I was over-the-moon when the club announced Graham Potter as our new manager. But I personally fell in love with him even more after finding out that Potter is a ‘Swiftie’ (Taylor Swift fan). I think that to me is one of the greatest things I have ever heard. Anyway ‘Swiftly’ moving on, I caught up with Brighton fan Dean and Chelsea fan Elliot to find out their thoughts on our appointment of Graham Potter.
The Brighton Transformation
So Dean, how was Potter as a manager at Brighton?: ‘Potter was a game-changer. He transformed us from a defensive, counter-attacking team under Chris Hughton into a possession-based, tactically flexible side. ‘He modernised the club’s style, introduced fluid formations, and developed players like Alexis Mac Allister, Moisés Caicedo, and Leandro Trossard.’
So what was the big issue with Potter at Brighton?: ‘While we played beautiful football, we struggled to finish chances. We’d dominate games and still end up drawing or losing. ‘It wasn’t until his final season (2021-22) that we started converting performances into results, finishing 9th—our best-ever Premier League finish at the time. His departure to Chelsea hurt, especially given how sudden it was.’
The Chaos at Chelsea
So Elliot, how was Potter’s time at Chelsea?: ‘At Chelsea, it was a completely different story to what he had at Brighton. He walked into chaos—new ownership, a bloated squad, injuries, and massive pressure. ‘Potter is a coach, not a big-character manager, and he struggled to impose authority. The players didn’t seem to fully buy into his ideas, and his constant tactical tinkering backfired.
‘There were glimpses of what he wanted to do, but in the end, the job was too big, too soon. He was sacked in April 2023 with Chelsea sitting in mid-table, which felt inevitable given how quickly things unraveled. Most Chelsea fans would say he was out of his depth, but the situation at the club didn’t help either.’
What West Ham Fans Can Expect
Dean, what can West Ham expect from Potter? ‘A more possession-based style than Moyes’ low-block counter-attacking approach. He proved that at Brighton after taking over from Hughton. ‘I think that’s what you West Ham fans want is more attacking possession-based football. However, a negative is he lacks the big personality needed to manage egos.’
What do you think Elliot?: ‘Potter loves switching formations mid-game. If the game isn’t going the way he wanted, he won’t be scared but to switch up the formation sometimes it works, other times it doesn’t. ‘It’s the risk you need to take sometimes. A negative would be that he sometimes overthinks tactics and makes unnecessary changes.’
The Verdict: Will he Succeed in East London?
But Dean, will he succeed at West Ham?: ‘It depends. If the West Ham board and fans give him time, he could modernise their style and build something long-term. ‘But if results don’t come quickly, he might struggle—especially after Moyes’ defensive setup, which fans have grown used to. West Ham is a club that demands passion and fight, and Potter will need to show he can inspire that.
Elliott added: ‘Despite the London rivalry between our clubs I do hope he does well at West Ham. He deserves it at the end of the day as he is a decent manager despite his stint at Chelsea.’
Highs and Lows: Best Moments
What was Potter’s best moment at Brighton? Dean says: ‘Beating Man United 4-0, finally fixing our goal-scoring issues, and getting us to our highest-ever finish at the time.’
And at Chelsea? Elliot continues: ‘Hard to find one, but maybe beating AC Milan in the Champions League?’
Final Thoughts on the Appointment
Finally, your thoughts when he joined West Ham? Dean said: ‘I thought it was brilliant as he’s had quite a bit of time off from football so when I first heard the rumours I wasn’t shocked. In fact I honestly think this is the perfect club for him.’
Elliot added: ‘It’s a bold move. He’s a smart coach, but West Ham is a tough job. If he adapts, he could take them forward, but if he repeats the mistakes from Chelsea, he won’t last long. It’ll be interesting to see if he can prove the doubters wrong.’
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