David sullivan has always made it a policy of appointing a head coach – manager – call it what you will – who is out of contract and available ob the head coach equivalent of a ‘free’ transfer. As one reader commented this afternoon- Sullivan saved a few million by appointing Lopetegui for free – who then blew forty million on Max Kilman. How did that work out?
But it seems Sullivan won’t be swayed from repeating the same mistake over and over, picking a manager from ‘whoever is available without compensation’ rather than deciding who is the best suited manager to take the club forward. And then paying the going rate to get him.
However in this instance it could be that Nuno Espírito Santo could be both ‘free’ and the ‘best candidate’. Sacked by Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, the Portuguese manager comes with an impressive CV having guided Nottingham Forest into Europe, hence that all important Sullivan pre-requisite of Premier League experience ticked too.
Givemesport.com’s article earlier today suggests West Ham are, indeed, considering Espírito Santo:
“Nuno Espirito Santo could reportedly make a swift return to Premier League management with West Ham United as the pressure grows on Graham Potter…It’s claimed that West Ham owner David Sullivan is an admirer of Nuno and has previously looked at appointing him at the London Stadium. He was a huge success at the City Ground, guiding Forest to a seventh-placed finish last season after a lengthy top-five challenge.”
Which begs the question – what’s not to like? Good for West Ham. Good For Sullivan. Good for Espírito Santo. Far too simple. I’m sure West Ham’s management board will find a way to procrastinate until December when someone else has already grabbed the Portuguese manager and the Irons are left scrabbling around the bargain basement bucket.
Just for once, you’d wish David Sullivan could do the right thing.
Anyone tell me the difference from Nuno and Moyes?
They play exactly the same football.
Club just hasn’t got any vision or nouse to get someone who actually could change things.
Be brave, go and get the palace or Bournemouth manager, someone with a clue and different.
You guys amaze me, suddenly a manager who plays a low block and counter attacking football is the answer. He gets teams to defend properly and will get us into Europe! FFS you had all that and more with Moyes but weren’t satisfied and the club wanted a director of football (for one season only it turns out) so Moyes was forced to reject a new contract. If you crave change at least make it different to what you had
Yes, Nuno seems a good choice, but as long as Sullivan hangs on as chairman, will Anything ever change? I’m not sure anyone could make the players we currently have into a success, except for our Captain, whom I feel is him. We need an owner who will spend money!
I think we have to wait till WHU play Crystal Palace and other mid- low- table teams. Hope against hope Potter fixes problems as he did for the Forest game. It is up to him to prove if he is a good manager. All his faults and mistakes are already mentioned.
If any manager came in, i’d prefer he be an interim manager and I hope that one of the demands made at the supporters/Brady meeting was that an outside agency have required months to research and find the right manager for WHU (easy to suggest after the fact) .
People say the club is on the brink (stadium, finances, fans leaving, players will leave, relegation,…) and it is how it feels.
We really need a world class manager such as an Ancelotti (with Brazil), Joachim Lowe (retired), somebody of this calibre with real success and tested ability. This takes time to find and to put in place. People mention Marco Rose, but I have no idea. We need a team to play to its potential on the pitch and help this footballing club get up off of its knees.
It’s a tragedy. A question of exploitation, with everything else considered as collateral damage and squandered. Now PSR is also ruining the league and bringing in mega buck companies like so many piranhas. Maybe the German clubs have it right. Should ask Klopp. I’m off track.
Have to respect what Espirito has achieved at Forest, but I’d still prefer anyone as an interim with a chance to prove himself, while an outside agency did its research.
You might be right about him being a good fit but he still has to work with that central defence it’s hard to say that Moyes isn’t a great defensive coach and he couldn’t stop the goals from flowing against us, so whoever we take on is going to be firefighting until we can get a commanding centre back or two in. We should have bought Milenkovic when we had the chance. I have also wondered for a long time is our pitch the right width and would making it narrower help. It’s not as if being a metre or two further from the pitch would make much difference given how far we already are from it.
Nuno………. First name I said wasn’t on the list mentioned in yesterdays article. I think he’d be an improvement on Potter and comes at a price Sullivan would pay. I doubt he’ll be out of work for long so Sullivan would need to get his skates on. I think we might well be on desperation row by the time of the international break so the stars might be in alignment.
