In truth, Oliver Glasner was telling the West Ham United fans what they already knew when profiling Graham Potter’s side ahead of Crystal Palace’s Saturday trip to the London Stadium.
You won’t find many supporters, meanwhile, who agree with Glasner’s comments about a ‘fantastic manager [and a] great stadium’.
Graham Potter’s win rate is the now second-lowest in West Ham United’s modern history. Above only Avram Grant, and that is not particularly great company to find yourselves in. And as the fans poured out of the London Stadium with about 60 minutes on the clock last time out against Tottenham, what they wouldn’t do to swap that echoing bowl for the febrile ferocity of Upton Park.
Tongues were set wagging when Nuno Espirito Santo was spotted near David Sullivan’s home on Friday. Hammers News can also confirm that vice-chair Karren Brady held talks with Nuno this week.
As such, a defeat to Glasner’s Crystal Palace could conceivably be the nail which bolts the door on Potter’s proverbial coffin.
And should he take the job, one of the first tasks in Nuno’s in-tray will be to solve those seemingly never-ending set-piece problems.
Oliver Glasner highlights West Ham United’s weakness before Crystal Palace clash
Speaking to the official Crystal Palace website, Glasner himself highlighted the issues West Ham are facing from corners and free-kicks.
Tottenham midfielder Joao Palhinha admitted Spurs planned to expose the Hammers’ biggest weakness last time out. It worked, too. Pape Sarr’s 48th minute opener made him the sixth player to score against Potter’s side from a set piece this season already.
Few would bet against one of Glasner’s charges becoming the seventh, even if the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss is keen to warn his players against any form of complacency.
“I think if somebody underestimates any opposition in the Premier League, you make the first mistake. And then you deserve to lose,” Glasner said during his pre-match press conference. “We never underestimate anyone.
“I think the lowest league we played was Doncaster, a League Two side [in the EFL Cup], and we respected them. This is the same with West Ham. So many good players, fantastic manager, great stadium there. I don’t see any issue.
“Just two weeks ago, 10 days ago, I don’t know exactly, they won 3-0 at Nottingham Forest, after we drew against them. You could see the struggle against Tottenham with set-plays, but also they had a few good chances.
“It’s a very good side, a very good Premier League side.”
Glasner cannot believe how quickly things have changed for West Ham
Glasner was the head coach of Eintracht Frankfurt when both sides met in the semi-finals of the Conference League just three years ago.
“Just see how quick football is,” the Austrian adds. “One-and-a-half years ago, they won the Conference League. We played them with Frankfurt in the semi-finals of the Europa League. They were sixth or seventh at the end of the season, so football is sometimes really crazy.
“But it’s a very good side, great manager with huge respect.”
In what may be his final stand, Graham Potter will be without Aaron Wan-Bissaka due to a stomach problem. Callum Wilson and Niclas Fullkrug should both be available to start, however.
Crystal Palace have star midfielder Adam Wharton back, meanwhile, though Malick Diouf will be denied the chance to go up against his Senegal teammate Ismaila Sarr.
