Where is Graham Potter? When considering Crystal Palace and West Ham’s options should their spirals continue, this question rose to the surface and bubbled away with great curiosity.
Some out-of-work managers will persistently keep a high profile, but the quiet life has been the preference for Potter, who has donned an invisibility cloak since he was sacked by Chelsea in April 2023.
That is save for a mere handful public appearances. The first was uncovered thanks to a journalist’s greatest tool, the Getty photo archive, which pictures Potter in the stands at Tottenham’s Premier League match against Burnley on 11 May this year. Notably, it’s the only Getty photo of Potter since his Chelsea stint ended.
The second and third appearances have been more blatant, as a Sky Sports pundit, firstly in the Monday Night Football hotseat in place of Gary Neville on 30 September, and then for the Super Sunday match between Arsenal and Chelsea on 10 November.
After a while away, these appeared timely declarations of intent, of the cloak coming off and the desire to return to management now burning, with MNF in particular an ideal platform whereby every answer is scrutinised and plastered across sports news outlets countrywide.
There in the Sky studios Potter was belatedly quizzed on his Chelsea exit, such was the intrigue around his spell as the first hire and second fire of the Boehly-Clearlake era, while he was also asked about the potential of becoming England or Manchester United boss.
At a time when England were still considering their post-Gareth Southgate options and United were sticking with Erik ten Hag, Potter said: “I’m open to anything, to be honest.
“As an Englishman, of course it’s a fantastic job but I’m supportive of whatever the FA decide to do and whoever the coach is.”
Potter also refused to go into detail about United and the possibility of working with sporting director Dan Ashworth once more, adding: “I am the only coach in world football to be linked with Stoke City and Napoli in the same week.
“A lot of what I’ve read in the media is untrue and false. I take what the media say with a pinch of salt. I’ve had lots of conversations with lots of people. For the respect of everybody, it’s best I keep it private.”
Such conversations have indeed been kept from the baying press, but we now know for sure that those two gigs have passed him by.
FA chief Mark Bullingham claimed 10 candidates were spoken to for the England job, including some Englishmen, and it feels safe to assume Potter was among them before they landed on Thomas Tuchel.
Meanwhile, i reported Ashworth’s interest in reuniting with Potter at United back in March, but once Ruben Amorim emerged as the primary target to replace Ten Hag in late October, all other names dropped from contention.
Though not alone in being the bridesmaid for such roles, reservations at both United and within the FA regarding Potter must surely extend to Palace and West Ham, and perhaps elsewhere too.
Palace plumped for Oliver Glasner at a time when Potter was free back in February, while West Ham chose Julen Lopetegui in the summer.
So if Potter was not deemed the solution then, has anything changed in the months since? His only saving grace may be their respective results, and performances, so far this season.
At West Ham, Lopetegui’s lacklustre start smacks of a club who know they have chosen the wrong path but remain hesitant to admit it, having taken the big decision to move on from David Moyes’ brand of football – only to circle right back to it.
Nevertheless, Hammers chairman David Sullivan may well have his doubts around Potter, who feels like an obvious replacement and yet undoubtedly has flaws.
Potter was unable to bring his Brighton magic to Chelsea, where he was dismissed after just seven months and 31 games in charge, making for a record of 12 wins, eight draws and 11 losses.
That was in fact an improvement on his win percentage at Brighton – 39 per cent versus 32 per cent – but down on the south coast he was defying expectations, while in London he failed to live up to them.
Now without a job for 19 months in an industry that doesn’t stand still, we could soon find out if Potter really is deemed yesterday’s news, especially if owners put his Brighton success more down to their revered recruitment strategy rather than his coaching.
It feels likely West Ham or Palace will make a change soon, and if not then at least one of Southampton or Wolves, and if Potter is not under serious consideration, then the blot against his name must be bigger than first thought.
And the more time goes on, the blotchier that will get, meaning Potter may have to drop down a tier in order to secure a return to management.
Just as likely, though, is a move abroad. Having made a name for himself at Ostersund in Sweden before joining Swansea, Potter may see value in a European role.
After all, he has clearly enjoyed his time away from the limelight and British back pages, while his prospects of re-climbing the ladder in England may only be boosted by going to the continent.
Recent Premier League appointments would suggest this is the case, too. United poached Sporting Lisbon’s boss, Liverpool hired Feyenoord’s and Brighton St Pauli’s, and with a keen eye on such matters that will not have gone unnoticed by Potter.
What awaits Potter therefore is a matter that could be resolved in weeks, but should the Premier League’s struggling pack take another route, such curiosity will bubble over by the New Year.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/eAcd5jZ
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