However much the West Ham board attempt to dress up Nuno’s performance last season, fans appear to have worked out for themselves exactly when, and why, the ‘turnaround’ took place in the middle of a terrible season that saw first Potter fired and then Nuno Espírito Santo struggle.
The official announcement from the board two days ago does seem to gloss over Nuno’s early struggles.
The PR release from West Ham which accompanied news of Nuno’s agreement to stay at London Stadium for another season stated, somewhat disingenuously:
“A total of 25 points taken from our final 17 Premier League matches equated to 1.47 points per game – a ratio that would have resulted in a seventh-place finish across the full season. Furthermore, we feel the clear improvement in squad mentality and togetherness since January, leading to that upturn in performances and results, makes him the right man to lead us forward.”
Today’s news that assistant manager Paco Jemez has left the club, in the context of those figures, is worrying for supporters since Jemez’ arrival co-incided with the upturn in January.
Nuno’s 16 games without Paco Jemez yielded just two wins, four draws and ten losses. Which was 0.62 points per game.
Predictably, Claret and Hugh’s readers reacted with alarm to news of Jemez’ departure earlier today :
Bonzo’sboi66: ‘Nuno’s record pre-Jemez was woeful and disjointed, especially in attack. i thought he would have been begged to stay on. thoroughly unimpressed…AGAIN!”
WhuPaul:”That is a blow. We were better with him. Nuno was a little clueless before he arrived”.
Dean Murphy: “This a disastrous move. Get rid of the three that have been at the club forever and a day, send them back to the U21/23 and keep Paco. Our form only picked up after he arrived. Is the Board that thick!!!!!????”
Pretty universal upset voiced by readers, then, over Paco’s departure. However…
Providing a combative, competent successor is appointed, it need not be the disaster it seems.
Clearly Nuno alone cannot deliver a successful promotion campaign, so we will all just have to wait with baited breath to see who joins the coaching team in the summer.
Hopefully, another assistant with the ‘cojones’ to challenge Nuno’s negativity!
who Knows what Paco was offered to stay?? So many deciding that Sullivan didn’t want him, with no idea what actually transpired
Do you know the worst thing about all of this? I feel as though I’m really not bothered. Previously I’d be looking forward to a ruined summer. We all knew that glorious night in Prague papered over the cracks of a season that was spiralling downwards. Yet the club has allowed itself to continue that downward spiral with minimal effort to turn our fortunes around. Sticking plasters seemed to be the order of the day following the sidelining of David Moyes and the appointment of managerial disaster areas – all while goodness knows what was going on behind the scenes, as there seemed no clear plan or strategy. Where we are now felt inevitable at the start of the season, and I genuinely expected little more than what we got. Even when Nuno was appointed, the failed coaching team were kept in place and the ownership looked on in bored resignation until eventually (and too late) Paco was employed.
This relegation feels very different from previous ones I’ve experienced as a West Ham fan. I have no confidence of returning to the Premier League any time soon. While we, as supporters, are looking for clear messaging from club directors and the management team, we are given absolute silence. It seems clear to me that there is a problem between Daniel Kretinsky and David Sullivan. Kretinsky is a hardheaded businessman looking for profits. He’s no sugar daddy. Sullivan runs the club as a rich man’s hobby. The elephant in the room is the stadium. As time goes by, it could well become the symbol of our demise. Large expanses of empty seats confronting fans every home game. Who’d put money against us slipping into League One in a couple of seasons?
Change at the top must happen, and happen soon. I really, really hope I’m wrong and this time next year I’m celebrating once again. COYI
With players playing 60 odd games in both Europe and premier league plus cup runs was it any surprise league form dipped a bit that season while we prioritised our run to a European trophy? Yet following season we were back up to ninth.
The turnaround happened when Souchek was put back in the midfield next to Fernandes, and they stopped starting games with the likes or Potts Myers Scarles and Kante.
I reckon if there’s to be No Positive Paco then it should also be No Negative Nuno at West Ham United. They were the Ying and Yang of our management team. Perhaps we should let Nuno go his own way and quickly offer the head coach position to Paco Jemez. If he declines then maybe we need to look elsewhere, preferably without input or interference from David Sullivan.
Unbelievable just how stupid and totally ignorant of football Sullivan is
Craig Bellamy should be offered job,a west ham man and knows football.,but of course sullivan would have to pay money out,so no chance.
Correlation does not equate to causation!
January saw the arrival of Disasi, the revival of Mavropanos, and dropping of Kilman from defence. Also, AWB at the African cup of nations meant Walkers Peters got a run and arguably did much better than AWB.
In attack Taty provided work rate and threat that was missing with Fullkrug, and whilst Pablo’s finishing was woeful he at least kept the defenders busy unlike other options available.
Whilst I read favourable comments from the players about Jemez, you can’t attribute the uptick in points per game simply on his coaching alone. Having said that, it’s a pity he’s left.
He’s likely wanting to give management another go. Good luck to him.
However, his management stats aren’t great, in fact they look pretty poor. They would be the kind of stats that would be used by fans to undermine his tenure. They pretty much look worse than Potters management stats
Maybe he didn’t fancy being a number 2 in the championship. It is a bit harsh to suggest he is the only reason that form picked up. Bringing in Taty upfront, Disai at the back, getting the most out of Dinos, getting a better blend in midfield. Bit unfair to suggest that none of this had anything to do with Nuno. Having said all that, it is a shame that he is going as any manager needs decent support to suceed and he seemed to be just that.
Id rather Paco than nuno any day.
I didn’t want nuno to stay, I think it will be even worse next season.
It seemed that the players didn’t play for him they played for Paco.
No normal person likes nuno. We should of cut our loses with him.
League 1 here we come.
Only ever a stopgap appointment. The boy did well in the circumstances, bug that was yesterday and not tomorrow.
Before venting fury etc it will useful to find out if Paco decided to leave to pursue other opportunities( as he has been a manager of other clubs) or was released by the club.