Window shopping: Igor in, Aguerd, Emerson and Cornet out

Well, the transfer window has turned out better than it seemed a week ago. The key thing was getting in two young energetic 21-year-old midfielders in Fernandes and Magassa and that gives the season a much more optimistic hue. Potter also brought in Igor Julio from Brighton on loan, who was very Igor to join us having played against West Ham for Fiorentina in Prague. That move also scuppered Crystal Palace selling Guehi to Liverpool. If he's a big bruising centre half who can win balls in the air then that's what we need against teams like Sunderland. 

Nayef Aguerd has gone to Marseille for a reported £20m which isn't bad business even if it was £10m less than we paid for him. I always thought he was a good player who would eventually adapt to the Premier League, but the three games he played this season showed he was still struggling. Emerson has also gone to Marseille for a very low £900,000. You can only assume the club was desperate to get his wages off the books. The 31-year-old Emerson completed the set of European trophies with West Ham and overall did pretty well in his three seasons. While lingering like an odd sock at the bottom of the drawer we have also loaned forgotten Maxwel Cornet to Genoa. 

Potter and Macauley have certainly been hampered by the club being obliged to buy Todibo for an overpriced £36m and then thanks to last summer's spree and the PSR rules having to sell Kudus for £55m before we could buy. Diouf and Hermansen have come in for £20m each and Walker-Peters and Callum Wilson arrived on frees. A lot of fans deplored the Wilson signing but for a season-long deal I think he's a bargain if we can keep him fit. As he showed at Forest he's a really good player.

The other plus is that Lucas Paqueta really did throw his phone away at Forest. The one area where Potter hasn't acted is in signing a young striker, though Fullkrug, Wilson, Bowen and Marshall offer some depth for this season. Overall a lot of older players have been moved on such as Cresswell, Coufal, Ings, Fabianski, Zouma, Antonio and Emerson, while Alvarez has been loaned out. We've spent around £133 million and recouped around £76 million while probably saving a bit on wages. The main aim was to reduce the average of the side and that has been achieved. Potter now has seven of his own signings in the squad so let's see what he can do with them.

Three-nil to the Cockney Boys!

Nottingham Forest 0 West Ham United 3 (three)

I'm in a breakout group with daughter Nell at the Racehorse pub in Carshalton for this Sky game, while Matt and Nigel are at the Wellington in Waterloo wondering what could possibly go right. Potter has made big changes. We're playing both the Greek Bloke and Mads Hermansen, who must surely have PTSD after his eight goals conceded in two games. The gaffer has abandoned five at the back and dropped three members of our porous defence in Aguerd, Todibo and Wan-Bisakka, while new signing Mateus Fernandes comes in to midfield. It's certainly a brave selection, but after Chelsea something had to be done.

It's a scrappy game, yet from the outset West Ham look a much more determined side with Fernandes adding some speed and tenacity to midfield. A cross from Ndoye goes across goal and behind Wood, Walker-Peters does well to tackle Hudson-Odoi in the box and that's about it. Even Hermansen is confidently catching crosses. Towards the end of the half the Irons create the best chance so far as Diouf and Fernandes combine to set up Paqueta for a shot that Sels does well to tip over.

Fullkrug, set up by Fernandes, has a low shot saved, but the main question after the break is can West Ham hold on for a gritty goalless draw. Potter makes a change bringing on Wilson for Fullkrug after 64 minutes. The former Newcastle man immediately looks more mobile than the big German taking players on and getting a defected shot away that Sels has to tip over. Next he takes on three defenders and shoots from a tight angle to inspire another save.

JIMMY JIMMY

The crucial change comes when Summerville arrives after 82 minutes. Paqueta nicks the ball to Jimmy who takes on two men, rolls the ball to Bowen who shoots first time and bends it into the corner before doing a knee slide to the West Ham fans. Blimey. Two minutes later Paqueta wins a block tackle, the ball breaks to Summerville in his own half and the revitalised winger races into the box to be brought down by Sangare. 

Lucas Paqueta takes a stuttering penalty and having sent the goalkeeper the wrong way gently rolls the ball into the net. Lucas runs to the away fans, makes a throwing his phone away mime and clutches his Hammers badge. Either he's having problems with his mobile phone provider  or this is a sign he intends to ignore Aston Villa's deadline day call. Paqueta has been superb throughout and is a new player now he's free of FA charges.

On WhatsApp Michael the Whovian and Big Sam both wonder if there is a connectivity problem at Sky as West Ham appear to be winning. What sort of thing is happening here? One minute into added time Summerville finds Diouf whose inviting cross is headed down and in by Callum Wilson. Three-nil! Nigel says we can thank Mystic Matt for this one as five minutes earlier Matt had predicted that Wilson would never score for the Hammers.

