West Ham United

James Jones
Fan writer

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Where do we go from here? A little over two years on from winning the Conference League, West Ham are now in crisis.

Two failed managerial appointments, several poor investments in the transfer market, a team without an identity and fans protesting against the board. The Conference League triumph was supposed to be the springboard for further growth. Instead, the complete opposite has happened.

Fans rightly protested against David Sullivan and Karren Brady before Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace.

The current situation is the result of the club having no obvious idea of what it wants to be. There is no identity. There appears to be no strategy. Fans understandably want answers, and they won't rest until they get them.

Indeed, there has been a lot of investment both on and off the pitch, but it appears much of it came without any real plan.

Now the club finds itself at another self-inflicted crossroads. Graham Potter is struggling to get results, with his team failing miserably each week to do the basics - such as defend corners.

At this stage, it is very hard to see how Potter can continue in his position. There will obviously be financial consequences to getting rid of him, but it will be a lot worse financially if Potter is allowed to continue and eventually takes us down to the Championship.

Meanwhile, Nuno Espirito Santo is available and is the most obvious candidate to get the very best out of this squad of players. What he did at Nottingham Forest should be all the evidence West Ham need to make a change as quickly as possible and bring him to London Stadium.

Until then, and until stability is restored in east London, the fans will continue to make themselves heard.

Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external

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Chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Chris asked: It does not matter if West Ham appointed Jurgen Klopp as the manager, the owners would keep on selling the family silver, getting free transfers and injury-prone and sub-standard players. They have sold us down the river with the stadium move. What's your take on this?

Phil answered: It would matter a lot if Klopp was appointed as West Ham United manager, but I take your overall point.

I can see exactly why fans are disappointed with the stadium because, in truth, it is an athletics stadium and does not work as a football arena. It is as far away from Upton Park for atmosphere as you can get. I have been to Everton's new home by the Mersey waterfront twice and that is a magnificent, purpose-built football stadium. I have noticed many Hammers supporters pointing out the difference.

West Ham have also been hit by so many poor football decisions, such as managerial choices and signings.

As someone who went to Upton Park so many times and absolutely loved it, I feel your pain.

Graham Potter is clearly in real peril, but you do feel it will take more than just a change of manager (again) to transform West Ham's fortunes.

Read more of the Q&A here

Meanwhile, West Ham's troubles were a topic of discussion on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, with former England goalkeeper Joe Hart saying it has been "hard for the club to find a direction"...

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Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

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West Ham are struggling in the Premier League, languishing in 19th place as head coach Graham Potter faces mounting criticism and internal club scrutiny.

One part of their game that has been particularly concerning is their defending of corners, having conceded seven goals from these situations in five games.

Set-pieces are becoming increasingly important as club employ dedicated coaches who analyse how best to expose upcoming opponents.

BBC Sport has analysed West Ham's poor performance from corners and the tactics teams are successfully using against them this season.

Image source, BBC Sport

In recent seasons, crosses to the near post were favoured by attacking teams.

Teams often commit extra players to the near post as a way to prevent dangerous flick-ons in this area, so naturally there are fewer players elsewhere, which includes the far post. As a result, some teams are deliberately choosing to cross to the far post from corners and with good success.

Against Spurs on 13 September, West Ham appeared to place more players towards the near post, perhaps as a result of Chelsea's previous success against them in that area.

Tottenham instead targeted the far post where West Ham had fewer players. Spurs put two attackers at the far post to West Ham's one defender, meaning eventual scorer Pape Matar Sarr was left unmarked.

Spurs didn't block the goalkeeper like Delap did for Chelsea, but they did use blocking in another interesting way.

With a looping ball played to the far post, Potter's West Ham players tried to move from the near post towards the ball. As the Spurs' attackers were positioned behind them, they were able to hold their ground, blocking the West Ham players' path. This prevented any West Ham defender from getting close to Sarr.

With the number of players in the six-yard box, Hermansen was again unable to leave his line too.

