Boss Graham Potter has been delighted with the response of his players to the first full week of training between games since his appointment earlier this month, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Just two weeks on from their last visit to Villa Park - which came only a day after Potter’s unveiling as Head Coach at London Stadium - the Hammers travel back up the M1 and M6 looking to avenge that narrow 2-1 defeat in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.
A subsequent victory over Fulham and last weekend’s disappointing reverse at the hands of Crystal Palace have left West Ham United 14th in the top-flight standings, looking for a return to winning ways against the eighth-placed Villans, who themselves will be aiming to bounce back in the wake of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League defeat at Monaco.
While recognising the strengths of the Irons’ upcoming opponents, Potter sat down with the media and discussed how his relationships with his squad are improving with each passing session, and how impressed he’s been with the collective effort behind the scenes.
The 49-year-old confirmed that Scotsman Kyle Macaulay has joined his backroom team as Head of Recruitment, while he also shared how pleased he’s been to welcome Michail Antonio back to the Rush Green Training Ground over recent days.
As the countdown to kick-off against Villa in the West Midlands continues, read on for some of the best talking points from Friday’s press conference, which you can also watch in the video player above.
Kyle Macaulay appointment
Kyle’s in as our Head of Recruitment, which is great. He’s been part of my staff for the last ten or more years, since I was coaching over in Sweden, so we know each other well.
He will provide a good link between the coach - me - and the Club in terms of recruitment. With the number of hours and number of conversations you need to invest in recruitment, it’s great to have someone in to look after that, because I’m obviously working with the players out on the pitch.
Recruitment’s about having lots of conversations and putting in lots of work to make the right decisions, and the reality is that these days it’s nearly impossible for a Head Coach to look after that. To have Kyle in will be great for me and great for the Club, and I’m delighted with the appointment.
First full week at the helm
This is the first full week we’ve had. We’ve only been here just over two weeks, even though it’s felt like a lot longer!
It’s been nice to have a decent stretch of training. We’ve managed to do some good work, analyse the last game and prepare for Aston Villa, so I think we’ve used the time well.
The boys have trained well, and as I’ve said before, every training session allows me to get to know the players better.
Positive reaction from the players
Everything’s been really good, and the boys have worked really hard. I have no complaints whatsoever from the two weeks I’ve been here.
In every training session, and after every message, I think the intention has been there. The players are honest and they want to improve, and I’ve really enjoyed working with them so far.
Academy impressions
The young players and the Academy are important to us, but at the same time we need to do what we have to to win. Kaelan Casey’s been in the squad, as well as Ollie Scarles and Lewis Orford, and they’ve been important players in training.
We just have to select the right team for each game, to try and get the result we want. Nevertheless, our Academy will always be central to things and part of our thoughts as long as I’m here.
Kudus up for the challenge
We’re in a situation where we’ve lost a couple of attackers through injury during my time here, and there were already a couple out, so we’re a little bit tight in forward areas and we’re having to adapt.
Mo has had to adapt a bit, and Lucas Paquetá as well. Mo’s taken on every challenge in a good way, and I think he’s someone who can play in lots of positions in the front three. If we can get the balance right, we’ve got a top, top player.
Transfer talk
At this time of year there’s always lots of speculation, but we just have to try and ignore the noise and help the players, particularly those who are injured.
We have nothing to report, but we are looking. There are a lot of factors to consider - the Club invested a lot of money in the summer, so we have to be mindful of that, and at the same time this window is always particularly complicated.
We’ve lost players in attacking areas, so I understand the question. In our three games here, our goalscoring has been OK, but we know we could be doing more to sustain attacks.
For now, my focus is on working with the players who are here, and helping them improve.
Another Villa Park test
As you’d expect - and as we know from a couple of weeks ago - it’s always a tough game at Aston Villa. Villa Park is always a challenging environment for any away side.
Unai Emery has done an amazing job there, and the team is in a good place, in the Champions League and challenging for Europe again. They’re a really strong outfit.
Last time out, we did well in the first half, but weren’t able to sustain that in the second half. We need to try and do better this weekend, and we’ll go there looking to compete.
Plenty still to play for
We’re West Ham, competing in the Premier League, so there’s always pressure and demand to win.
Our ambition is there - we want to improve and get better, and we want to move towards a style of play that our supporters recognise and are fond of. We’ve got lots to do, and every game is really important.
Antonio back in the building
It was great to see him, and he’s just such a good character. At the same time, he’s been through a really traumatic experience, so we have to acknowledge that and support him. He’s been back around the place and making people smile, but knowing what he’s been through puts things into perspective.
The priority is Michail, and I think the boys would say that the team and everything else is secondary. It’s about making sure he’s OK, and making sure he’s dealing with what happened. He’s on his recovery, and we’re here to help him.
