West Ham boss Graham Potter is under mounting pressure after three defeats from three this season, with former Hammers striker Dean Ashton warning that the manager has been “massively exposed” by the squad he inherited.
Potter’s reign hit a new low on Tuesday night when Wolves dumped West Ham out of the Carabao Cup. The result followed Premier League defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea, leaving Potter winless and already under scrutiny from co-owner David Sullivan.
Speaking on talkSPORT (27 August, 7:25am), Ashton said Potter had walked into a tactical trap.
Ashton’s View: A Mismatch of Squad and Style
“There is part of me that, not feels sorry for him, but ultimately he has inherited a side that was built for David Moyes then Julen Lopetegui,” Ashton explained.
“A team that sits there and defends, then counter-attacks, and he is not that, he is a manager that wants to play out from the back and get the team up the pitch. All of a sudden, the team, especially the defence, looks massively exposed, for the lack of athleticism in the side, aggression and desire. That is a big worry.”
Ashton believes Potter’s philosophy — front-foot, possession-based football — has clashed badly with a squad designed for pragmatism and counter-attacking.
Sullivan’s Transfer Failures
West Ham’s summer business has also come under fire. Sullivan has delivered Mads Hermansen, Malick El Hadji Diouf, Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters, but Ashton argues that this falls well short of what Potter needs to reshape the side.
The midfield remains particularly problematic:
- James Ward-Prowse
- Guido Rodríguez
- Tomáš Souček
- Freddie Potts
- Andy Irving
- George Earthy
While industrious, it lacks the dynamism and technical balance Potter’s system demands. Unless further reinforcements arrive before the 1 September deadline, Ashton warns Potter will continue to be undermined.
West Ham – 2025/26 Premier League Snapshot
| Stat (last 2 games) | West Ham |
|---|---|
| Goals Conceded | 8 |
| Points Collected | 0 |
| Shots Faced | 32 |
| Errors Leading to Goals | 3 |
| Current League Position | 20th |
source: Premier League match data – 27 August 2025
Summary:
West Ham’s defensive frailties are brutally exposed in the numbers. Eight goals conceded and three individual errors in just two games underline why Graham Potter’s side sit 20th in the table with zero points. Facing 32 shots shows how often the Hammers have been overrun, leaving them anchored at the bottom of the Premier League and in urgent need of a turnaround.
Analyst Verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William agrees Potter has been set up to fail:
“Potter’s football is based on structure and control. At Brighton, he had mobile, technical midfielders and defenders comfortable stepping out with the ball. At West Ham, he’s inherited a squad built for Moyes’ compact block. That contrast leaves the defence exposed and midfield overwhelmed.”
William added: “Sullivan’s summer window has been patchy. Callum Wilson is a short-term fix, Hermansen a solid addition, but the midfield imbalance is glaring. Without two signings in that area, Potter’s project could collapse within weeks.”
Key Insights
- Potter’s West Ham lost first three games of 2025/26 season.
- Dean Ashton says squad was “built for Moyes and Lopetegui” — not Potter.
- Defence “massively exposed” by lack of athleticism.
- Summer signings Hermansen, Wilson, Diouf, Walker-Peters seen as insufficient.
- Sullivan accused of failing to back Potter with technical midfielders.
What’s Next
West Ham travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday in what could already be a defining game for Potter. Another defeat would intensify calls for Sullivan to make a change, with October reportedly the deadline for a turnaround.
If West Ham fail to land Potter’s targets before the transfer window closes, the blame will fall on Sullivan’s recruitment — but Potter risks being the one sacrificed to appease growing unrest.
Has Graham Potter been “massively exposed” by West Ham’s recruitment — or should he be adapting better to the squad he inherited?
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