Hammers News

West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur really don’t like one another and what happened in the latest London derby proved it.

Whether it’s dodgy lasagnes, a star biting a player on his former team or court cases over spying scandals in a battle of a stadium, the rivalry between West Ham and Tottenham is a storied one.

There is simply no love lost between the Hammers and Spurs on the pitch, in the stands or the two boardrooms for that matter.

As far as this particular derby goes, there was little but saving face to play for at the London Stadium.

West Ham and Tottenham are enduring among their worst ever Premier League campaigns.

West Ham and Tottenham rivalry shows no signs of cooling

It looks likely to cost Spurs boss Ange Postocoglou at the end of the season, even if he leads them to Europa League glory.

Graham Potter has struggled since joining West Ham, picking up just three wins in his first 15 games ahead of Tottenham.

That record is now three in 16 after a drab 1-1 draw against Tottenham’s reserves – after Postecoglou made sweeping changes to rest players for their Europa League semi-final second leg.

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West Ham were booed off at full-time.

Things got off to a typically dismal start for Potter’s Hammers against their big rivals.

Former Spurs target Max Kilman has come in for criticism for his performances of late having impressed for the most part since joining for £40m from Wolves last summer.

But Kilman he did himself – and his team – no favours when he inexplicably twice kicked the ball against Tottenham’s Mathys Tel when all he had to do was pass it back to the goalkeeper, hook it clear or kick it out for a harmless throw-in.

Gifted the ball on the edge of West Ham’s box, Tel had the easiest assist of his career, laying the ball on a plate for Wilson Odobert to slot home.

Thankfully, though, West Ham fought back – albeit against Tottenham’s second string – to equalise through captain Jarrod Bowen.

‘Who else’ as Bowen is often seen mouthing at West Ham fans when celebrating.

Spurs fans taunt West Ham and get a brutal response

This time as the Hammers talisman wheeled away in celebration, there was a crowd interaction of a different kind.

A journalist has shared what a West Ham star did to the Spurs fans after the Bowen goal in front of them at the London Stadium.

Tottenham fans had been goading West Ham with various chants.

‘You sold your soul for this s——-‘ being one, ‘1-0 in your cup final’ being another.

There was even a rendition of ‘you’re just a s— team in Millwall’ from the visiting Spurs supporters.

They had those chants rammed down their throats – quite literally – when Bowen equalised, nutmegging Guglielmo Vicario to round off a sweeping move.

That’s according to The Evening Standard reporter Dom Smith.

The journalist was at the London Stadium to cover the game and revealed a Hammers player smashed the ball into the Tottenham fans as it bounced out of Vicario’s net following Bowen’s leveller.

And he says the ball caught a Spurs fan flush in the face.

“To add injury to injury, after Jarrod Bowen scored that equaliser, a West Ham player booted the ball in celebration into the away end and it throttled a Spurs fan square in the face,” Smith revealed.

“Life comes at you fast sometimes.”

Hammers ace smashed ball at Spurs fans with unerring accuracy

Now clearly actually hitting the supporter in the face wasn’t intentional on the West Ham player’s part.

And it is important that the fan in question is ok.

But there’s no doubt the player in question wouldn’t have to buy a drink if he went out in east London tonight, even after such a dismal season!

Whether the authorities take a look at the incident remains to be seen. It would be hard to argue any intention behind it after all.

Providing the supporter is unharmed, even Tottenham fans would probably find the incident funny.

It may be worth keeping an eye out on Match of the Day 2’s Too Good, Too Bad segment for it.

West Ham take on Tottenham Hotspur looking to salvage some semblance of joy from a miserable season and Graham Potter has named his team.

With no love lost between West Ham and Spurs, the heat is on Graham Potter for this Premier League clash.

The Hammers and Tottenham have nothing but pride to play for.

But that in itself is worth fighting for given what has unfolded at both clubs this season.

West Ham sit 17th in the table, the worst team in the Premier League outside the three relegated clubs.

Tottenham are just one point and one place better off, though, and have actually lost 19 games this term – three more than the Irons.

Potter will want to make that 20 given Spurs will be focused on their big Europa League semi-final second leg against Bodo-Glimt in midweek.

Tottenham have one foot in the final as they take a 3-1 lead to Norway from the first leg.

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Many think the tie is over but Bodo-Glimt are good at home in their compact stadium and Spurs have shown plenty of fragility when the going gets tough this season.

So Ange Postecoglou can’t afford to take any chances with his top players against West Ham.

