Three reasons why out of work manager will save West Ham

West Ham United will reportedly let manager Julen Lopetegui keep his job until at least after the Wolverhampton Wanderers game despite their abysmal start to the season, according to the Daily Mail.

The Hammers are tactically undercooked and uninspired, and the buck stops at the manager. The fans had reservations about his appointment, and their fears have been proven right.

The board needs to be proactive and usher in a change to salvage what was poised to be an exciting season.

Numerous options such as Sergio Conceicao, Edin Terzic and Graham Potter have been sounded out, but only one of those has Premier League experience. He is the man for West Ham.

Potter cut his teeth in Sweden with Ostersunds FK before taking charge of Swansea City and catching the eye with his style.

Brighton & Hove Albion soon came calling. He implemented the same attractive style and had the Seagulls punching above their weight.

Potter secured 44 points in his third season, breaking their previous record for points. The ninth-placed finish was also their best in the Premier League.

He had the Seagulls on course to qualify for Europe before leaving for his Chelsea adventure the following season.

Brighton eventually qualified for the Europa League thanks to the players Potter had developed and his playing style.

Potter would be perfect for West Ham

Potter improved several players at Brighton. Midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo were bought for modest sums but earned the club massive transfer fees.

Potter made Mac Allister a key member of his squad. Today, he is one of the finest operators around. The same goes for Caicedo, who is arguably the best holding midfielder in the league this term.

He can have that same effect on the Hammers, helping to improve underperforming players such as Crysencio Summerville, Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman.

Potter implemented an identity at his previous clubs, something this squad clearly lacks under Lopetegui. The Hammers don’t have a defined playing style and look bereft of any tactical identity.

His teams play an attacking brand of football, characterised by the sleek movement of the ball. They prefer to hold on to the ball and play proactively, unlike most teams of their calibre that opt to react to opponents.

Despite setting his side up to attack, they were always defensively sound. Brighton shipped fewer goals than West Ham in Potter’s three full seasons at the club.

The former Chelsea boss could be the man to stabilise this defensively shoddy ship. West Ham have the fourth-worst defensive record in the league this season after shipping 74 last term.

The decision to stick with Lopetegui for the short term is a gamble that could backfire. If results continue to deteriorate, the pressure on the board will intensify.

The club must make a strategic decision that prioritises long-term success. If they choose wisely, the Potter appointment could usher in a new era for the Hammers.