I think we have a good potential for new manager bounce, I think we’re underperforming not deadbeats.
Dont think Nuno is the answer Dont forget he was poor at Spurs then sacked at Forest Question begs WHY Mourinho should be the man Someone to kick arse what is needed right now
Ha ha, Nuno would last 5 mins with Sullivan.
He left Forrest because of their transfer policy!
Talk about jumping from one boiling pot to another!!!!
Well at least Nuno noticed that JWP wasn’t fit for purpose on his lone spell to Forest spending most of his time on the bench, that’ll be a great start
Martin we need to be more ambitious with a proven top level manager capable of developing our best players and integrating Academy talent whilst attracting quality players from Europe. My top 3 choices would be:-
1 Edin Terzic – Previously worked under Sullivan as Assistant Coach to Slaven Bilic and amazed no-one has mentioned him! Left after Bilic’s sacking in in 2017 but his record speaks for itself. Led Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League Final and led Dortmund to a record 75 wins, 24 draws and 29 defeats in 128 fixtures! Previously linked with Roma and Brentford.
2 Xavi – Previously linked with Man Utd and Chelsea, the former Barcelona Manager has often talked about his desire to work in the PL.
3 Nuno – Got Wolves into PL and quarter finals of Europa League. Inherited a Forest team that looked destined for relegation but achieved safety and then qualified for Europe in his first full season after an absence of 30 years. Did well to last as long as he did under Marinakas.
May be unlikely but got to be better than Dyche, Southgate and some of the other names linked. Other possibilities Roberto Mancini and Luciano Spalletti.
Please not Harry Rednapp or Big Sam!
I feel very very sorry for the fans and players, the team has so much potential , but being let down by a manager
who is clueless. Potter needs to go now
I think that Nuno could do a job for us – but remember that a lot of the complaints about Moyes were that he was too defensive and played a low block – which is what Nuno favours
I am quite old fashioned and believe that the main job of defenders is to defend – so you want a keeper who will control his area – if he can play out from the back that is a bonus but not his main job. Similarly a central defender should be a monster who can put the ball into row Z when needed – so we need a Craig Dawson rather than a JC Todibo
Mads Hermansun could be the signing that sinks Potter. While it is possible to get good players from relegated sides, we now have 4 players with relegation on their CVs (Hermansun, JWP, KWP and Fernandes) which is perhaps too many
I think that it is not only whether we lose the three upcoming games but by how much (think Lopetegui fired after the Man City thrashing)
I agree that we need to get the next appointment right
COYI
Yeah I’d take Nuno all day over Potter, we are rudderless ship with him, the board, etc, I’d even have Mark Noble
Nuno love. He’s the guy
He’d be a big upgrade and boost for the club. We can but hope. But Sullivan is always so slow to recognise the need for change…
Nuño would be a good shout.
Being Portuguese and, speaking Portuguese as his first language would go quite far in getting the best out of Fernándes AND Paqueta (Brasileros speak Portuguese).
Should we decide to go this route, I would hope that we do it during the next International break.
My only concern is wheter, or not, he understands the ethos of West Ham United.
An improvement but merely a sticking plaster. We need to stop doing this doom cycle
All well and good getting Nuno in, but Sullivan will not back him in the transfer market like the owner at Notts Forest did
Yes, that would be great news to wake up to, also the added bonus he’s got no time for Ward Prowse. Can’t see it happening though
He can’t be that good a manager cam he. Our pile of shirt beat his lot 3-0
I assume from your post Martin that you have evaluated every potential candidate in Europe and not just the obvious PL failures?
Having read article on Marinakis he seems identical to Sullivan in his mannerisms and attitude.
He wants to rule the roost and doesn’t have a lot of time for anybody that contests him.
Nuno had a falling out with him over transfers and another issue.
He wanted to be involved in choice of incoming players
Another headon collision in waiting.
Nuno is a lazy signing for Sullivan who will get bullied by the board and same scenario will play out with more player sales and asset striping taking us another season down to the championship as it plays out.Get Mourinho in get his players in and repair the fans by building a proper football stadium if not sell up⚒
Scott Parker may be currently employed but is clearly capable of working with a Sullivan style budget