That only ramps up the pressure on Potter, who snapped after the Hammers collapsed to throw away a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 in the dying stages at Brighton last week.

Potter had some big decisions to make over his team selection after that shambolic surrender.

Would he bring outspoken striker Niclas Fullkrug back into the starting XI to face Tottenham after dropping him at the Amex?

Would James Ward-Prowse be dropped after a series of underwhelming performances given Edson Alvarez’s return to training amid rumours of a ‘disagreement’ with Potter behind the scenes.

Would the Hammers boss stick with a back five or revert to a four?

Would young left-back Ollie Scarles come in for Emerson Palmieri, who was once again subbed off at Brighton – as he has been in every game he’s started under Potter?

Now those questions have been answered.

Because the confirmed West Ham team to face Spurs is in as Potter springs a big surprise.

Potter has finally dropped his favourite Ward-Prowse while 35-year-old Aaron Cresswell returns to the starting XI as the manager persists with a back five.

As predicted by Hammers News earlier today, Fullkrug does indeed return to the starting XI.

Confirmed West Ham starting XI to face Tottenham:

Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Emerson, Soucek, Paqueta, Bowen, Kudus, Fullkrug.

Lukasz Fabianski, Carlos Soler, Ward-Prowse, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Vladimir Coufal, Danny Ings, Luis Guilherme, Guido Rodriguez and Evan Ferguson are named on the bench.

Confirmed Spurs starting XI for Hammers clash:

Meanwhile this is the confirmed Tottenham team Postecoglou is going with to face the Hammers.

Vicario, Gray, Danso, Davies, Spence, Sarr, Bissouma, Odobert, Kulusevski, Tel, Richarlison.

Some of the top Premier League pundits have had their say.

Four of the six leading pundits are in agreement about the West Ham vs Spurs clash.

Tottenham have the edge in these derbies throughout history.

Spurs have beaten West Ham 102 times while the Hammers have won 67.

There have been 55 draws.

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.

West Ham face bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium and four of the Premier League’s six top pundits are predicting the same outcome.

It won’t save either of their miserable Premier League campaigns, but a win for West Ham or Spurs can at least save some face.

The London rivals simply do not like one another on the pitch, in the stands or in the respective boardrooms.

West Ham and Tottenham fans have agreed on something this week, though.

Hammers and Spurs supporters have come up with a new nickname for their derby.

Both Graham Potter and Ange Postecoglou need to listen to Kyle Walker on what West Ham vs Spurs really means.

But perhaps more so West Ham’s boss after Potter dropped an inexplicable Spurs howler ahead of the London Stadium clash.

Hammers fans are raging at Potter for wishing Spurs luck in their bid to win the Europa League.

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Postecoglou looks set to leave Tottenham even if he does achieve that.

And with just three wins in 15 games, Potter needs to start showing he is the man for West Ham amid growing concerns.

A good way to start would be beating rivals Tottenham and leapfrogging them in the Premier League table.

But how do the experts see it going?

Four of the six top pundits agree on West Ham vs Spurs as ex-boss of both clubs Harry Redknapp joins Alan Shearer, Mark Lawrenson and co in having their say.

Merson: West Ham to beat Spurs in ‘biggest game’

Paul Merson says Tottenham is one of West Ham’s ‘biggest games of the season’.

And he predicts Spurs’ focus on the Europa League will result in a comfortable win for the Hammers.

“This is one of West Ham’s biggest games of the season – Tottenham Hotspur at home in the Premier League! And this will hurt Spurs fans because they have to completely write this game off…” Merson told SportsKeeda when predicting the Hammers will win 2-0.

“West Ham have been terrible all season but I’m backing them to win because I don’t think Spurs will prioritise this game.”

Redknapp: Disastrous Hammers to beat not much better Spurs

West Ham Academy graduate, long-serving player and manager Harry Redknapp controversially went on to also manager Tottenham.

That soured his reputation among some Hammers fans. But he still oversaw some of the best years of West Ham’s modern era.

And he says what the Hammers have served up this season is very far removed from that. Yet he agrees with Merson than equally poor Spurs will be distracted, resulting in a West Ham win.

“West Ham have just had a disastrous season and to be honest, they’re quite fortunate the bottom three have been so poor,” Redknapp said.

“The owners were targeting Europe at the start of the season – they’re currently fourth bottom! Tottenham aren’t much better though. A defeat here would be their 20th in the Premier League.

“I think Spurs, like Man Utd, will rest so many players to focus on the Europa League – and the Hammers should take advantage of that and get the win.”

