West Ham boss Graham Potter has performed something over striker Niclas Fullkrug as he looks set to make two changes for the big clash with rivals Spurs.
Graham Potter is starting to feel the heat at West Ham, especially after the shambolic collapse at Brighton last week.
But it will go to new levels when the Hammers take on fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium.
There may be little to play for in the Premier League for West Ham or Spurs – but there is no such thing as a nothing game between the two clubs.
Both have bigger rivals in Millwall and Arsenal respectively.
West Ham vs Tottenham is right up there in the Premier League era, though.
Potter must wake up and smell the rivalry
Potter dropped a major Spurs clanger ahead of the game by saying he hopes they ‘finish the job’ in the Europa League.
The jury is out on Potter among many West Ham fans after just three wins in 15 games.
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And Hammers supporters were not happy at all with Potter’s Tottenham howler.
Fans were angry with the manager last weekend too.
Striker Niclas Fullkrug was hailed a hero for his angry West Ham outburst after Potter’s side threw away a 1-0 lead to draw with already relegated Southampton two weeks ago.
In truth West Ham should have lost that game.
While Hammers fans loved Fullkrug’s honesty, Potter did not, as he criticised the German before then dropping him at Brighton.
That was despite having no other striker options – frozen out Danny Ings besides – given Evan Ferguson was ineligible to play against his parent club.
West Ham fans aimed chants at Potter about Fullkrug during the 3-2 defeat at Brighton.
Fullkrug then doubled down with a new warning to Potter and West Ham after they threw away a 2-1 lead with six minutes to go.
There will be no hiding place or excuses for West Ham when they face Tottenham.
Potter makes two changes for Spurs after Fullkrug U-turn
Potter knows his side must ‘show up’ and he has to get it right too. Particularly as Spurs are expected to rest a host of key players for their Europa League semi-final second leg.
Under pressure Potter looks set to make two big West Ham changes for Spurs after a Fullkrug U-turn.
West Ham fans will forgive many things but they don’t like being taken for fools.
So when Potter insisted he did not drop Fullkrug because of his outburst, they were furious.
The German has been one of the team’s best players of late. So for Potter to suggest he wasn’t dropped was disingenuous, particularly as he had no other bona fide striker options at the Amex.
Fullrkug restored as West Ham revert to back four?
The manager has talked about West Ham delivering a front-footed approach against Spurs.
So it would surely make no sense to leave Fullkrug out again.
It is hoped Potter will see sense and restore the veteran striker to the starting line-up.
Especially as both Potter and Jarrod Bowen have also publicly criticised the team’s mentality since Fullkrug’s rant.
With Spurs set to field a weakened team, we think Potter will revert to a back four.
That could see young Ollie Scarles return to the starting line-up in place of Emerson Palmieri.
And Konstantinos Mavropanos will be the one to make way for Fullkrug to come back in up front in change number two.
Many West Ham fans feel James Ward-Prowse needs to come out of the side after a string of underwhelming performances in which he has been regularly subbed off.
But Potter seems to love Ward-Prowse and he is expected to retain his place despite the return to training of reported Tottenham target Edson Alvarez.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Tottenham:
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta, Bowen, Kudus, Fullkrug.
Four of the six top pundits are in agreement about the West Ham vs Spurs clash.
The official team will be announced at 12.45pm.