Sarr headed the ball in before running off in celebration, pointing to set-piece coach Andreas Georgson.

Read more tactical analysis here

West Ham fan Gary Killington from Hammers United says "ambition is missing" at the club and the problems this season are part of a "gradual decline".

The Hammers sit in the relegation zone with three points from 15 games, leaving Graham Potter's job is under threat, while fans have voiced their frustration at owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady in recent protests.

"This is about the gradual decline of the club which has happened since winning the Conference League," Killington told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "Immediately after that they put Declan Rice up for sale and we have had a broken midfield since.

"The protests are about 15 years of mismanagement. Up until 2010, we'd had 11 managers in our entire history of 110 years. We could now be looking at our ninth manager in 15 years - if you count the two times we had David Moyes.

"It is unacceptable and shows there is no forward planning. They are making it up as they go along and at the moment we are stuck.

"Even if you look back at the sacking of Julen Lopetegui last season, they hesitated over doing it for six weeks, even though we all knew we were going nowhere as a club.

"Potter was offered a six-month contract - which he declined - before being offered a two-year deal.

"It is always about a short-term fix. But it is also about a whole raft of things when you add in players and the stadium.

"They have taken West Ham and destroyed it.

"Potter's football is turgid. Your home should be a fortress but it is not. There's no atmosphere because the stands are too far away from the pitch.

"There never used to be a quiet home game against the likes of Tottenham or Chelsea - but now it is awful.

"Success for the board is staying up. The ambition is missing."

Watch the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

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Former England captain Wayne Rooney on West Ham's lack of a leader on the pitch: "When you're struggling it is very difficult to play the young players. If they're good enough and head and shoulders above, then of course you play them - but sometimes you can kill them if you throw them into a struggling team.

"It doesn't help them with their careers and, before you know it, they're in a really bad position.

"Over the past 10 years, the success West Ham have had has been when you've got players like Mark Noble and Declan Rice - players who have got quality on the ball. They're going to take the game by the scruff of the neck, lead the other players and put tackles in, and that runs right through the team.

"Then the other players react to that. That's what West Ham are missing - that leader in there who's going to do that for them.

"There's no hiding place when you're playing in the Premier League, and there's a lot of pressure from fans. If a player doesn't have a good game, then all of sudden he's getting abused on social media and what's his mental state like?

"If you're a winning team, no problem. Throw them in - that's when you see young players thrive. But you have to be a little bit more careful with teams who are struggling."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

West Ham's concerns over Nuno Espirito Santo's financial demands could open the door for Slaven Bilic to replace Graham Potter, who is clinging on to his job as Hammers' boss after a poor start to the season. (Guardian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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West Ham boss Graham Potter is under increasing pressure but the Hammers need to build a "good foundation" rather than jumping between managers, says former Premier League striker Wayne Rooney.

Following Saturday's 2-1 home loss to Crystal Palace, multiple sources told BBC Sport that Potter is under significant internal scrutiny, with the club now considering managerial alternatives.

The 50-year-old took charge in January - replacing Julen Loptegui - but has won just six of his 25 games at the helm, losing 14 and drawing five.

Nuno Espirito Santo, who was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest, is understood to be among the options to replace Potter, while former boss Slaven Bilic and ex-Wolves manager Gary O'Neil arealso in the mix.

If West Ham opt for a change in the dugout, it would be their third appointment since David Moyes left in May 2024.

"It takes time to then get players out, get players in - and then before you know it, that manager doesn't get the results and then they're gone and you're back to square one," said Rooney.

"The club having a good foundation would help."

West Ham have lost four of their five fixtures in the league this term - beating only Nottingham Forest - and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Wolves.

Only rock-bottom Wolves have conceded more than the Hammers' tally of 12 goals and they are the joint-fifth lowest scorers with five.

West Ham, who are 19th in the Premier League, return to action on Monday, 29 September at Everton, where they will reunite with Moyes.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the ex-England captain added: "Brentford and Brighton have a clear way of playing. Regardless of which manager they bring in, they stick to that and that's why you've seen progression from those clubs.