Sutton: Potter needs win more than Postecoglou and will get it

Chris Sutton is another who thinks the Hammers will emerge victorious, saying Potter actually needs the win even more than Postecoglou.

And he believes they will edge in – albeit unconvincingly.

“This is 17th versus 16th in the Premier League which tells you how bad both teams have been this season,” Sutton said on BBC Sport when predicting a 2-1 Hammers win.

“Everyone knows Tottenham’s focus will be on their Europa League semi-final second leg with Bodo/Glimt so I think West Ham boss Graham Potter needs a result here more than Ange Postecoglou.

“Potter’s results have been poor since he took over from Julen Lopetegui in January and the Hammers fans have not had the upturn they wanted in the way their team play either.

“Spurs can still be dangerous even when they are out of form but Ange is not going to pick his strongest team. That gives West Ham a better chance of getting the win they badly need, but I don’t see them doing it in style.”

Sky Sports experts predicts four-goal draw for rivals

Lewis Jones is Sky Sports’ leading football analyst and expert with his own column ‘Jones Knows’.

In this latest, Jones says West Ham are ‘there for the taking’ if the good Spurs show up.

But he has his doubts and has therefore predicted a 2-2 draw with Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta to expose a ‘declining’ Tottenham defender.

“If the Tottenham that showed up in midweek against Bodo/Glimt does so again – a team full of aggression, creative spark and defensive focus – then West Ham are here for the taking,” Jones said.

“However, it’s likely that we’re going to see the Spurs side that have taken just 16 points away from home this season in the Premier League, losing 10 times. It wouldn’t surprise me to see any of three match outcomes here. Great help, I know.

“West Ham’s tricky trio of Jarrod Bowen, Mohamed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta are foul drawing kings.

“The last 33 centre backs to have played against West Ham under Graham Potter have made 38 fouls between them with 25 of those 33 making at least one foul. Davies is showing clear signs of decline, making five fouls in his last four starts and is likely to be exposed at some point.”

Shearer: Awful West Ham to beat even worse Tottenham

Premier League legend Shearer claims West Ham vs Spurs is a tough game to predict because both sides are so bad.

But like several others, he believes the Hammers will get the win due to Tottenham’s Europa League focus.

Shearer said: “What a tough one to call. West Ham’s season has been awful and Tottenham’s has been even worse with the expectations and, very much like Manchester United, their season is all about the Europa League. I’m going to go for a home win.”

Leopard never changes its spots as lone Lawro backs Spurs

When Lawrenson was doing Premier League predictions for the BBC, he rarely predicted positive results for West Ham.

So much so it became a running joke among Hammers supporters, who even kept a tracker of his predictions.

Most seasons, if Lawrenson was proved right, West Ham would have been relegated.

They say a leopard never changes its spots. Now providing predictions elsewhere, Lawro is the only one of the big six pundits who thinks Spurs are going to beat West Ham, even though Postecoglou’s side are an ‘ongoing disaster’.

“West Ham haven’t won for a long time – not since February!” Lawrenson said.

“Tottenham are an ongoing disaster but I’ll stick my neck out and back them to win this just, but only because West Ham are so poor. West Ham 1-2 Tottenham.”

West Ham have been gearing up for the huge clash with Spurs and we spotted five big things in training that reveal plenty ahead of the derby.

With the stakes high and time running out to salvage some respect in this forgettable season, there is no hiding place for West Ham against Tottenham Hotspur.

The pressure is on Graham Potter after just three wins in 15 games.

Especially following a number of late collapses in the last two months – culminating in that 3-2 defeat at Brighton last week.

With just three wins in 15 games, Potter has been feeling the heat.

Particularly after Niclas Fullkrug spoke out about serious issues at West Ham.

The West Ham boss was at odds with the club’s fans over the German.

While Hammers supporters hailed Fullkrug a hero, Potter criticised and then dropped him for the outburst.

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The 49-year-old would be a brave man to leave Fullkrug out against bitter rivals Tottenham.

That would go down like a lead balloon amongst already agitated Hammers fans in what’s become a huge game in the context of a miserable campaign.

Five big things have been spotted in West Ham training as an isolated star looks fired up for the Spurs showdown.

Alvarez back to face Spurs after Potter ‘disagreement’

All eyes will be on the West Ham starting XI against Tottenham to see whether Edson Alvarez returns to the fold.

The Mexican has started just two of West Ham’s last eight games and was dragged off halfway through both of those.

Alvarez, who fell out with Julen Lopetegui and was also dropped by David Moyes towards the end of his tenure, pulled out of the recent game to face Southampton amid a reported disagreement with Potter.

