I was going to start this article with ‘it hasn’t taken long‘ but then I had to back track and begin again. In truth, West Ham have been waiting for Nuno Espirito Santo’s method to catch fire at West Ham ever since his arrival in September 2025. Thirteen months is, by recent standards, an over ‘average’ length of stay for an Irons manager.
Neither of his two predecessors, Julen Lopetegui – less than eight months – and Graham Potter just over eight months, made it to a year in charge before getting the boot.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s two predecessors at West Ham only lasted a year and a half between them
A manager cannot survive when the fans turn against him and yet Nuno would seem to be on a rock solid foundation thanks to his being Kretinsky’s “continuity candidate’, appointed to see the club through the murky waters post-relegation and while the boardroom was distracted over the Sullivan allegations and then the Staveley takeover.
Plus of course the estimated ten million pounds that’d be required to send the head coach, along with his whole entourage packing.
Ghosts of West Ham future and West Ham past?
That hasn’t stopped names being thrown into the ether – Thomas Frank being the first to appear thanks to talkSPORT yesterday with Jamie O’Hara admitting that the former Spurs, Brentford and Brondby manager would be ‘not a bad shout‘ to replace Nuno.
This, remember, on the back of a story already running that the Hammers leadership have been in discussions with former Wolves manager Rob Edwards.
Will the board act now? Sadly, certainly not.
Six points at this stage of the season is, on paper, just a week’s worth of favourable results and nowhere near enough for the Czech Sphinx to divert his attention from other projects onto the thorny issue of first admitting he was wrong to re-appoint Nuno and then finding a successor.
What West Ham fans will know is that there’s already been a year of fumbling, stuttering management leading up to the Irons’ predicament and another three or six months won’t see any change. Except the chance of automatic promotion will have sailed off down the Swanee in the meantime.
Shame its not two more home games before the international break. If it was he’d probably be gone after that.
Trouble two winnable away games could end up papering over the cracks. Thirteen months and still no definite identity to his management.
He’ll end up getting sacked but whether it’s soon enough to turn things around who knows.
Mark Robson: excellent footballing coach and ex-player, also knows the team well. loves the club, no compensation payment, no extraordinary employment package required by these millionaire managers and their agents.
I’m sure he could get a squad as good as this one into the playoffs, I think NES should be able to as well, but on a pitch MR obviously gets the best out of his players, plays quick effective football with a sound defense and without all the inconsistencies & problems of NES. That is where this would be a distinct upgrade. As a coach MR has shown himself to be miles ahead.
This squad is already good enough to succeed, I do not think that is the problem. As an interim coach, WHU could readily look for the best replacement possible in the Summer and you never know Mark Robson might prove himself suited to the role of WHU head coach working well within Koppen’s vision, academy, senior players, etc.
Maybe, but if not, not a problem, The club’s stated aim is promotion and Marl Robson is just as likely of doing that as NES and come end of season he will leave a team playing well together, players who will have developed over the season and are happy at the club – not so with NES, not with his track record.
Ex-player, interim coach, now head coach is the route taken by young baggies manager James Morrison who outwitted NES and beat us 3-1.
I could be wrong but my understanding is Nuno hasn’t been offered a different contract when we got relegated
His contract last season was one where there would be no compensation if relegation happened
So, I don’t think there is any compensation this season if he gets sacked
As I said, I could be wrong but I think Nuno is still on same contractual terms
Looks like TWO fingers are pointing at him.
Plenty of candidates but which will take precedence cheapest or most suitable.
Another failed Spuds manager, just like Nuno…..
Let’s get a manager who is on the up please