Graham Potter desperately needs to win over the West Ham fans but he’s going about it in a very unusual way with his comments on Tottenham Hotspur.
In the absence of Millwall, West Ham’s biggest rivals are undoubtedly Spurs.
But somebody forgot to tell Hammers boss Graham Potter it seems.
West Ham take on Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium on Sunday and for once the two sets of fans are in agreement.
Hammers and Spurs supporters joined forces to bash their owners ahead of the London derby, which they have given a self-deprecating new nickname.
You don’t have to be a died-in-the-wool West Ham or Tottenham fan to know the two clubs really don’t like one another.
Potter doesn’t seem to have got the memo, though.
Kyle Walker says the Spurs vs West Ham rivalry was more intense than Arsenal when he played for them.
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Ange Postecoglou may be a lost cause at Tottenham – even if they win the Europa League.
But Potter needs to get West Ham fans onside following a dismal start to his tenure, taking the team backwards from 13th to 17th with just three wins from 15 games.
One way to do that is get a performance and result out of his Hammers team against Tottenham.
Even though there is nothing to play for, bragging rights are at stake and the chance for West Ham to at least finish above Tottenham in this miserable campaign.
Especially as the Hammers face the grim prospect of Tottenham saving their season by eclipsing their Europa Conference League triumph by winning the Europa League.
Tottenham have one foot in the final after a 3-1 win over Bodo-Glimt in the semi-final first leg.
Spurs have a second leg away from home to get through to the final, where they will likely face Man United – who are 3-0 up in their own semi against Athletic Bilbao.
West Ham boss Potter dropped a major Spurs clanger ahead of Sunday’s big game.
West Ham fans furious as Potter’s ‘good luck Spurs’ wish goes viral
Now West Ham fans have erupted as Potter’s Spurs howler goes viral, using former boss David Moyes as an example.
After being asked about Spurs, Potter volunteered a baffling good luck message which has seen Hammers fans flood social media.
“I’ve got enough on my plate with West Ham rather than comment on Spurs,” Potter told the press.
“They’ve had a tough season, I’m pretty sure if you speak to Ange (he’d agree), you know injuries, young players and the double competition etc etc.
“In this league nothing is a given.
“They’ve done well in Europe and hopefully they can finish the job and get into the final.”
While West Ham fans realise Potter’s comments ‘aren’t that deep’ – many are incredulous at his failure to read the room.
Especially after angering them with his response to Niclas Fullkrug’s refreshing honesty on West Ham’s woeful standards, as he criticised and then dropped the German.
Why Potter’s Tottenham message could cost him Hammers support
Some believe the pro-Spurs comments show Potter is ‘clueless’ about West Ham as a club.
And many are so angry – especially after the collapse at Brighton last week – they already want him gone.
Here are just a selection of posts slamming Potter for his Tottenham comments.
“He doesn’t help himself does he,” prominent Hammers account West Ham News and Views posted to its 50,000 followers alongside video of the comments.
Another West Ham account states Potter has done his standing among supporters no favours at all.
“As a manager that is struggling to get a connection with the fans, this is probably the worst thing he could say,” the Hammers account said.
For one another West Ham fan it is already the final straw, saying: “I can’t wait until this bloke gets the sack.”
“I don’t think you’ll have to wait too long,” a fellow Hammers fan responded.
One West Ham fan says Potter is not making it easy to form a connection with him, saying: “Disliking him more and more each week.”
“Know your audience,” another Hammers fan said.
“He doesn’t get it,” claims CockneyMC.
Some fans think it shows Potter has a soft mentality which is rubbing off on the players.
“Shows he has no respect for our club or its culture. Really poor from him. Sends the wrong message to our players as well, really soft mentality for a team we play in two days.”
‘I actually backed him until I heard this’
West Ham fan Jack thinks Potter is setting himself up to be sacked.
“Sackable IMO. He ain’t going to last at us, unfortunately and comments like that aren’t going to help Potter with the fans. Disgraceful.”
He was not alone airing that sentiment.
Even those who are very much behind Potter took issue with the comments, with one saying: “Honestly don’t know why he said it and I’m a big Graham Potter backer.”
Hammers fan Rob Forbes said he thinks the comments could be indicative of a bleak future for Potter in east London, adding: “I would’ve actually backed him to stay next season until I heard this.”
Supporter Steve Arnold says Potter needs to go and has called for someone who knows what it means to be West Ham to come in.
“Get Noble in,” he said.
Even fans of other clubs such as Everton, Liverpool and Man United responded in the comments, asking why Potter would make such comments about a local rival.
Many suggested he needs a PR manager.
Some Spurs fans were even puzzled by the comments with many thanking Potter for his well-wishes.
Final word to one West Ham fan account, which claimed former manager ‘Moyes would never have wanted spurs to win something’.
That was a sentiment shared by a number of Hammers fans, who pointed out that the Scot was always complimentary and polite about opponents but never went as far as Potter has here.
Potter has clearly made a rod for his own back here.
He had better hope West Ham’s players turn up for him on Sunday or this will be thrown in his face big time.