fans, working with Soucek and facing Forest published at 14:11 16 May
14:11 16 May
West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest (kick-off 14:15 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news: "We are pretty much as we were last game. There are no injuries and everybody has been training well."
There is still lots to play for and West Ham want to "finish as high as we can. Potter is focusing on Nottingham Forest who are challenging for Champions League football, but wants to "finish the season with two wins."
The most important relationship a team has is that with its fans. For a while West Ham's performances "haven't been what we wanted", says Potter, so it is hard to get that connection. "We'll try to improve to the best of our ability on Sunday but it is a process of work."
When asked about Mohammed Kudus' improvement, Potter said "He has been working hard all season. Individuals can suffer when the team doesn't play well, but he has given his best and has been rewarded for his work."
On what it has been like to work with Tomas Soucek: "He has been a fantastic g for the club, to deliver what he has delivered. He helps defensively; in the boxes; in set pieces and contributes to goals in mid-field. He goes about his work in a quiet way and has been fantastic to work with."
When asked about the possibility of finishing the season above Manchester United and Tottenham, Potter made clear that "the team name doesn't mean anything because clubs are well organised and use resources well. You can see what a competitive tournament the Premier League is."
Asked about opponents Nottingham Forest, his response was that they have had "a fantastic season and Nuno [Espirito Santo] and his team have done an excellent job to bring stability. They have a very clear plan on what they want to do from a football perspective and have made the step from the Championship to the Premier League really well. You can see why they have the points they have."