Even sub Jesus has failed to lay on any crosses for the stuttering home side. It's almost four when Bowen slaloms though the Forest defence for what would have been the goal of the season only to see Callum Wilson take the ball off his toe and fire at at the keeper. Luckily the pair do eventually share a laugh about this, Callum a little more than Jarrod.

What a performance and let's have a word for the Greek Bloke. Instead of a mistake waiting to happen Dinos Mavropanos has played like the Colossus of Rhodes and alongside Kilman he's made the defence look a lot tighter. Even Mads is looking less like he is fresh from the Battle of Passchendaele. Potter got his selection and subs right this time. Obviously none of us have ever doubted him or the team (much). 

We head off to the CAMRA Greater London pub of the year, the aptly-named The Hope for connoisseur's halves of Black Isle, Mild and Ash and Elm real ale. Football, eh? International fortnight is going to be a lot more comfortable after this. Irons!

Double swoop gives Hammers new hope

You wait all summer for one midfield signing and then two come along at once. Mateus Fernandes has signed from Southampton for £38m plus £4m in add-ons. I'm slightly wary of signing players from relegated clubs (Fernandes, Walker-Peters and Hermansen so far) since their confidence will be low and ultimately they couldn't keep their team up; but Fernandes at 21 was certainly one of the Saints' best players last season and picked up valuable experience, playing 36 times scoring twice and assisting four times. The Portugeeezer looks a busy player who can both create and get a tackle in. He's previously played for Sporting Lisbon and on loan at Estoril and is an Under-21 international.

While the Irons have also now just completed the signing of 21-year-old defensive midfielder Soungoutou Magassa from Monaco for £17.5 million. Can Maga make West Ham great again? If so he'll be the ultimate populist. This could be the most vital signing of the summer since the Hammers have never really replaced Declan Rice and a defensive shield would surely make the three centre backs look a little better. He can also play at centre back himself. Magassa is six foot two so hopefully will be an intimidating presence with more pace than Rodriguez, Soucek or the departed Alvarez.

Signing a couple of promising and 21-year-olds gives the side a lot more energy and hope for the season and there are also rumours of a third midfield signing in Feyenoord’s Quinten Timber, who wood do nicely. Here's hoping all his transfer activity kick-starts our season.

Concentrating on relegation?

Wolves 3 West Ham 2 (Carabao Cup)

It's off to the World's End with Matt and Lisa for this one, an apt pub to choose though the nearby Faltering Fullback would also have been suitable. Potter picks a conservative side with a back five and only rests Kilman, Wan-Bissaka, Fullkrug and hapless Hermansen. He doesn't play any youngsters like Scarles or Potts and Bowen is employed as a lone striker, depriving the side of our best crosser. We're up against what is basically a Wolves reserve side with only pints of Hep Cat to help ease the pain. There's no sound on so we watch the match accompanied by heavy metal songs like Smoke on the Water, which would please our pal Nigel.

The Hammers have the better of a poor first half. After some fine control by Bowen Soucek does well to get a shot away that is saved by the legs of Sam Johnstone while Bowen fires against the keeper in a one-on-one. Encouragingly Paqueta has set up both chances. 

But just before the break Rodriguez is tempted to tackle in the box, Bellegarde goes over after a slight touch and it's a penalty. Hwang Hee-chan's penalty hits the post but Gomes shoots home the rebound with Soucek and Aguerd both slow to react. Paquerta then fails to head on target  after a decent Ward-Prowse cross 

Things appear to be improving after the break as Walker-Peters does well to spin and get in a great cross that Tomas Soucek heads home. "If Fraser was here he'd be saying where are the strikers," suggests Mystic Matt just as Bowen crosses for Paqueta to be in the box and score with a fine diving header. Two-one up after 63 minutes. Surely we can see this one out.

Wolves bring on five substitutes including the in-demand Strand Larsen while Potter seems paralysed with indecision. His only change is to swap Kilman for Todibo."Come on lads, let's lose the ball and invite pressure," says an exasperated Matt as Potter's men get pressed back. Surely bringing on Wilson or Fullkrug would give Wolves something else to think about.

NOT HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLVES

On the pub sound system Mick Jagger is singing, "you'll make a grown man cry..." After 82 minutes it all goes very Pete Tong. A wrong-footed Areola saves a deflected shot with his feet but the ball falls to Strand Larson who reacts quickest to wallop it home.Two minutes later Wolves are ahead. Areola saves with his feet again, deflecting the ball wide to Tchatchoua. Diouf isn't tight enough and Strand Larsen rises like a great Norwegian tree above Rodriguez and Mavropanos to score with his head. 

