Exclusive, Paul Konchesky defends Graham Potter: These aren't his players, some have to go! Salah? Kick him

Exclusive by Alessandro Schiavone

Eleven Premier League games into Graham Potter’s reign at West Ham, what have you made of it so far?

"Starting from the beginning really I think it’s been a tough season on the pitch. The table don’t lie. It’s been tough, there’s been a change of manager. Graham Potter’s come in and basically got the same players so maybe he’s trying to get his way and style that he wants to play which you saw at Brighton. Obviously it didn’t work for him at Chelsea but I think the style he played at Brighton was really good. It was attacking football which I think he’s trying to bring to West Ham but at the moment they are not his players. So I think only time will tell but  it’s three wins out of 12 and as the fans will probably say it’s not good enough.”

Do you think there’s gonna be a revamp this summer, a major cull? Who can you see staying and who has no future at the club?

"Well that’s a tough one, it’s for the manager and the style of play of football that he wants. There’s obviously players here that he really wants to keep and players that he might have to move on. But they are gonna have to move on for him to get his recruitment in and his style. I think when the season ends there will be a lot of business to be done. It’s down to the manager to get who he needs.”

Can you already see his blueprint on this West Ham team or are we still at square one?

“I think we can see a little bit especially it’s a big change for West Ham they’re playing a lot of football through the back. And they are trying to keep a lot more possession than they previously have done. He has obviously implemented that and hopefully that will only get better and better. I think we as fans would probably have to judge the manager when he brings his players in from the start of next season.”

How can West Ham keep Mo Salah quiet today?

“Kick him” Hahahaha! The biggest thing that I’d say that you’d probably have to do is if he wants to come inside so is there someone he’s running into like a midfielder coming across? To help you double up…

But knowing that he wants to go inside maybe show him the line so he has to go onto his right. I know he can use his right foot but he’s not gonna be able to score from out wide. When he comes inside he’s got that technique that he can bend it in the far corner and he’s done it millions of times. For me you have to try and show him the line or if he does come inside can someone come across and help you?”

The reverse fixture ended 5-0….will we have a repeat of that?

“It’s tough, it looks like they are gonna be champions. We know it’s gonna be tough but we need to go and fight! For West Ham they have to go and fight. First and foremost they have to match Liverpool’s work rate. You are not top of the league if you don’t work hard. Liverpool work hard as a team and I think West Ham have to match that and then hopefully they can keep the clean sheet. And if they keep a clean sheet you never know what can go and happen.”

So they should replicate their performance at Arsenal? Keep it tight and make the only chance they get on the break count…

“Exactly that and maybe sometimes from the outside it looks boring. You put eleven men behind the ball and try to play the counter-attack. But when you go to places like Anfield that’s what you have to do otherwise you’re conceding four, five, six goals. And the manager ain’t gonna want that.”