Immediately after that 1-1 draw at home, Alvarez sent a cryptic post on social media which suggested cracks were appearing in the relationship with his latest Hammers boss.

The Claret and Hugh leak from a source close to West Ham’s owners claimed Alvarez had a fall-out out with Potter as he withdrew from the Southampton game citing he had a bad back.

Alvarez is seen back in training after two games out. He can be heard barking orders at Fullkrug to pass the ball more quickly but loses it himself on a couple of occasions.

Midfield continues to be an issue for the Hammers. So if Alvarez isn’t in the starting XI then it looks almost certain that he’ll be one of the first out the door this summer.

Potter’s heavy focus on possession ahead of Spurs

A large portion of the West Ham training session footage for the game against Tottenham is focused on possession-specific drills.

Spurs have averaged just over 50 per cent possession this season. So it is clearly an area Potter feels the Hammers can gain a big advantage for the match.

West Ham can’t afford to pass the ball around without a purpose against their big rivals, though. It must be with the intent to go at Tottenham and win the game.

Rush Green atmosphere takes noticeable turn

When West Ham posted video footage of Lopetegui’s training sessions, you could hear a pin drop.

The atmosphere was so quiet at Rush Green, it looked more like an Army training camp.

When Lopetegui was sacked former Hammer Don Hutchison revealed West Ham’s training ground had become dead zone.

One of the first things West Ham fans noticed when Potter arrived was how much happier and brighter the players looked in training.

The atmosphere is still much more enthusiastic than under Lopetegui. But there was a noticeable downturn in the latest footage. Not that West Ham have anything to be jovial or happy about of course given recent results and performances.

West Ham fans can only hope that is down to a more intense focus given Spurs are up next. Because there can be no sulking or feeling sorry for yourselves when you play Tottenham.

Tobibo going through the motions?

The jury is still out on big investment Jean-Clair Todibo and he needs to start training like he wants to prove he was worth it.

After spells on the sidelines due a lack of fitness, injury and ill-discipline following a major bust-up with Lopetegui, Todibo has been hit and miss under Potter.

Some games the former Nice man looks like he could be an elite level centre-back. Others it has been perfectly clear to see why he flopped so badly at Barcelona.

There has been claim and counter claim about Todibo and whether he wants to even be at West Ham or stay beyond this season.

One thing that has been consistent, though, is a lackadaisical attitude in training.

West Ham’s coaches – under both Lopetegui and now Potter – have been heard having to encourage Todibo to liven up in training throughout this season.

Todibo struggles to complete 90 minutes. Yet before Southampton he wasn’t take drills seriously, failing to get the ball under control while ambling along with his hands in his sleeves laughing and taking several touches when he was only meant to be taking one or two.

Videos under Lopetegui showed him doing things half-heartedly and being bellowed at by the Spaniard to improve. That has continued in footage shared since Potter has been at the club.

West Ham have committed serious money to signing Todibo, and he needs to start repaying it.

He should be one of the players leading by example yet here in footage, he is half-heartedly closing people down again, being easily beaten and doesn’t appear to take training very seriously at all.

Todibo will get a rude awakening if he takes that attitude onto the pitch against Spurs. It’s been claimed Todibo wants to leave because the West Ham project has changed.

It’s also been reported the Hammers could be open to flipping Todibo as soon as they pay the £32m to make his move permanent. On the evidence of this season it’s easy to see why.

Todibo needs a big statement performance against Tottenham.

Isolated Fullkrug looks like a man on a mission

After calling out the weak mentality of his West Ham teammates and labelling the team “s—“, Fullkrug cuts a somewhat alienated figure in training footage.

Fullkrug sent a new warning to Potter after West Ham’s surrender at Brighton.

He doubled down on his previous criticism, telling the Hammers boss and his teammates ‘they can’t hide from the truth’.

He may have put a few noses out of joint with his comments. It would be more worrying if he hasn’t.

Fullkrug has stated previously, long before his outburst, that West Ham lack leaders. He said he wants to be one of the big leaders in the dressing room.

In the footage Fullkrug seems to spend most of his time talking to West Ham’s training support staff than his teammates. That may or may not be because some of the team have shunned him after his angry rant.

But Fullkrug is clearly trying to be a positive influence from the footage. He can be heard telling training staff: “This is training, the sun is shining, enjoy your life.”

He is also one of a few players who greets the cameraman by saying a simple ‘Good morning’.

