He’s One of Our Own: The Emergence of Freddie Potts
He’s one of our own, he’s one of our own, Freddie Potts, he’s one of our own. If ever that chant was appropriate in use it is now. Son of West Ham legend Steve Potts and brother of former West Ham player Dan, Freddie has definitely got claret and blue blood. On the West Ham Way podcast we have been championing that Freddie should be starting our games for many months and whilst I’m delighted it has happened, I can’t believe it has taken this long.
Overdue Debut and Loan Success
After a really impressive pre-season, it was thought he would start our opening match of the season against Sunderland. Many people were surprised that Potter decided to go with Rodriquez and Ward-Prowse, both of whom have barely featured for us since Potter left the club. Potts was on the back of a successful loan spell at Championship side Portsmouth where he was named their Player of the Year. This was also on the back of the previous season being named Wycombe’s equivalent. Our midfield has been crying out for energy, movement, creativity and pace and Potts has brought all of those attributes.
A New Generation of Leadership
Steve Potts is someone we have had as our prematch events (On a side note these events will be returning soon with a brand new much better venue, so watch this space for further info). He produced one of the most memorable stories in all our 10 years of doing events. He spoke about Dan’s battles with Leukaemia and how proud he was that he recovered and managed to fight back to play for West Ham. There wasn’t a dry tear in the room once he told that story. Potts captained the side for a period of time and whilst he was a highly respected and liked captain, he wasn’t always the most vocal. Freddie seeks to have all of his father’s popular traits but also he is a vocal leader. One of the things that impressed me the most in recent games, is how he gives instructions to the other midfielders including who to mark and where to be playing the ball. It has already given clear hope that not only will Freddie go on to be a regular for the club but there is also a future captain lurking within that young shell. Of course Nuno is going to have to manage his introduction into the starting 11 and not burn him out but I am sure he is a capable manager to do just that.
The Academy of Football Question
It does beg the question why previous managers have always been so reluctant to play our young players in their teams. I believe we have a number of other Academy graduates that should have featured more by now and hopefully Nuno will also see this and start to utilise some of their talents. Not only do you get a good player whose value increases no end but you get a home grown talent that is desperate to play for the club. Considering we are the self proclaimed Academy of Football, I cannot believe more of our recent managers haven’t put more faith into it.
Midfield Stability and January Priorities
Potts’ emergence will definitely have helped potential recruitment options in January because whilst I still think we will sign another midfielder, having Potts, Fernandes and Paqueta playing well together in recent weeks and Soucek being the super sub and Magassa still not fully established, there are options. All focus must go on to signing a forward as the priority. We must solve our age old problem of not having a long term forward option that can be our main man for years to come. I also think we need a new centre back as well. We can be assured though that in Freddie Potts, I think we have a long term answer to the midfield legs that we have needed for a while now.
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