Potter brings on Fullkrug and Wilson after 86 minutes which is way too late. Paqueta volleys over a decent cross from Diouf during added time and Strand-Larsen almost scores another as Lisa muses that perhaps we sacked Lopetegui prematurely. 

At the final whistle the players go to the West Ham fans and to round it off Jarrod Bowen has to be held back after someone says something. Whatever the side's problems Bowen is not one of them.

So it's 11 goals conceded in three games and out of the Carabao Cup. Barring a miracle in the FA Cup it's another trophyless season and a fight to stay up. It's not just the manager as there's no plan at boardroom level and too much interference in transfers from Sullivan, but the analytical Potter is looking increasingly like the wrong fit at a club that needs emotion. The wing-back system isn't working and we have six days to save the season by signing two midfielders. The possible arrival of Magassa from Monaco might be a start but the club should have signed some athletic midfielders at the start of the summer. We're already getting sucked into a vortex of no-confidence and losing leads. Something needs to change and quickly.

Hammer horror show continues

West Ham 1 Chelsea 5

In the Best Meze Cafe Matt has been served two-thirds of a pint of rosé wine, which is probably just as well allowing for what is to follow. Michael arrives wearing a cryptic t-shirt reading "Underestimate Me" and as the falafel and haloumi mushrooms arrive we commiserate with Big Sam on his misfortune in buying a season ticket. In the stadium we find CQ and Nigel, wearing a Helsinki t-shirt purchased on a train holiday around Finland.

The crowd seem up for it at the start and Cole Palmer has been withdrawn after the warm-up. Surely we can't be as bad as at Sunderland? After six minutes Estevao plays a loose ball, Diouf feeds Paqueta who isn't challenged and races towards the box to send a brilliant swerving shot into the top of the net past a despairing Sanchez. That's more like the old Lucas.

It's the perfect start as the crowd tell Chelsea where to insert their blue flag. Now we have something to defend, only that's the problem. Nine minutes later Chelsea get a corner. Cucurella gets above Paqueta ro flick on at the near post and Joao Pedro rises above Todibo and Fullkrug to head home. Its a simple set-piece goal that we just shouldn't concede. The defence is still not doing the basics.

West Ham's response appears to be good as Todibo plays a one-two with Paqueta to get down the right and cross. Kilman fires into a defender but Fullkrug gets the rebound and slams the ball past Sanchez. Cue sodding VAR and Todibo being adjudged offside by a toe.

West Ham then concede another sloppy goal. Diouf plays a difficult ball to Paqueta on the edge of the box, Lucas falls over and claims a foul but Chelsea play on. West Ham don't, and Joao Pedro crosses for Neto to get behind Wan-Bissaka and volley home. We're not good enough to play it out from the back

Soucek and Ward-Prowse are being by-passed in midfield as Chelsea dominate. Brazilian wonderkid Estevao skates through our defence and past Soucek to cross for Hernandez to score. Again Wan-Bissaka, a talented player having a terrible game, has let his man get in front of him.

Nigel eats his lucky banana at half-time, though we are sensing that having produced only one trophy in 45 years it might be losing its power. Potter takes off Todibo for Freddie Potts and Fullkrug for Wilson.

It doesn't get better. From a Chelsea corner Hermansen flaps hopelessly at the ball and pals the ball to Caicedo who shoots home.Four minutes later another Chelsea corner sees Hermansen bullied out of it, admittedly not protected much by his defenders, and is on the ground as Chalobah scores. We start to remember the days of Roberto and Allen McKnight. It was a mistake to bring Hermansen in so soon after signing and he has to be dropped now for Areola. His confidence is shot and it won't have been helped by the crowd giving ironic cheers late on when he does catch the ball. 

CHELSEA DAGGER

Five-one down after 58 minutes, with three goals conceded from corners. Luckily Chelsea decide to ease up and bring on some subs. West Ham do make a few chances. Kilman and Aguerd head over from corners, Potts has a shot well-saved by Sanchez and Wilson dawdles instead of shooting, opting to pass to Walker-Peters who has a low effort cleared from in front of the line. 

Michael looks mournfully towards fourth official James Mainwaring and declares, "We're doomed, we're all doomed!" Matt agrees that at least the ref had a good game. West Ham leave the pitch to boos from those fans left, though Nigel does at least spot his West Ham pal from the Hawkwind concert.

Ye Olde Black Bull is clean out of whisky and revolvers but does have some cold Brixton Pale Ale to help us as the TV plays Jamie Redknapp and Robert Green on Sky dissecting our frailties. Potter hasn't made any difference in eight months and can't get his team doing basic defending. On Sky Robert Green suggests that he plays three centre-backs because he doesn't trust any of them. Eight goals conceded in two games and Potter is in big trouble. Should we lose to Wolves, Forest and Spurs Potter might, like Nigel and CQ in Helsinki, be expecting the Finnish. 