"When you're changing from philosophy to philosophy, which Manchester United have been doing with Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim, it is a completely different way."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison says "everyone knows" West Ham boss Graham Potter "is under massive pressure" but sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for.

It was another home defeat for the Hammers on Saturday on a day that also brought fans' protests against the owners before the game.

Supporters have not seen a home win since February and have lost their opening three league games at London Stadium for the second consecutive season.

But will the board sack Potter?

"They [the board] have got to give the fans something to cheer about because the players are not doing that," said Morrison on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "But I would always say: 'Be careful what you wish for.'

"The fans did not want David Moyes there, but I bet they would have him back in a heartbeat now.

"They [the board] thought Julen Lopetegui would bring attractive football, but they cannot have watched him because his teams just play counter-attacking football and defend. So I question who is bringing in these managers.

"They have also brought in all of these players and spent loads of money but they are not good enough.

"Graham Potter has got his work cut out. Everyone knows he is under massive pressure.

"It looks like there is no going back for Potter and Nuno Espirito Santo is probably the one person you look at and think: 'Can he go in there and change it?'

"He would have to work with the same players but he is defensively strong because we saw what he did at Nottingham Forest."

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Choose how you feel about Potter here

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between West Ham and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

West Ham fans

Jay: Surely Graham Potter is gone by the time this is posted. He looks so out of his depth and bereft of any ideas to turn things around. We have good players and you can see the desire to perform, but tactically we are inept!

Kevin: They can appoint as many coaches as they wish but nothing will change until the ownership does.

Peter: I'm afraid Potter's position is untenable now but will a new manager make any difference? I think not. January is too far away and Arne Slot couldn't sort this team out. I can't see us beating anyone so relegation beckons. David Sullivan and Karren Brady have to go, and what was the point of Daniel Kretinsky's investment? I feel sorry for my grandchildren having to watch the demise of our club.

Barry: It couldn't have been worse. How can a Premier League team be unable to defend corners or set-pieces? Potter's time has come to an end and the players didn't really fight to save him. Not sure a new manager will make a difference but the board needs a scapegoat for its inadequacies.

Palace fans

Clive: Not Palace's best performance this season but this team has found the knack to win when not necessarily playing at its best. The spirit and togetherness instilled by Oliver Glasner is evident and the key to their incredible run of 17 games unbeaten. The board should be preparing early to give him exactly what he wants and back him big-time in January's window. Exciting times at Selhurst Park.

Keith: Gritty team performance from Palace where the players put in a fantastic amount of effort. Justly got the three points, but without being near our best. As usual, we could have had more goals with a bit more thought and luck.

Pedro: Fifth in the Premier League without really firing on all cylinders. If we can add a few cylinders in January, we can get even better. West Ham, can we play you every week? South London and proud!

Al: Shows the steel and determination of the team. Solid, professional and apart from a 15-minute period by West Ham, I felt we controlled the game. Yet again our defensive structure is solid and we're sitting in fifth unbeaten. In Glasner we trust.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

West Ham head coach Graham Potter's position is under significant internal scrutiny with the club now considering managerial alternatives.

Potter, 50, is under growing pressure to keep his job at the London Stadium following a disappointing start to the season that plunged to new depths following Saturday's home defeat by Crystal Palace.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that even prior to Saturday's loss - their fourth from five Premier League games - the Hammers had started the process of identifying potential replacements for Potter.

Nuno Espirito Santo, recently sacked by Nottingham Forest, is understood to be among the options West Ham have pinpointed.

The prospect of Slaven Bilic - who has previously played and managed the London club - returning on a short-term basis has, according to sources, been discussed internally.

West Ham are also aware of the availability of former Bournemouth and Wolves boss Gary O'Neil.

There is a realisation behind the scenes that removing Potter so early in the new Premier League season is not ideal, with just five games played.

