West Ham face Crystal Palace in what is being billed as judgement day for Graham Potter and all eyes will be on his team selection.
It is being widely reported that Graham Potter could be sacked if West Ham lose to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Hammers have lost four of their opening five games of the new season, leaving Potter with a dismal record of just six wins in 24 matches since taking charge in east London.
The big problem for Potter is that Crystal Palace come to the London Stadium off the back of a 16-game unbeaten run.
And West Ham have only won two games at home all year – against Leicester, who went on to be relegated, and Fulham.
West Ham fans point to Crystal Palace as an example of a club reaping the rewards for competent, coherent strategy and decisions when it comes to managerial appointments and recruitment.
Lose and bust for Potter as West Ham face Palace
Oliver Glasner has done a tremendous job at Selhurst Park, leading the Eagles to the FA Cup, Community Shield and a first ever European campaign.
After three consecutive seasons in Europe, that now looks a million miles away for the Hammers, who are being billed as relegation candidates by many.
A host of managers are being linked with Potter’s job.
Over the summer pundit Paul Merson predicted the Hammers would be relegated this season.
Now Merson believes Potter will be sacked after West Ham’s game with Palace after what he’s witnessed and heard.
West Ham’s under-fire board have met with Nuno Espirito Santo about taking over.
Nuno has even been pictured near the Essex mansion of Hammers chief David Sullivan amid the talks about taking over from Potter.
Pressure has ramped up on the Hammers boss following the woeful 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Spurs last time out.
Especially as it came off the back of a 5-1 hammering to another London rival Chelsea in the home game before.
It remains to be seen whether the Crystal Palace match is a must-win for Potter.
But it has become abundantly clear it is a must-not-lose for West Ham.
Now all eyes turn to the under pressure manager’s team selection.
Hammers News thinks Potter will make two West Ham changes for his judgement day vs Palace – but it could be three.
Potter makes two West Ham changes for judgement day vs Palace
Potter invited heavy criticism in the defeat to Spurs with his line-up and tactics.
He elected not to play with a striker despite Callum Wilson and Niclas Fullkrug both being named on the bench while sharp young forward Callum Marshall was left out entirely.
Playing Lucas Paqueta as a false nine simply did not work.
Potter’s obsession with James Ward-Prowse was once again a major irritation for fans as he continues to struggle badly in the heart of West Ham’s midfield.
Tomas Soucek also looked to be flagging after some tireless defensive work in the build-up to being sent off and many feel he should have been subbed off before that costly red.
Potter was also heard telling his team to hold their shape and sit off Spurs when they were trailing 2-0.
This could be Potter’s last West Ham team selection if he does not get it right.
His first change is an enforced one.
Soucek is banned for three games after his dismissal against Tottenham.
We think that will see new signing Soungoutou Magassa come in for his debut as West Ham’s defensive midfielder.
The £17m signing from Monaco was one of the few positives from the Spurs defeat, impressing in his cameo.
Potter will be asking for the sack if he does not field a striker again.
So Paqueta will drop back into midfield alongside Mateus Fernandes and Magassa.
Magassa and Wilson to make first West Ham starts amid Igor calls
And we think the Ward-Prowse obsession ends against Palace with Paqueta taking his place in the middle of the park and Wilson coming in for his first start.
There has been clamour for Potter to make other changes too.
Particularly in goal and at the back given how vulnerable the Hammers have been, especially from set plays.
But we think Mads Hermansen, who Potter pushed to sign as West Ham’s new number one, will keep his place.
The Hammers boss could be tempted to make a third change, though, at centre-back.
Max Kilman has been dreadful and some fans are calling for deadline day loan signing Igor Julio to start against the Palace, the side he snubbed for West Ham despite having a medical in south London.
It is felt muscle-bound Igor will bring some much-needed steel, aggression and strength to West Ham’s backline.
But we’re not convinced Potter starts him ahead of Kilman in this game.
Predicted West Ham starting line-up to face Crystal Palace:
Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Diouf, Magassa, Fernandes, Paqueta, Summerville, Bowen, Wilson.