But it's not just the manager, the club is suffering from years of bad decisions made by the owners. We still don't know why Moyes didn't sign that new contract in January 2024 with West Ham sixth, but those fans who appeared on phone-ins saying Moyes was holding us back are looking pretty silly now.

Just to round it off the Mildmay line train is full of horrible Chelsea fans singing "Three more years, three more years Graham Potter!" to round off the pain. The world is bad enough without this. West Ham urgently need a leader on the pitch, someone who can defend corners, two athletic midfielders and a manager who can inspire much better performances from a still-talented squad. Apart from that everything is fine.

PLAYER RATINGS: Hermansen 3; Wan-Bissaka 3, Todibo 3 (Potts 5), Kilman 3, Aguerd 3, Diouf 4; Soucek 3 (Walker-Peters 5), Ward-Prowse 3, Paqueta 6; Bowen 4, Fullkrug 5 (Wilson 5).

Stuck in the middle

West Ham have been linked with more midfield players than you can shake a rolled-up contract at. This was always the area most in need of attention and the club has been linked with a plethora of talent this summer. Douglas Luiz always seemed unlikely, as did Jacob Ramsey who has since gone to Newcastle and also Jack Grealish, who is now on loan at Everton along with the Grealish sniper. 

The Hammers have recently had a £30 million bid for Southampton's Mateus Fernandes knocked back, with the Saints saying they value him at £50 million, which seems far too much for a player from a relegated side. The club has since come back with an improved offer. 

Meanwhile we seem to have had 57 varieties of bids elsewhere, with a reported £45million bid for Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos. Another name in the frame is Lille's Ngal'ayel Mukau (the real Mukau?) and also Barcelona's Marc Casado, though whether he would want to leave Las Ramblas for Westfield is questionable.And now the Evening Standard adds Werder Bremen’s Romano Schmid and Lens midfielder Andy Diouf to that extensive list. While we're still waiting on Godot from Beckett FC. The pessimist in me is already thinking we won't get any of them. What is clear is that the next 11 days of the transfer window are vital to the Potter project. 

It looks like Edson Alvarez is about to be loaned to Fenerbache to free up space and Rodriguez could be going to Saudi Arabia. For all the pessimism the Irons have some classy attackers in Bowen, Fullkrug, Paqueta, Summerville and Callum Wilson. But we desperately need that midfield energy to supply them. Is it too late to put out a call on LinkedIn? Or perhaps entice Billy Bonds out of retirement?

Hammers mauled by Black Cats

Sunderland 3 West Ham 0

It's always dangerous listening to games on the radio at home as we inevitably lose. It's a case of meet the new midfield, same as the old midfield. Potter opts for Rodriguez, a player the club is trying to offload, Ward-Prowse and Paqueta in front of the five-man defence when surely Soucek or Alvarez would be better for a game against a feisty newly-promoted side. Hermansen gets the nod in goal ahead of Areola.

Early on Bowen does well to fire a shot against keeper Roefs' legs and the speedy Diarra has an effort well-saved by Hermansen. The full-backs don't really get forward much apart from Fullkrug setting up a fine goalbound effort from Diouf, which is saved by a block from Ballard.

You expect West Ham to step it up after the break but it's Sunderland who take the lead. It's a fairly simple cross that sees Mayenda get in front of Aguerd to loop his header into the corner. Could the keeper have got across his goal quicker? The ball seems to go in in slow motion.That gives the home crowd a big boost. 

It's two when the towering Ballard meets another cross by out-jumping Paqueta. We've spent £110 million on our three central defenders and shouldn't be conceding headers like these.

Potter acts too late, bringing on Wilson and Soucek before finally abandoning the five-man defence by taking off Todibo for Andy Irvine in the final ten minutes. The Portobello Pirlo does put in a decent free kick that flicks of a Sunderland defender and has to be tipped over by Roefs.

With the Hammers forced to press Sunderland get a third in added time from a West Ham corner. Isidor breaks at speed, Diouf doesn't get in a challenge, Hermansen gets a hand to the ball without stopping it and and it's three-nil. 

You've got to feel sorry for Big Joe who is at the match reading his copy of Granta among the Makems. To make it worse Kudus has made two goals for Spurs. Still, as my pal Matt suggests, it could all be a masterclass from Potter designed to convince Sullivan to spend big on a new midfield. Paqueta has been anonymous despite his FA charges reprieve. Does he want to go or stay?

Are we in for a relegation struggle after one game? This game was always going to be difficult but West Ham shouldn't be getting walloped by a newly-promoted side full of new players. The side is looking stale and the build up us still one-paced. A big big improvement is required against Chelsea.