But the fact they have started the process of identifying potential replacements illustrates the emerging uncertainty over Potter's future.

Potter, who was appointed in January, has taken charge of 25 matches since his appointment - winning just six times.

His predecessor Julen Lopetegui took charge of 22 games before his dismissal, winning seven matches.

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Pundits Wayne Rooney and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brighton 2-2 Tottenham

• Wolves 1-3 Leeds

• Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Once more, West Ham's failure to defend set-pieces proved crucial. Before the game, six of their 11 goals conceded in the Premier League had been from corners, while no other team had let in more than three.

But the Hammers once more struggled with deliveries into the penalty area. Daichi Kamada gave them an early warning and forced Alphonse Areola, who replaced Mads Hermansen for his first league start of the season, to tip the ball over.

Marc Guehi, who saw a transfer deadline day move to Liverpool break down after Brighton's Igor Julio went on loan to West Ham instead of Palace, rose superbly to head at goal and Areola was unlucky his excellent save only fell to Jean-Philippe Mateta.

London Stadium has often been criticised by West Ham fans unhappy the atmosphere is a pale comparison to their previous home Upton Park.

Jarrod Bowen's goal gave West Ham hope and instantly lifted the mood around the ground, with the hosts on top and the supporters giving them their full backing.

But more defensive problems from the hosts ruined their good work, with Tyrick Mitchell given far too much time to volley into the roof of the net.

Next up is a match against former boss David Moyes, with the Hammers travelling to Everton on 29 September.

Some West Ham fans wanted Moyes out following a ninth-placed finish two seasons ago, a year after he had guided them to their first major trophy in 43 years.

It is hard to see how the club have progressed in any way since then.

Graham Potter spoke to Premier Leaue Productions after West Ham's defeat against Crystal Palace: "We have to stick together, work hard and find a solution, it's as simple as that, We are going through a tough time at the moment, but the only way out is to be together.

What is lacking at the moment? "I don't think it was effort, the players gave everything, the second half was a good response from us, pushed them back and got an equaliser.

"Their second goal sums up where we are at the moment, it was a bit out of nothing. We couldn't quiet respond as well as we'd like. But we need to stick together and keep working hard."

Is the window for you to turn things around getting narrower?

"I don't thin about it to be honest, it's part and parcel of the job."

Can you turn it around? "Absolutely, but I understand the nature of the question and the business."

Did you know?

• West Ham have lost their opening three home league games for the second consecutive season; they had never previously done so in 98 seasons in English football beforehand.

• El Hadji Malick Diouf has assisted three goals in five appearances for West Ham in the Premier League. Only Michael Carrick (7), Joe Cole (6), Jermain Defoe (6), and Frank Lampard (5) have registered more assists for the Hammers in the competition before their 21st birthday.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on West Ham's performance

What did you make of Crystal Palace's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Graham Potter makes two changes to his West Ham side following a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham last weekend.

Alphonse Areola replaces Mads Hermansen in goal, while Callum Wilson comes in for the suspended Tomas Soucek.

West Ham XI: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Mavropanos, Diouf, Ward-Prowse, Fernandes, Paqueta, Bowen, Wilson, Summerville.

Subs: Hermansen, Julio, Fullkrug, Guilherme, Rodriguez, Todibo, Magassa, Scarles, Irving.

Oliver Glasner makes just the one change to the Crystal Palace side that drew 0-0 with Sunderland last weekend, as he was able to rotate his squad in the midweek League Cup tie against Millwall.

That change sees Adam Wharton return from a groin injury and replace Jefferson Lerma in midfield.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell, Pino, Kamada, Mateta.

Subs: Matthews, Lerma, Nketiah, Clyne, Uche, Canvot, Sosa, Devenny, Cardines.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Liverpool v Everton (12:30)

• Brighton v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Burnley v Nottingham Forest

• West Ham v Crystal Palace

• Wolves v Leeds

• Manchester United v Chelsea (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Brentford (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

I got into an argument with a couple of West Ham fans on BBC Radio 5 Live's 606 because they had left early during last weekend's defeat by Tottenham.