In a warm-up run Fullkrug is leading from the front – a noticeable distance ahead of all his teammates as he chats with the training staff setting the pace rather than in amongst the group.

Alvarez can be heard barking at Fullkrug to pass the ball more quickly in one part of the session.

When Fullkrug and captain Jarrod Bowen perform a drill together there doesn’t seem to be much of a chemistry either.

But the Germany star looks laser focused ahead of Spurs, bossing finishing.

Whatever the feeling is in the camp, the big German has plenty of friends in the West Ham crowd.

Hammers supporters will want and expect him to start against Tottenham.

Graham Potter has dropped a West Ham squad bombshell as captain Jarrod Bowen launches a Spurs rant and it’s all long overdue.

West Ham take on fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Although the fixture has probably never meant less amidst the unacceptable seasons both the Hammers and Spurs are having, it has actually taken on real significance this week.

West Ham are a divided dressing room according to striker Niclas Fullkrug.

The German’s furious outburst after the Hammers threw away a 1-0 lead to draw with already relegated Southampton was roundly applauded by the club’s fans.

Indeed football fans of all clubs praised Fullkrug’s refreshing honesty in a game full of robots as he labelled West Ham “s—” and said half the team aren’t listening to the manager.

Many West Ham fans called for Fullkrug to be made captain after the rant, so impressed they were with someone finally telling it like it is.

Potter and Bowen now see Fullkrug was right about West Ham

Graham Potter was less impressed, angering Hammers fans by criticising and then dropping Fullkrug in the next game at Brighton.

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Spurs know all about pathetic collapses against the Seagulls having thrown away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to them earlier this season.

Sitting 17th and 16th in the Premier League, West Ham and Spurs have been as bad as one another all season.

And the Hammers emulated Tottenham’s Brighton collapse by losing 3-2 themselves after coming from behind to take 2-1 lead with six minutes left.

It marked a new low for the Hammers this season and Potter looked like a man under pressure after being booed off by West Ham and Brighton fans at the Amex.

After the game, Fullkrug warned Potter and his teammates they ‘can’t hide from the truth’.

Potter warns players his West Ham squad is too big

Potter then said it’s time to blame West Ham’s players after just 13 wins in the club’s last 53 league games under three managers dating back to January last year.

It has cemented the view in east London that big changes need to be made this summer.

And there will be no hiding place for West Ham’s players against Tottenham – the club’s biggest rivals after Millwall.

Now the underachieving Hammers have been given a long overdue wake-up call and kick up the behind.

Because Potter has dropped a West Ham squad bombshell as captain Jarrod Bowen launches into a Spurs rant.

Speaking ahead of the showdown with Spurs, Potter has made it clear he feels West Ham’s squad is far too big.

That means players are quite literally playing for their futures against Tottenham, with Potter suggesting having too many players has been part of the problem at West Ham.

David Moyes always preferred working with a smaller squad for the benefit of team spirit and morale.

It seems Potter is of the same mindset, especially with no European football to share out game time.

And after honest conversations with his squad this week, the Englishman has warned his players there is no hiding place against Tottenham, suggesting it’s ‘time to show’ after making it clear the squad is too big.

‘Time to show up’ says Potter ahead of Hammers rebuild

“I never thought it was going to be easy, it certainly isn’t easy but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s a fantastic challenge and I’m really enjoying it…” Potter told the press ahead of Spurs.

“They’re (the players) human beings as well so they’ve been low and angry… but they’ve been really good in terms of how they’ve tried to pick themselves up.

“We spoke after the (Brighton) game about being together, it was really important for us to be that – and they have been that in training.

“So credit to them because we’ve got a big squad here, lots of players, and it’s not easy to have that togetherness and they’ve done it well…

“We’ve spoken honestly and well this week and now we need to show, there’s no point me talking here too much, it’s about showing.

“We have to play against Spurs, we have to play a home game where there’s a lot of pride, we know how big the game is for our supporters, we have to show.”

Bowen breaks silence with Spurs message every West Ham fan needed to hear

With that ringing in the players’ ears, skipper Bowen has some strong words too.

Comfortably West Ham’s best and most important player, quiet Bowen has had his leadership questioned at times.

But he’s left his teammates in no doubt, they are playing to prove they deserve to be West Ham players against rivals Spurs.

“We know how disappointing our season has been and that one win over Spurs will not make up for our inconsistent performances and results, but we can only win the next game and our next game is against Spurs, so we want to win it,” Bowen says in his column for the Tottenham clash.

“If we do, we’ll not only win a local derby, but we’ll also go above them in the table.

