Graham Potter start to life at West Ham has been inauspicious to say the least.
When the Englishman replaced Julen Lopetegui, the expectation was that the Hammers would become a lot more exciting to watch.
But West Ham have averaged just one goal per game in Potter’s 10 matches at the helm.
There have already been some fan murmurings about the style of play and criticism of too many sideways and backward passes.
The manager actually apologised to Hammers fans that he has not been able to make West Ham better as an attacking force yet following the home defeat to Newcastle.
Potter blamed Lopetegui for West Ham’s problems, saying he has been preoccupied trying to fix the defensive mess he left behind.
Potter has free hit but Hammers fans want some hope
There is evidence he has made progress on that, although the Irons have won just three of his first 10 matches, losing five and drawing two.
Out of both cups at the third round and not being in Europe, West Ham have not been able to build much momentum under Potter as there have been big gaps between matches.
The fact the club will have played just 10 games in three months says everything.
But the vast majority of West Ham fans are giving Potter the rare luxury of a free hit for the rest of this season.
Most will reserve judgment on the former Chelsea boss until he has his own players and team in place next season.
In the meantime, though, supporters do want to see something from the team to give them hope.
There have been glimpses of what West Ham might be capable of under Potter – such as the win at Arsenal – but the lack of attacking oomph and excitement has been a real worry.
West Ham’s owners and fans have been particularly baffled by a lack of game time for striker Evan Ferguson.
Especially given the team’s struggles up front and the fact the Irishman was very much Potter’s man.
Ferguson himself is far from happy with his situation since joining the Hammers.
Now a West Ham star has dealt a brutal double blow to his angry teammate as Potter feels the heat.
It says everything about Niclas Fullkrug’s debut season with the Hammers that he has done more interviews than he’s played matches.
When he started the season on the bench against Aston Villa, Fullkrug instantly spoke out in the press.
Fullkrug told Lopetegui in no uncertain terms he had not come to West Ham to play back-up to anyone.
After three months out injured, the German striker returned for a brief spell but was struck down again in the first 45 minutes of Potter’s debut game.
West Ham star deals brutal double blow to angry teammate
He’s been out ever since and has done a series of interviews in his free time. In one of them Fullkrug used an expletive to describe his move to West Ham.
Meanwhile, the man Potter brought in to replace Fullkrug in the winter window, has barely played either.
Ferguson has made his feelings clear this week after scoring for Ireland.
The 20-year-old said he is annoyed at his lack of game time since being reunited with Potter.
But Ferguson has vowed to prove he’s not the latest West Ham striker flop during the run-in.
Well Fullkrug has a double dose of bad news for his rival for the striker spot.
In yet another interview while back in his homeland, Fullkrug has revealed he is now ready to return for the Hammers.
“That will happen in the short term, and I’m looking forward to it – and that’s the most important thing for me right now,” Fullkrug told Deich Stube about his return to action.
“I haven’t played a competitive game yet, but I’m in team training.
Everything’s going well there, too; I’m becoming more and more positive and confident in my game.
“But I need a few minutes of Premier League football under my belt.”
To make matters worse for Ferguson ahead of the resumption of Premier League action against Wolves and Bournemouth next week, Fullkrug played 45 minutes for West Ham in a behind-closed-doors friendly yesterday.
West Ham played Brentford in a practice match – given the club will have had just two games in 33 days.
Potter now feels the heat over West Ham’s outspoken duo
The Hammers lost 1-0 and Fullkrug came on at half-time but struggled to get into the game, the match report claims.
With Fullkrug back and desperate for game time and Ferguson demanding to play, this is Potter’s first real test at West Ham.
The Hammers will learn a lot about the manager from how he handles the situation.
On one hand, Fullkrug is West Ham’s player outright whereas Ferguson is only on loan.
Logic says that with West Ham need to raise money from player sales this summer it may be in Potter’s best long-term interests to play Fullkrug in order to help drum up interest for a sale.
Especially as he continues to be linked with a move away.
But on the flip side, if the Hammers are looking to do a deal to sign Ferguson permanently, the player would want to feel sure he is going to be the club’s starting striker.
Potter’s actions during the last nine games will speak volumes on the future of both players.
