When the Hammers dismissed Julen Lopetegui at the beginning of 2025, the club was in free fall on the pitch. They had just lost 4-1 to Manchester City following on from a 5-0 annihilation at the London Stadium by Liverpool a week and a half earlier and a 5-2 hammering by Arsenal before December. It was clear to the supporters that something had to change.

Graham Potter came in after almost two years out of the limelight following his underwhelming Chelsea experiment. The former Brighton manager was left with a squad that was difficult to engineer, given that his preferred style of possession-based football would need a more solid base from the back and a much-needed midfield reboot. 

An eight-game winless streak has followed until that Old Trafford signature win which is not quite up there with the magnificent discipline of the 1-0 victory at the Emirates. Potter has shown signs of what’s possible – even at Anfield – despite the results not matching the performances. West Ham’s Premier League odds of matching lasts season’s top ten finish were never a real possibility.

Potter has been hamstrung to some extent by previous regimes.  Lopetegui was an abject choice to take over from David Moyes. He had to stop the leaks in defence as a priority, but the mood in the stands has had to suck up the lack of goals and output at the other end. The West Ham way has had to take a diversion on the Potter Pedestrianised Street. It’s not pretty, but it was necessary.

Potter needs midfielders with some pace, a striker who can shift the weight off Jarrod Bowen’s backpack and some centre-backs. For all their set-piece qualities, thirtysomethings Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse are not going to deliver the thrust in the engines. Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal and Danny Ings will all leave in the summer, and that will also create room at the top for some old legs to be refreshed

At one point about six weeks ago, Sky Sports flagged up the Irons’ rankings for shots, chances created, final third passes completed, goals scored, and expected goals. All of them were between 17th to last place. Niclas Füllkrug will hopefully get a head of steam next year, but only if he jumps through Potter’s hoops. Talking out of turn hasn’t helped the situation with his manager in public, but he’s made himself a lot of friends on the terraces. That Anfield header deserved a goal.

It could be the end of the Konstantinos Mavropanos show which has been a bit shabby around the edges for some time now. If there’s mental errors in central defence, then concessions are guaranteed so the upgrade to permanent residency for Jean-Clair Todibo could be an essential nut alongside the rise and rise of Max Kilman.

Behind that is the role of the security guard and sweeper between the posts. With the pending exit of Fabianski, that leaves Alphonse Areola’s brickwork exposed. Areola can be superb on his day as he proved at Old Trafford, but there are too many lapses. 

Aaron Ramsdale brings the whiff of relegation, but is used to title pressure. It’s a move that could suit both parties and Ramsdale can stoke an apathetic crowd. He’s a bit Nick Pope with the ball at his feet. Maybe the link to Caoimhin Kelleher has got more legs. He’s not Alisson, but he exudes calm and can play out like the Brighton version of Robert Sanchez. 

Aaron Wan Bissaka has been the Irons’ best player, but the team need a left-back with Cresswell’s exit. Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell  has improved offensively and is available on a free.

As for a striker to replace the hole that Michail Antonio’s trauma created, Fulkrug’s frustration and Potter’s kickback might mean that the German is heading off for the exit this summer. Liam Delap could be the hero that the Hammers can warm to after his exploits at Ipswich. A young buck that hustles and harries and scores too. That’s a good deal for a team that is barely averaging one a game.

Potter needs a pre-season and his own signings to be truly judged. In a more competitive season, the Hammers would have been lurching towards a relegation crisis, so it’s a good thing that this free hit has shown some glimpses that didn’t have to turn into gold. 

Next season has to be the improvement in position, play and engaging a renewed sense of purpose. It’s not too much to ask, but the exit of Moyes has created too much litter and not enough lather. Those bubbles need oxygen at the London Stadium in August.