{"id":303591,"date":"2025-12-07T17:27:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T17:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/303591\/"},"modified":"2025-12-07T17:27:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T17:27:14","slug":"freddie-potts-opens-up-on-west-ham-dream-and-names-two-legends-he-plans-to-emulate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/303591\/","title":{"rendered":"Freddie Potts opens up on West Ham ‘dream’ and names two legends he plans to emulate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Freddie Potts just \u2018gets it\u2019, in a way reminiscent of two West Ham United icons from recent Premier League past.<\/p>\n

In their position, sleepwalking towards the Championship, lacking any semblance of leadership or tenacity, with an almighty divide opening between the fans, players, owners and coaches, the emergence of a 22-year-old academy graduate could hardly have come at a better time.<\/p>\n

This was certainly a surefire way of getting the supporters onside. <\/p>\n

Nuno made the \u2018brilliant\u2019 decision<\/a> to introduce Freddie Potts<\/a> into the first-team picture immediately after he was appointed as West Ham United\u2019s<\/a> head coach at the end of September.<\/p>\n

Firstly, with a handful of substitute appearances. And, eventually, with a central role in every sense of the word. Presuming Potts will start away at Brighton and Hove Albion<\/a> in Sunday\u2019s early kick-off, that will be his sixth in a row.<\/p>\n

The youngster deserves it, too. Anyone initially wondering if Potts was being used by Nuno as a useful pawn to raise spirits among supporters would have to accept now that his involvement is a reflection of the former Portsmouth loanee\u2019s talent, rather than his claret-and-blue background.<\/p>\n

The similarities between Potts, Declan Rice<\/a> and Mark Noble<\/a>, meanwhile, are as obvious as they are unavoidable. Not that he is shying away from being likened to two of the club\u2019s best-ever midfielders, let alone two of their best-ever captains.<\/p>\n

This is a responsibility he relishes.<\/p>\n

\"FreddiePhoto by Kevin Hodgson\/MI News\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesFreddie Potts opens up on Mark Noble and Declan Rice influence at West Ham United<\/p>\n

Skipper-turned-sporting director Mark Noble lauded Freddie Potts<\/a> after his impressive run of performances during the pre-season tour. <\/p>\n

Former left-back and assistant coach Stuart Pearce feels there are clear similarities between Potts and Declan Rice<\/a>, meanwhile. He is even taking corner kicks these days, though the former has a long way to go if he is to match the latter\u2019s formidable delivery in the red and white of set-piece kings Arsenal.<\/p>\n

\u201cI keep saying it to people, but it really is it really has been my dream since I was five. I joined the club when I was five and for me the goal was always to be in the Premier League with this team and follow in the footsteps of, you know, Mark Noble and Declan Rice,\u201d Potts tells Premier League<\/a> productions. <\/p>\n

How highly do YOU rate Freddie Potts? And what does the future hold for him at West Ham? <\/p>\n

\"West <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd now I\u2019m doing that.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just the dream and I want it to continue and I\u2019m going to do everything I can to try and keep holding my shirt and keep playing. So, I\u2019m looking forward to what\u2019s going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the week in which West Ham bid farewell to arguably their greatest-ever player, Freddie Potts saw comparisons drawn with Billy Bonds<\/a> during the valiant 1-1 draw away to Manchester United. <\/p>\n

One terrific last-gasp challenge to deny Bryan Mbeumo a shot at goal, Sky Sports<\/a> commentator Peter Drury said, was particularly Bonds-esque.<\/p>\n

Potts delighted with Hammers fight in Manchester United battle<\/p>\n

So, that is Rice, Noble and Bonds who have all been mentioned in the same breath as a 22-year-old with only 544 minutes of top-flight football under his belt. <\/p>\n

Not that Potts seems the type to let such praise go to his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had expectations that it was going to be a very tough game,\u201d he reflected after a rapidly \u2018improving\u2019 Soungoutou Magassa snatched a point at Old Trafford<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cMan United are a team that had come off of a good result on the weekend [beating Crystal Palace away from home] so we knew that coming back into Old Trafford it was going to be a tough game. But we had a game plan that we stuck to and the main thing for us was to come and get a result and that\u2019s what we did, thankfully.<\/p>\n

Summerville returns? Paqueta in? What changes would you make to West Ham\u2019s XI? <\/p>\n

\"Jarrod <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n

\u201cI think I was quite pleased with my performance, but the main thing for everyone was to be together because we knew that Man United are a team that are going to try and break through lines. They\u2019re going to try and run in behind. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to be switched on no matter where we were on the pitch and I think in the first half they were asking a lot of questions, but for me in the midfield it was just a matter of intercepting play and breaking things up and making it as difficult as we could for Man United because they\u2019ve got some top players in those positions, so I think we all fought as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they are big names but as a team we don\u2019t really care who we come up against, we just want to give our all for this team. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe showed that [again on Thursday], I think we weren\u2019t pretty sometimes but the second balls and the interceptions and the tackles that we had to make were the most important thing in parts of the game, so our focus was to do that and thankfully we did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Join Our Newsletter <\/p>\n

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