West Ham United legend Tony Cottee expressed his disappointment and confusion over Graham Potter’s decision to leave out Callum Wilson from the starting lineup against Tottenham Hotspur. Wilson had made a significant impact off the bench in the previous match against Nottingham Forest, scoring a crucial goal. Cottee believes Wilson’s absence was a major factor in West Ham’s 3-0 defeat, stating, “If I was Callum Wilson, I would be banging the door down” ¹.
Cottee’s Criticism:
- Lack of Centre-Forward: Cottee questions Potter’s decision to start Lucas Paqueta as a makeshift number nine, saying it’s a specialized position that requires specific skills and knowledge of making runs to pressure the defense.
- Shocking Defending: Cottee slams West Ham’s defending, saying players are not taking responsibility, and the team’s strategy is flawed. He notes that Tomas Soucek’s sending off didn’t help, but players need to step up and managers need to get the players right.
- Importance of Centre-Forward: Cottee emphasizes the importance of having a centre-forward, citing Wilson’s ability to play on the last man’s shoulder and Niclas Fullkrug’s target man skills. Without a natural striker, West Ham lost an outlet, and Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen’s preference for ball-into-feet play didn’t work against Tottenham’s possession-based style.
Advice for Potter:
- Start Wilson or Fullkrug: Cottee advises Potter to start Wilson or Fullkrug, or both, against Crystal Palace, saying, “You’ve got to play a centre-forward. Maybe even two! Go and have a go.”
- Take Risks: Cottee believes that even if West Ham loses 4-0 with two centre-forwards, the fans will accept it, but they won’t accept a defeat without a centre-forward ¹.