“To be honest, we should be above them in the table now, but we’ve got to say that we have not picked up the points we should have done, particularly over the last couple of months…

“Spurs might have had a disappointing Premier League season themselves, but they’ve still got lots of very good players in their squad, and if we don’t give one hundred per cent effort and commitment and focus, they will punish us too.

“We were hurt by what happened at Brighton last weekend and we don’t want to feel that same way at full-time on Sunday…

“As captain, someone who has played here for over five years and as a member of a West Ham-supporting family, I know how frustrated you feel about the way we have performed this season. It is way below the standards we set ourselves, I can assure you.

“But talk is cheap when results are not up to scratch and the only way we can prove how much we care, and how good we are as players, is by going out there and performing and giving you something to get behind and cheer.”

Finally some home truths delivered by the two most important people in the dressing room.

It’s just a shame it’s come with four games left of an instantly forgettable season.

But a win over Spurs can give it some semblance of joy at least.

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.

West Ham United wins at the cost of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have been relatively few and far between in recent times.

In fact, ahead of Sunday’s derby clash at the London Stadium, a victory for Graham Potter’s embattled outfit would represent only their second in eight meet-ups.

Their first on home soil, meanwhile, since Michail Antonio stabbed a 72nd minute strike into Hugo Lloris’ net to defeat a Tottenham team containing Lucas Moura, Steven Bergwijn and Tanguy Ndombele nearly four years ago.

Yet, despite a rather underwhelming derby record of late, the West Ham United faithful can still look back, misty-eyed, on some pretty happy memories. Those rockets from Pedro Obiang and Manuel Lanzini, for instance. The comeback win in December 2023 in front of a stunned Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

And, of course, the goal which really should have laid the foundations for the glorious Premier League story of Ravel Morrison. A story which, in the end, would become more of a cautionary tale more than anything else.

Twelve years since the former Manchester United wonderkid left Jan Vertonghen and Michael Dawson for dead on route to one of the finest solo goals in the club’s modern history, Hammers News takes a look back and discovers what became of the West Ham team who put three unanswered goals past Spurs on their own soil.

Where are they now? The West Ham United team who beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0

Jussi Jaaskelainen

One of the more underrated goalkeepers of the Premier League era, 57 of the Bolton legend’s 436 Premier League appearances came between the sticks of West Ham.

Now 50 years of age, Jaaskelainen is working back in his homeland of Finland these days. He is the assistant coach of second-tier outfit PK-35.

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Jussi’s Bolton-born son Will, by the way, is playing National League football with Woking.

Guy Demel

The dependable and well-travelled Demel actually spent a year with Arsenal upon the turn of the Century, heading back to London over a decade later following spells in the Bundesliga with Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund.

Like Jaaskelainen, Demel has also entered coaching after hanging up his boots. The former right-back works alongside ex-Reading midfielder Emerse Fae for the Ivory Coast national team.

Winston Reid

A one-time Hammers captain, Reid got the party started in that famous 3-0 win over Tottenham as his opener midway through the second half sparked a devastating 13-minute flurry.

Despite the fact Winston Reid became dogged by injury as the seasons went by, the 36-year-old New Zealander still made more than 200 appearances for The Hammers.

As of last summer, meanwhile, Reid is a part-owner of Auckland FC in his homeland.

“Getting involved as an investor with Auckland FC feels like the perfect opportunity for me,” Reid said. I love what the club has to offer, what it represents to Auckland as well as coaching and development pathways available to help players achieve their very best.”

James Tomkins

Another who played over 200 games in the claret and blue, the Basildon-born West Ham academy graduate announced his retirement in March after nearly a decade down the road at Crystal Palace.

“Thank you to my amazing family for making my career even possible and their continued support over the years,” Tomkins wrote in a statement posted on social media.

“I was lucky to play for three clubs [West Ham, Palace and Derby County], all with amazing fans who make football what it is. I will miss the game, but it’s time to announce my retirement.”

Razvan Rat

A Centurion with the Romanian national team, the 133-cap Razvan Rat is unlikely to be remembered too vividly even by the West Ham fans who witnessed his 20 appearances in club colours.

Rat is best remembered for his time with Shakhtar Donetsk – he won seven Ukrainian Premier League titles – and now works as a board member at Serie A outfit Genoa following their takeover by Romanian businessman Dan Sucu.

Mark Noble

‘Mr West Ham’; Captain marvel Noble lived the dream of every Hammers supporter and continues to represent his beloved club to this day.

