They may have won last time out, but things aren’t looking great for West Ham United.
The East Londoners have lost two of their three Premier League games so far and sit just a point above the relegation zone.
Unsurprisingly, then, a number of managers have been linked with Graham Potter’s job, including Frank Lampard.
The former Chelsea legend may well be a good replacement, but if the Hammers really want to take a step forward, they should be bold and hire another legend of the game.
Why Graham Potter should be fired
It’s not even been a year since West Ham decided to hire Potter, and while some may argue it’s therefore too soon to fire him, the results would suggest otherwise.
The former Chelsea boss has managed 23 games since getting the job and somehow managed to win just six, losing 12 and drawing the other five.
In other words, he has an average of a point per game in East London, and on top of that, he’s not even delivered the slick, attacking and entertaining football fans hoped he would.
Games
23
Wins
6
Draws
5
Defeats
12
Goals Scored
29
Goals Against
36
Points per Match
1.00
The Irons have scored 29 goals during his tenure, which is an average of 1.26 per game and conceded 36, which comes out to an average of 1.56 per game.
In contrast, his predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, averaged 1.18 points per match while he was in charge, and David Moyes before him averaged 1.49 points per match and won a European trophy.
Whichever way you look at it, Potter’s role as manager of West Ham United feels untenable, and it would surely be better for the club to look for his replacement now, rather than let this drag on.
With that said, there are better candidates than Lampard, including one legendary former player who is currently out of a job.
The manager West Ham should hire over Lampard
Now, there is every chance Lampard would be a good hire for West Ham, as for all the criticism he’s received over the years, he appears to be doing a good job with Coventry City, winning two and drawing two games this season.
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However, with that said, the former Chelsea star doesn’t feel like a particularly ambitious target for the Hammers, unlike the manager they should be going after: Xavi.
Yes, the coach the Irons should be going all out for is none other than the Barcelona legend, and while some may scoff at such a target, he’s been out of work since leaving the Catalan side last year, and with the continual growth of the Premier League, why couldn’t the club make a tempting proposal?
Not only would the 45-year-old be a hugely exciting and image-changing hire, but he’s also a far better candidate than many others that have been linked in recent weeks, including Lampard.
For example, during his tenure with the Spanish giants, he oversaw 143 games, of which he won 91, drew 23 and lost just 29, averaging 2.07 points per game.
Games
143
Wins
91
Draws
23
Losses
29
Goals Scored
280
Goals Against
158
Points per Game
2.07
Moreover, “the best manager in the world,” as Joan Laporta dubbed him, made sure Barca played an attacking and exciting brand of football, which saw them score a whopping 280 goals, or 1.95 per game.
Finally, he is also a proven winner, overseeing the club’s first La Liga win in four years in the 22/23 season and winning the Spanish Super Cup in the same season.
Ultimately, it would be a difficult task, but West Ham should be doing all they can to convince Xavi that this is a project he should be taking up, as he’d be a monumental upgrade on Potter and a better option than Lampard.