It is their right - I get that - but if you're a proper fan, you don't leave early. I never did that as a kid when I used to support Nottingham Forest.

West Ham are at home again this week, but that is more likely to hinder them than help them - and how many times have we seen this movie with the Hammers now?

The owners always take the brunt of the blame when things are going wrong, but they spent over £120m on new players this summer, with a net spend of £70m, and the problem for boss Graham Potter is that there hasn't been any improvement from when he took over in January.

Crystal Palace are so well drilled that, even if they are without injured duo Ismaila Sarr and Adam Wharton, they should still do a job on them.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

East London rivals West Ham and Crystal Palace have had contrasting form heading into their fixture on Saturday.

A third home London derby in just the fifth league game of the season is probably not what West Ham would have wanted right now, as they have so far been a bit too hospitable when the neighbours have popped round this season.

The Hammers' defensive generosity saw them ship a combined total of eight goals when hosting Chelsea and Tottenham – add that to the three they let in at Sunderland on the opening day of the season, and it is no surprise they have conceded the most goals in the 2025-26 Premier League so far.

But the worrying thing for the Hammers, who spent close to £100m on defensive players over the summer, is not just the total, it is the manner in which they have conceded those 11 goals, which have come despite them having an xG of just 5.5.

Six goals have been let in from corners, which is twice as many as any other top-flight team have allowed, and only two fewer than West Ham conceded from corners in the whole of last season.

The London Stadium faithful have seen nine goals this season, but only one has been scored by their team. They have not witnessed a home win since February so it is no surprise patience is wearing thin with head coach Graham Potter, who has now lost 11 of his 22 league games at West Ham.

Crystal Palace warmed up for this derby encounter with a match-up against another local rival, seeing off Millwall in an EFL Cup penalty shootout in midweek.

It was a 16th match unbeaten for the Eagles, who are also on the current longest unbeaten run in the Premier League, a stretch of 10 games. It is their best such streak in the top flight since 1990.

They have not lost on their past six visits to West Ham, and have lost just two of their last 17 away Premier League matches, keeping nine clean sheets in their last 15 on the road. Their one league goal conceded so far this season is matched only by Arsenal and Tottenham.

That pragmatic approach may explain why they have had 12 0-0 draws in the Premier League since the start of 2022-23, at least two more than any other team in that time.

But Palace fans will not care about a lack of goals – they have come a long way in the past year. Eleven months ago they were in the relegation zone and without a win in the league, but two trophies since then have turned Oliver Glasner from a manager under pressure into a club hero.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

If West Ham thought they were back on track after beating Nottingham Forest prior to the international break, Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Tottenham proved a sobering reality check and a reminder of the mounting problems facing head coach Graham Potter.

The most pressing is their leaky defence. They have already conceded a league-high 11 goals, including a remarkable six from corners.

That is more than twice as many as any other side, with over a third of all Premier League goals scored from corners this season ending in the Hammers' net.

Equally as crucial, but perhaps harder to solve, is rediscovering a connection with the fanbase.

This will be West Ham's third consecutive home game against London opposition and each of the previous two - against Tottenham and Chelsea - saw supporters streaming out long before the final whistle, with defeat by then inevitable.

Fans are entitled to expect better, given the club have spent more than £250m in the past three transfer windows. Half of that outlay has come under Potter, who has won just six of his 22 league matches. That includes only two home wins, and none since February.

Another issue likely to alarm the West Ham board is the increased competitiveness of the newly-promoted sides. In each of the previous two seasons, the newcomers went straight back down without much of a fight, with 27 points theoretically enough to guarantee safety in both campaigns.

However, the early indications are that Sunderland, Burnley and Leeds United will fare better this term.

That may take away a bit of a comfort blanket for any established Premier League teams struggling at the wrong end of the table - and could leave Potter's position in jeopardy unless results improve soon.