The West Ham legend was immediately offered a behind-the-scenes role when he announced his retirement. Now a vocal presence off the field and a conduit between the board and the players, Graham Potter highlighted Mark Noble’s influence when explaining his decision to take over from Julen Lopetegui.

“It was a combination of lots of factors,” Potter said. “It was the board’s ambition, the board’s trust and belief in me, it was looking at the playing squad, the Academy, the work that Mark Noble does behind the scenes.”

Ravel Morrison

As tended to be the case throughout his career, Ravel Morrison burned bright but far too brief in claret and blue. Though, scorer of one of the club’s most iconic goals, Sam Allardyce came closer than anyone else to unleashing Morrison’s fearsome potential to it’s fullest.

Over a decade later, at a time when he really should be at the peak of his formidable powers, a 32-year-old Morrison is enjoying a slight resurgence away from the spotlight in the UAE’s second-tier.

Mo Diame

A la Morrison, former Wigan Athletic, Newcastle and Hull City powerhouse Diame looked to wind down his career amongst the sun and the sand of the Middle East. Now 37, the former Senegal international has been a free-agent since leaving Qatari outfit Al-Sailiya SC.

Kevin Nolan

In an era where Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and more are all trying their hands at management – with very mixed results – former West Ham favourite Kevin Nolan is hoping to make a name for himself in the dugout too.

After spending four years as an assistant coach at his old stomping ground – Nolan worked alongside David Moyes during that Conference League-winning campaign – the straight-talking Scouser went solo with Northampton Town.

With 50 points to their name, Nolan has ensured The Cobblers will be a League One outfit again in 2025/26.

Stuart Downing

After an unhappy spell at Liverpool, Downing enjoyed quite the resurgence under Allardyce, famously evolving from his usual left-wing role to become more of a roving number ten at Upton Park.

With 59, Downing sits 26th in the Premier League’s all-time assist charts, ahead of Eric Cantona, Theo Walcott, Paul Scholes and Mesut Ozil. The former England squad regular is now an assistant coach for Leeds United’s Under-21 side.

Ricardo Vaz Te

The mercurial Vaz Te netted the second of three goals at Tottenham back in October 2013. A scorer of great goals rather than a ‘great goalscorer’, Vaz Te became a West Ham cult hero thanks to his penchant for the spectacular.

Upon leaving the Hammers in 2015, the nomadic Iberian would embark upon spells in Portugal, Turkey, China and, erm, Charlton.

Speaking to the club’s official website last year, the now-retired Vaz Te spoke glowingly about the impact West Ham imprinted upon him both on the pitch and in his private life too.

“How could I not love my time with this Club?” Vaz Te smiled. “I met my wife – the love of my life – while I was with this Club. We now have our beautiful kids, and all of that comes from being at West Ham United.

“I also got stability and good friends, and a Club that has always shown me love, respect and consideration. There is nothing that compares for me.”

There are not too many bigger London rivalries than West Ham vs Tottenham Hotspur nowadays – as Graham Potter is about to find out.

Both West Ham and Tottenham have bigger traditional rivals in the shape of Millwall and Arsenal.

But there really is no love lost between the Hammers and Spurs in a clash that’s grown in intensity throughout the Premier League years.

This season the London rivals share a lot in common because they’ve both been abysmal in the league, sitting 16th and 17th respectively ahead of their clash at the London Stadium.

West Ham and Tottenham fans live and work amongst one other. There are even families who have divided loyalties. So bragging rights are a big deal even if neither side has anything to play for in the league.

No love lost between West Ham and Tottenham

The Hammers have been able to gloat about winning a trophy for the last two years. That’s not often been the case given their last major trophy before that was in 1980.

From lasagne-gate through to fighting over the Olympic Stadium and fall-outs between the two boardrooms, it’s really quite simple – West Ham and Tottenham don’t like each other.

England star Kyle Walker made a major claim about Tottenham’s games against West Ham which proves that point.

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But perhaps somebody needs to tell Graham Potter. And fast.

The dislike between the two clubs means most connected with West Ham are nauseous at the prospect of Spurs winning the Europa League.

Football in England always has and always will be tribal at its heart.

So Hammers fans have taken great solace in the fact Tottenham have been just as bad as them this season.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have actually been worse when it comes to Premier League defeats with 19 to West Ham’s 16.

The last thing the Hammers faithful want to see is Spurs end their long trophy drought and qualify for the Champions League in the process.

As the more illustrious competition, Tottenham winning the Europa League would trump West Ham’s Conference League triumph nearly two years ago.

