West Ham’s owners come in for praise from an unexpected quarter in a video this afternoon put out by Sky Sports, claiming that supporters have much for which they should thank the new-look board.
Over the years, the Brady-Sullivan regime came in for enormous criticism so it is interesting to see how others outside of the club’s bubble see the effects of the transition towards ‘Kretinsky’s era’ – once it is finally confirmed that the Sphinx has the biggest shareholding.
Whilst the Czech has not – for whatever reason- been able to deliver on his June 13th pledge“yet”the new-era post Sullivan board has received a pat on the back from another EFL manager for the way in which they kept Jarrod Bowen at the club and have handled the clubs business this summer.
Bristol Rovers boss Steve Evans was featured on Sky Sports’ EFL show alongside Hal Robson – Kanu, answering the question – ‘Can anyone stop West Ham?”
Evans made it clear where the credit should be heading for West Ham’s rising fortunes and their current lofty position atop the Championship after seven rounds:
“You have first and foremost to give credit to the owners at West Ham because they’ve kept a tremendous squad of players together for championship football, headed by .. Jarrod Bowen who will play a pivotal part.
If Nuno looks at it at the end of the season and they’re not in the top two, his objective will have failed because when you look at the squad, most managers would love to have that squad at their disposal”
Indeed. There’s a long, long way to go yet with the season just 1/6th of the way through its marathon. From Evans’ words, there’ll be no hiding place for Nuno with the squad that he’s been handed by a West Ham board still operating with one hand tied behind its back.
Martin, when you say “Whilst the Czech has not – for whatever reason – been able to deliver on his June 13th pledge “yet”” By that do you mean the investment of £90 million, or something else?
If its the pledge of the £90 million investment you’re referring to, then that was dashed the moment Vanessa Gold pulled out of the agreed deal with Kretinsky and accepetd the Staveley offer. There is absolutely no way he invests the £90 million that was mentioned if he hasnt secured the promised Gold shares to make him the largest shareholder, so when Gold pulled the plug on the deal she pulled the plug on that investment too. That pledge wasnt broken by Kretinsky, however it didnt occur as a result of pledges broken by Vanessa Gold. No matter how anyone sees it, she agreed a deal and then changed her mind after seeing the Staveley offer and the extra pound signs for all of her shares. And in an attempt to avoid any fan backlash, tried to spin it (Borson) that Kretinsky was delaying things and didnt have the liquidity to complete the deal. Those excuses and spin are looking very weak and speculative now, especially considering he paid even more for them and bought even more shares!
Nuno is still the same Nuno that failed miserably last year. Even when West Ham did manage a few wins, credit went to his side kick. He is paid millions to do great things with West Ham and so far is still to deliver. There is no evidence that his team/player selection has improved, or his tactics. Make all the excuses you like, but he has yet to show he can cut it when the pressure is on, but he still banks millions. If he can show he does not need someone holding his hand and can still guide West Ham to the Championship, that will at least confirm he is a Championship level coach, no more no less. If the board is as forward thinking and strategically astute as this article suggests, I will assume they are already looking for Nuno’s successor, as he has already proven that he is not the man for the PL job. That also assumes that the West Ham board want more than to just survive. Let’s see how it all pans out.
The board is if nothing else greatly more professional in the way it deals with things.