There has been much attention on Nuno Espirito Santo’s poor team selection during West Ham’s last two games.
Make no mistake about it, Nuno’s tinkering has been counterproductive — but it’s worth looking at precisely what he has to work with.
Whether you believe West Ham will appoint a new head of recruitment or Nuno will pick signings, one thing is clear: there’s set to be yet another influence on the Hammers squad.
The team is already a mishmash of conflicting ideas, and when you put it under the microscope, it’s easy to see just how botched the club’s recruitment has been over the past few seasons.
Steidten and Lopetegui are two of at least 10 influences on the current West Ham squad
West Ham’s Recruitment Chaos: Too Many Cooks, No Identity
With influences from numerous managers, agents, three different recruitment chiefs, and David Sullivan himself, it’s hardly surprising that the team has no identity. So, let’s take a look at West Ham’s matchday squad against Leeds — and, to the best of Claret & Hugh’s knowledge, who signed each player.
-
Areola: Initially on loan from PSG, likely rubber-stamped by David Moyes
-
Wan-Bissaka: Recommended by agent Will Salthouse
-
Todibo: Signed by Tim Steidten
-
Kilman: Former boss Julen Lopetegui insisted West Ham sign him
-
Scarles: Academy graduate
-
Souček: Recommended by scout Jordan Miles after work by Robbie Cook – a Moyes signing
-
Andy Irving: Signed by Tim Steidten
-
Lucas Paquetá: Recommended by Rob Newman to David Moyes after missing out on Jesse Lingard
-
Jarrod Bowen: 100% a David Moyes signing
-
Malick Diouf: Signed under Kyle Macaulay and Graham Potter
-
Summerville: A David Sullivan pick
-
Walker-Peters: Signed by David Sullivan and Dave Sullivan Jnr
-
Callum Wilson: Will Salthouse recommendation
-
Magassa: Kyle Macaulay and Graham Potter
-
Fernandes: Kyle Macaulay and Graham Potter
-
Potts: Academy graduate
It’s not my intention to criticise the players themselves — there’s certainly talent in that group. However, this list highlights the complete lack of direction from the club, which seems to let almost anyone have a go at signing footballers.
With such a scattergun approach, is it any surprise the team has no clear identity?
Gonzo The facts are we had deteriated for the last 2 years Then we weaken ourselves further by selling Rice Kudas loaning Alveras losing Antonio and Courfal Its really no surprise the mess we are in All our own doing The c forward situation perfect example of poor ownership and management
We can only hope that Nuno has been trying to see what his squad is capable of and he will now settle down to picking the team including Bissau Diouff, Magassa Fernandes Potts Summerville Bowen as the main spine. Just out of interest I believe that 3 of those were signed by Potter which is pretty good. Hopefully we will have a few more points come January and will wait for Sully’s pleading that we cannot afford whoever we need and they won’t want to come anyway because of our position. I have to say that after 60 years of support I did not expect see ‘my’ club in this position. Michael
Agree it’s a team of conflicted styles I just can’t see how that team can play defensive football, Potter is also a defensive manager whose teams while having with the exception of West Ham a high XG they have struggled to score goals, Nuno’s teams rarely score more than a single goal, similarly Moyes teams.
The strategy to buy young athletic players to play a high press was imho the right one but the managers don’t play that way, so it’s a problem of not hiring the right manager and in the past not recruiting the right players for the manager.
Under Moyes we bought strikers like Haller and Scamacca both of whom need legs around them, similarly Fullkrug the strikers are open in saying it, they need supply. We should have bought players like Arnautovic or Antonio that are aggressive with pace to hurt opponents on the counter as Moyes looked too but Sullivan would never offer enough to get the deals done.
Similarly if you want a manager to play that way the fans want, hire one, they tried with Pellegrini to be fair but he needed to overhaul the entire squad, possibly Bielsa could have done it like he did at Leeds to change the style even though we know his system can be counteracted he might have been or be perfect to at least transform our style of play before hiring a new manager, certainly if we get relegated as looks likely we should really consider him for a season or two to change the style and bring the passion back.
