WEST HAM will back Nuno Espirito Santo in the January transfer window to claw them out of relegation woe.
Hammers chiefs won’t follow rivals Nottingham Forest by sacking a second manager this season – despite Friday’s 2-1 defeat at Leeds.
Nuno, appointed after he was axed by Forest after three games, replaced Graham Potter last month but has secured just one point from four games.
Defeats against Brentford and Leeds – in the space of five days – have been their most disappointing of the season.
Since Nuno left Forest, the club have appointed Ange Postecoglou as his successor and already replaced the Aussie with Sean Dyche.
The former Burnley boss got off to the perfect start with a win over Porto in the Europa League in his City Ground bow.
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Regardless of how bad things are, West Ham do not want to follow that path and insist their boss will be supported now and in the January window.
It is accepted that it was a mistake not to add another striker – on top of the arrival of free agent Callum Wilson – during the summer.
The former Newcastle and Bournemouth star made his first appearance under Nuno in the loss at Elland Road.
He has scored once this season, in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest with led to Nuno’s sacking in the East Midlands.
Additions are also needed at the back.
Igor Julio, the Brazilian defender, was a deadline day arrival from Brighton and Hove Albion but has played only a single minute for West Ham despite their disastrous defensive record.
To make matters worse Konstantinos Mavropanos picked up a nasty injury in the previous defeat to Brentford.
Nuno admitted that he does not know how long the Greek international will be sidelined for.
He has become the first Hammers manager since Manuel Pellegrini in 2018 to fail to win any of their first four matches in charge.
There are also continuing off-field issues to battle.
The visit of Newcastle next weekend will bring another raft of fan protests against the board, with supporters planning a sit-in following what is expected to be another challenging home game.
My view on West Ham
By Will Pugh
West Ham are a husk of a club.
There is very little to love about the Hammers anymore which is bleak and heartbreaking in equal measure.
Just when you think things can only get better, they somehow get worse.
And although that’s been the case for much of my three-decade love affair with the club, Friday night at Elland Road – hell the last 18 months – is about as grim as it’s got.
The squad: Bereft of leaders, severely lacking talent bar Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, and littered with players who look like they couldn’t give a toss (change if too much) if the club go down.
Nuno Espirito Santo: Confusing everyone with baffling tactical choices rapidly eroding the enormous good will afforded him by fans when appointed.
You don’t need a Uefa pro-licence to know Tomas Soucek and Andy Irving will get overrun in midfield.
David Sullivan: Proved once and for all he is incapable of delivering what he promised West Ham fans when he dragged them from Upton Park to the London Stadium.
And the fans: Angry, deflated, losing all hope. And deserving of so much more.
Read the full article here
