Graham Potter will know that modern managers stand or fall through how they deal with their club owners.
He failed spectacularly in Chelsea by Toodd Boehly to allow his trolley -dash on the transfer market – while Enzo made clear Maresca from the first day he wanted, even if he meant large acquisitions as Raheem Sterling was overboard.
Now Potter stands for the same dilemma in West Ham after the disastrous 3-0 defeat of Saturday in Sunderland, just as harmful to the East Enders because it was glorious for the Premier League newcomers.
After spending the season on sounding half glass full despite limited transfer activities, Potter has to develop harder skin and David Sullivan demand that David Sullivan gives him the tools to rebuild in the London Stadium.
Otherwise the results will get him the bag and the West Ham relegated.
While the stadium of light in pleasure bounced into the second half of goals of Eliezer Mayenda, than Ballard and Wilson Isidor, West Ham were a copy and past of last season; Slowly, predictable and lack of character that once falls behind.
'Fuming', was the summary of Captain Jarrod Bowen. 'We did not start with the second half with the same intensity as the first. It's annoying. '
It was an angry dressing room after their capitulation and their supporters will be anxious with Chelsea on Friday evening.
Potter blamed the bad basic defense for the cost of his team to Wearside, but as soon as he apologizes and is honest with everyone, he knows that the current team is not creative and mobile enough for this competition. Changes must be made before the window closes.
Lucas Paqueta is not suitable for the goal without a declan rice next to him. If Newcastle is really interested, West Ham should take him to Tyneside. It would fit the player to have his colleague Brazilian Joelinton as a bodyguard in midfield.
In West Ham he plays alongside Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez, who cannot cover soil or choose a pass. For his own survival, Potter has to instruct the board to sell them – even with a loss – and bring in a brighter young model such as Matheus Fernandes from Southampton.
Really, he needs three players in defense, midfield and attacks with more energy than with his current decision. Only then does West Ham get the best out of the perseverance of Bowen and the power of Niclas Fullkrug in the air.
It is probably no coincidence that Potter's best spell in England came to Brighton, where the hierarchy was experts in recruitment, so that the manager could concentrate on coaching and building a holistic culture.
At his last two jobs, he did not receive the right players from “above” and missed the natural authority in his personality to challenge them. That must change, and quickly.
West Ham was in order in the first half and earned it to reach the interval level, but they never got an important prevention against the bookmakers favorites to go down.
The second half was much worse. Mayenda exceeded the defense to open the score after an hour and West Ham welcomed the sun. Ballard produced another pounding header and Isidor scored a solo -when Sunderland broke from a corner of West Ham.
“We turned the ball and were more listless. The goals we admit were simple, “Bowen Damny added.
He is a real West Ham hero, but after this kind of competitions he has to wonder why he did not led this summer for a movement such as Mohammed Kudus who is now at Spurs.
A large London derby under the lights at home gives West Ham the chance of redemption, but Potter will have to find 11 players instead of three or four who can physically match Chelsea for 90 minutes.
“We want to place the result of Saturday immediately,” Bowen concluded. “We don't want to fall into a rut. We have to respond on Friday. If that doesn't make you right, then we are wrong. '
Sunderland does not care about the problems of West Ham. After eight years outside the top flight, the festive time was in the northeast.
Regis Le Bris has signed 12 new players and the midfield axis of £ 30 million Senegal International Habib Diarra and former Arsenal captain and Bundesliga winner Granit Xhaka is much better than observed relegation candidates.
Unlike West Ham, Sunderland have both legs and power. They can play on the kitchen counter, check the match of Saturday with 40% possession and place it in the mixer when needed.
They also held some promotion heroes from last season, in particular Northern Ireland defender than Ballard, who scored their play-off semi-final winner against Coventry and repeated the performance against West Ham.
'I'm going to squeeze myself by looking at the goal back. I never thought I would play in the Premier League, “he said disarmingly.
If Sunderland can use a favorable list of early fixture, they see it able to make the recent trend of promoted teams that always go back.
Next weekend they will be in Burnley. “Another winner,” Ballard acknowledged. “It is important that we get points.”