West Ham fans even have a specific chant for Spurs ‘We’ll be running round Tottenham with our European Cup singing I’ve got a trophy haven’t you’.

Potter drops Spurs clanger and West Ham fans won’t be happy

Potter is still getting to grips with being Hammers manager.

After four months he is already feeling the pressure of expectation.

There will be no hiding place for him or his players if they don’t turn up against Tottenham.

But Potter has dropped a major Spurs clanger and West Ham fans won’t be happy at all.

West Ham fans winced as they saw Tottenham put one foot in the Europa League final with a 3-1 win over Bodo-Glimt.

Spurs had already gone one better than West Ham by seeing off Eintracht Frankfurt over two legs.

Now they look set for a final showdown against Man United.

West Ham manager hopes Spurs ‘finish the job’

Quite what Potter was thinking during his pre-Tottenham press conference is anyone’s guess.

Because when asked about Sunday’s opponents, he not only gave Postecoglou a list of excuses but said he hopes Tottenham finish the job and make the Europa League final.

After initially being reluctant to talk about Spurs, Potter then volunteered the bizarre good luck message which won’t sit right with most Hammers fans.

“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.”

Come again?

This must go down as one of the strangest comments from a West Ham manager in modern times.

He could and should have just stopped at ‘nothing is a given’.

When Mark Noble was asked to comment on Millwall and Spurs on talkSPORT he simply replied ‘no comment’ – even when pushed.

Let’s hope the Hammers’ sporting director has a word in Potter’s ear to emphasise just how big this game is.

Fortunately, Graham Potter’s injury update took up only a small fraction of his Friday press conference as the West Ham United boss looks ahead to Sunday’s London derby with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Crysencio Summerville’s debut season has officially ended. Conformation came via West Ham United’s official website earlier in the week.

Graham Potter explains now that the £30 million signing from Leeds will look to get head down and his fitness up ahead of an expected return in time for pre-season.

That, however, was about it on the injury front.

Michail Antonio’s tear-jerking return will have to wait, of course, while it remains to be seen if Edson Alvarez can feature after missing the last two Premier League matches. But, Summerville aside, the rest of the West Ham squad appear fit and raring to go as they look to ease some of the growing frustration with a timely victory over their capital-city neighbours.

Tottenham’s embattled head coach Ange Postecoglou, however, is not so fortunate.

Tottenham Hotspur suffer quadruple blow ahead of West Ham United clash

Now, Spurs never do things the easy way.

They were 3-0 up and cruising in the first-leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night. But a late consolation from Ulrik Saltness, coupled with second-half injuries suffered by both James Maddison and Dominic Solanke, left a somewhat sour aftertaste in Spurs mouths.

Captain Heung-Min Son missed out against the Norwegian champions too, failing to recover in time from a foot injury.

And, speaking at his own Friday presser, Postecoglou confirmed that all three are now facing a race against time ahead of the trip to the London Stadium.

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“Dom is not too bad. He is still a bit sore from last night, but we don’t think it’s anything serious. Obviously, [Solanke is] a doubt for weekend,” the straight-talking Australian begins.

“Madders, we’re a bit more concerned about. He was heading for a scan [on Friday]. We’re just wait to hear that outcome.

“Sonny is working hard. He’s out on the grass every day. We’ll see how he’s going by [next] Thursday.”

Lucas Bergvall and Crysencio Summerville suffer season-ending injuries

Tottenham, therefore, will be without three of their five leading Premier League goalscorers up against Graham Potter’s out-of-sorts outfit.

West Ham fans will be pleased to avoid another meeting with Son – scorer of nine goals in 20 derbies – while Solanke netted home and away against the Claret and Blues with AFC Bournemouth last term.

Postecoglou also confirmed that Lucas Bergvall, one of the few bright sparks in a highly disappointing campaign for Tottenham Hotspur, joins Summerville in seeing his season brought to a premature conclusion.

“Lucas, obviously looks like the injury is probably significant enough to keep him out for the remainder of the season,” the former Celtic boss sighs.

It would not have raised too many eyebrows, back in August, if supporters had been told that West Ham and Spurs would be separated by one place and one point in the Premier League table by the start of May.

Though few would have imagined that, with a home win over their despited neighbours, West Ham could leapfrog Tottenham into a lowly 16th with only three matches remaining. Even the most pessimistic may have struggled to envisage things could quite this badly.

Fortunately, with neither Southampton, Leicester City nor Ipswich Town providing much of a challenge below them, the sleeping giants know there is a limit to how far they can fall.