The Athletic, through Roshane Thomas, has reported that Graham Potter is worried about the lack of leaders in his West Ham squad. His comments came after the Hammers’ 3-0 defeat to newly promoted Sunderland, a result that has piled early pressure on both the manager and the players.

Only two summer signings, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Mads Hermansen, started in that match, with further reinforcements still being targeted in defence, midfield and attack.

Bowen Urges Response from West Ham

Captain Jarrod Bowen made his feelings clear after the loss. Speaking to the club’s website, he said: “I’m obviously fuming. I thought the goals were quite easy. We’re all disappointed in the manner that we conceded the goals. I’m disappointed and fuming with the start that we’ve had today. The fans will be the most disappointed out of everyone. Coming up here today, they’re expecting more. We all need to give them more.”

Potter has noted Bowen’s growing presence as skipper, but the exits of Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal, Michail Antonio and Lukasz Fabianski have left the squad without key senior voices.

Potter’s Record and Outlook

Since arriving in January, Potter has managed only five wins from 19 league games. A quiet transfer window and the £55 million sale of Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur have added to supporters’ frustration.

After the Sunderland defeat, Potter said his side must “do the basics better,” adding: “We have to learn this painful lesson, because if you don’t, you can talk about how well you play, or about attacking football or whatever, but ultimately it doesn’t matter. If you don’t do the basics well, then it’s hard to win games. So we have to really improve that, get back to Rush Green and start working again.”

West Ham Board Stands Behind Potter

Despite the poor run, the club’s board is standing behind the head coach. Vice-chair Karren Brady defended him on TalkSport, saying: “West Ham is not a club that panics about its managers.

We tend to stick with them, support people and see it through. I really hope he does well. He’s a pleasure to work with, he’s incredibly professional. I know his relationship with the players is good. I know he’ll be sitting down with them today to have a long, hard think about what went wrong yesterday, expecting a reaction and expecting to put it right.”

Brady led the push to appoint Potter on a two-and-a-half-year deal with no break clause. The club’s history under joint-chair David Sullivan shows that managers are only dismissed when Premier League safety is at risk.

Fan Frustrations Over Direction

The i Newspaper, through Oliver Young-Myles, reported that fan concerns run far beyond one defeat. Alan Shearer described the Sunderland loss on Match of the Day as showing “no spark, no energy, no reaction.” Former captain Nigel Reo-Coker, now at CBS Sports, suggested the Irons may already be looking at a relegation fight.

Dan Lawless of West Ham Fan TV said: “There is no plan or clear strategy. We had Tim Steidten as a technical director who was supposed to be overseeing signings and negotiating for players, but he was let go after the January transfer window after some of the summer signings didn’t work out, and he hasn’t been replaced.”

Benji Lanyado, founder of Picfair and contributor to the Totally Football Show, said Nottingham Forest’s handling of Morgan Gibbs-White and the signing of Dan Ndoye showed ambition and clarity that West Ham lack.

Transfer Market Activity

The club have spent £71 million this summer on Hermansen, Diouf and Jean-Clair Todibo, while also bringing in Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters as free agents. Kudus’ move across London has proved deeply unpopular, especially after his strong start with Spurs.

The Guardian, via Jacob Steinberg and Ed Aarons, reported that Potter is targeting two midfielders before the window shuts: one to dictate play from deep and another to provide attacking thrust. West Ham are expected to improve their offer for Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes after an opening bid worth £30 million was rejected.

Southampton CEO Phil Parsons said: “We’re not a club that’s going to roll over and just accept a bid because they feel like they want him on the cheap. Everybody has a price, but it’s not cheap. I promise.”

Midfield and Squad Issues

The midfield has been unsettled since Declan Rice’s £105 million move to Arsenal two years ago. Against Sunderland, James Ward-Prowse and Guido Rodriguez started but both were overrun and substituted.

Lawless added: “The midfield issues have been there for everyone to see for the best part of nine months. We need energy, pace, legs in that midfield. Someone to be the engine in there and drive us forward.”

Potter also faces a shortage of attacking depth, with Wilson, Bowen, Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville his main options. In defence, Villarreal are exploring a move for Konstantinos Mavropanos, which would leave the club light in central positions.

Edson Alvarez, Andy Irving and Guido Rodriguez are all expected to depart before the window closes.

Upcoming Fixtures

The next six matches for the claret and blue are against Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, Everton and Arsenal. West Ham have not beaten Chelsea, Forest or Spurs in the league since December 2023.

With Chelsea visiting London Stadium on Friday, Potter has called for leadership to emerge and for his players to respond quickly.