Another week, another Premier League manager gone. Graham Potter’s fall at West Ham was as swift as his rise at Brighton. Just five games into the new season, the Hammers pulled the trigger, leaving Potter with a second bruising dismissal in as many top-flight jobs.
The Rise and Fall of Graham Potter
Potter made his name at Brighton, turning the Seagulls into one of the most stylish and respected sides in the league. His tactical flexibility and willingness to trust younger players earned plaudits and eventually attracted Chelsea, where expectations were sky-high.
But Stamford Bridge was a graveyard for managers. Amid relentless boardroom upheaval and an over-inflated squad, Potter never stood a chance. A brief break followed before West Ham offered him a way back into management. What looked like a fresh start quickly turned sour: one win from five left the Hammers second bottom, and patience wore thin.
Nuno Espírito Santo Steps In
In Potter’s place comes Nuno Espírito Santo, who had just parted ways with Nottingham Forest following a breakdown with Evangelos Marinakis despite delivering European football.
Nuno represents a complete contrast in style. Potter’s football is possession-based, methodical, and reliant on patterns. Nuno is pragmatic: compact defensive units, rapid counters, and ruthless efficiency. Last season, his Forest side averaged just 41% possession — the third lowest in the league — yet punched far above their weight.
That approach may fit West Ham better, given their forward options and defensive profile. But the problems in east London extend beyond tactics and touchlines.
The Bigger Picture
The average tenure of a Premier League manager is shrinking every season. Pressure from TV money, profit and sustainability rules, and the fear of relegation means boards pull the trigger earlier and earlier. Potter has now been a casualty twice.
For the man once hailed as one of English football’s brightest coaching minds, it raises a bigger question: is the Premier League simply too ruthless for long-term builders? His next move may have to be abroad, following the path of Vincent Kompany, who also struggled in England but rebuilt his reputation on the continent.
Conclusion
West Ham fans may welcome Nuno’s defensive steel and organised chaos, but unless the culture around short-termism changes, no manager will be safe for long. For Potter, this could be the end of the line in England — or the beginning of a continental revival.
The Round Up 
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