I have said this on this site before – maybe others disagree – in order for the Director of football model to work the DoF and the Head Coach must be closely aligned – the model of last year (starkly illustrated on this page) namely “one for you – Kilman” “one for me Todibo” and “one for the board – Summerville” is what gets you relegated
The decline has been put down to when Moyes decided not to sign the new contract – because he didn’t want to work with Steidten as a DoF
We will be lucky to avoid relegation this season following all these calamitous decisions over the past two years
The only mistakes I see in the players you mention are Irving not good enough for PREM, Kilman he has not shown his £40m price, Todibo looks lazy and Wilson can’t play 90mins, on Friday’s show I think Calvert Lewin would have been a better choice.
The starting eleven and tactics used at Everton worked. We drew the game and tellingly the stats were very even so we deservedly drew the game.
I have no idea why that successful formula wasn’t repeated for Brentford and Leeds.
I have no idea why so much was changed by way of experimentation.
I have no idea why after it failed so conclusively against Brentford that it was tried again against Leeds.
It failed conclusively against Brentford and it failed immediately against Leeds. We actually subbed our way to a far better balanced team against Leeds, ironically prompted by Scarles getting injured.
We need to play a forward, Diouff, Magassa and Potts in an Everton like game plan and quit experimenting.
Spot on Gonzo.
A symptom of how tye club has been run ( thats being generous to say “run” ) by Sullivan, Brady and to a lesser extent Gold although you do wonder if Gold was the influence that prevented us unravelling a long time ago.
We have the worst owners in all 4 leagues and perhaps across Europe. The Sheff Wed guy now gine to alliw Sullivan and Brady to be crowned as the “Most Incompetent” . I do think Sullivan has inherent psychological disorder that has contributed but as Trump proves that does not seem to prevent them teeking havoc
Gold was West Ham, lived in Green Street, played for the youth team & was a proper supporter, saw him a few times at the women’s & girls games, Sullivan & Brady aren’t West Ham so you’re completely right that he had influence & unfortunately since his passing S&B have done what they like.
Gonzo, you forgot to include the Tea Lady. She must have had some influence!
Even with the mis-match in signings and changing emphasis in skill set/fitness/styles, the talent in the squad must be sufficient to gain more than 1 win, 1 draw in 10 games?
Simple errors in player assignment/application at set pieces has been costing West Ham this season. Friday was a prime example?
You are overthinking it Gonzo .
Same could be said at Liverpool who have changed their manager , coaches and Football directors over the last 2 years too .
The manager asks for what players he needs and the head of transfers attempts to sign them . ( whoever that is )
Lopetigo was fully backed by the board and we spent well over a hundred million .
All of us fans , were really excited when we bought in 8 or 9 players start of last season .
There was no mention then of blaming the board for everything !
Moyes had an aged squad that was already struggling in the premier league after Rice left .
A decent defensive midfield player we have lacked since then.
Potts needs game time and could be the answer .
Lopitigo in hindsight was probably sacked too soon .
We at least looked like we could score goals under him . ( record amount of premier league goal attempts on target against Leicester away ) .
Potter is the main culprit for me .
He wasn’t strong enough to clear out the dead wood quick enough and didn’t identify the problems we have now .
The problems were clear to see preseason in the friendlies in the USA .
Bournemouth and Man U shoujd have beaten us by six goals !
Potter came away saying it had been a good preseason !!
The premier league is unforgiving more than ever this season .
We need to start picking up points and not losing to the teams around us . And Numo needs to pick the right team .
Has to start the midfield with Potts , Magassa and Fernandez.
Has to play a striker .
Must play WanBiska in front of Kyle Peters .
Must sign a decent keeper in Jan !
True! But we are not alone as Man U, Spurs, and Chelsea seem to have same malaise.
Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford and possibly Fulham seem to have the righr structures. Given they are considered small clubs by stadium capacity and therefore available fundis. Their philosophy is to stay in premier league and hooefully get to top 10 occasionally. They buy unproven but intensivly researched players, keep them for two or three years and sell on profit to sustain club with low turnover. We seem to start from a point that in new stadium with second largest capacity in the Country so its our birthright to be in top 6! Perhaps we go back to basics and accept it will take years to reach that goal. If we get relegated then that model automatically applies