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Chelsea 3 – 2 West Ham United | The morning after

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Nuno’s nasty little habit came back to haunt West Ham yesterday and the reality is pretty damning when viewed ‘the morning after.’

For under his stewardship the Hammers have now thrown away fifteen points after being in winning positions. This is the third time in just seven weeks that supporters have had to witness their side race into a lead and then fail to hold in. It is gut wrenching to watch and, if West Ham do drop down into the Championship, the gifting of points from being ahead will be in a large part responsible.

Nuno’s West Ham cannot hold onto a lead. His kamikaze-like substitutions are handing back the initiative to opponents time after time and it will likely see West Ham surrender their Premier League status.

From a 2-0 winning position away at Bournemouth, Nuno threw the victory away by bringing on Soucek and Walker Peters: West Ham conceded twice and clung on for a solitary point thanks to Areola’s heroics.

Brighton came back to repeat the feat in December after Nuno brought on Soucek, Ezra Mayers and Soungoutou Magassa: Replacing Fernandes, Paquetá and Diouf came back to bite him as another lead was squandered.

Yesterday’s ‘defending from the front’ strategy was binned when Pablo was replaced by the pedestrian Max Kilman with equally predictable results. It seems just about the only person in the ground who was shocked at the outcome was Nuno who was visibly shaken when speaking after:

A good first half, and a bad second half…We started well and that was the idea for the entire game, but it wasn’t enough”.

Well, if it was the plan for the entire game, why change that plan on the hoof and revert to a ‘three at the back’ system that has failed time after time?

The only reason he’s still got a job this morning is surely only because it would be unthinkable to fire two managers in the same season. Wouldn’t it?

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From the old Bobby Moore Upper to the Billy Bonds' stand these days - sometimes- have to admit I have not renewed my season ticket... I've been watching since '03 and a supporter since about 1970..
Favourite player - Dean Ashton: Still watch YouTube repeats of the Cup Final of 2006 hoping in vain that Shaka Hislop grows six inches and stops Steven Gerrard's injury time equaliser. Can tell I'm getting old knowing I saw both Mark Noble's debut and his last game at West Ham.
Pulling on a Claret and Blue replica shirt still makes me feel the same butterflies as when I was seven years old. Magic.

13 comments

  • FiskyBoy says:

    Nuno needs sacking, end of? Why do we keep letting him do this? It’s like we want to get relegated? The truth is he hasn’t got a clue and I think he’s mate would do a much better job? Kilman can’t play again, he is not premiership standard. Traore is the most over hyped player ever, probably okay 3/4 years ago but now all muscles and nothing else. Sullivan you need to man up and make some difficult decisions TODAY or we’re going down. Get your wallet out and sort us out we have until tomorrow? Otherwise put the for sale sign up and let someone else have a go.

  • Steveo says:

    Kamikaze substitutions I would like to point out Nuno has made similar changes in our previous games and he had turned it around according to most. Whilst I agree Kilman is useless Chelsea made 4 changes at half time and threw caution to the wind tactics.. They could have scored 3 times before they did as we couldn’t get out of our half. We missed a great chance to go 3 up before they scored. As gutted as I am we have improved massively with our work rate and football performances under him or would you prefer to bring Potter or Flopertagui back as Moyes had taken us as far as he could according to most of you.

  • John Ayris says:

    Adama started that dust up resulted in Todibo off and our best centre back suspended. That could come back and bite us…

  • Morty says:

    Initiative is one thing, but the first two Chelsea goals were simply crosses that could have been blocked and headers that were not challenged. Absolute basics, Chelsea didn’t have to do anything special to get back into the game

  • Zahama says:

    I can see a situation where next season Jemez is our new manager but we are in the championship

    Now we really do need to buy a central defender before the transfer window shuts

    COYI

  • Russell Burke says:

    Problem is we have an 11 but we are seriously lacking in a squad. Whose fault is that? BS out!!!

    • Jeeps says:

      Exactly the problem.
      Insisting that squad needs to be smaller just isn’t working.
      Need strength on bench to replicate players that are coming off.
      Leaving players on pitch that are knackered won’t work bare bones substitutes need bolstering.
      Yes should be able to play 90 minutes but when opposition brings on fresh legs need to follow.
      Without injuries now need to cope with 5 matches for a suspended player.
      Last chance saloon 2 days to go no more deceitful ‘We tried’ go and get backup.

  • Timbo says:

    Ver poor substitution but suggesting he should be sacked shortly after winning 3 in a row? He deserves the criticism but also the credit for the improvements in the 3 and half games before that. We need to keep behind the team or we are sunk without doubt.

  • Unhappy Hammer says:

    Once again Nuno loses a game for us by poor decision making bossing the game the first half and he brings the worst defender in the history onWest Ham on going to back 3 and calling the attack on by Chelsea should of brought the big check off and brought Potts on to bolster the midfield but this manager had no clue another 3 points down the drain going down and then get him gone he has no idea get me in and I will save our season

  • Q says:

    It’s 18 points now we’ve thrown away from winning positions. Southampton, Brighton, Man U, lost two points in each game from late equalisers.

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