Having inherited a squad that was a mash-up of Moyes, Lopetegui, Potter, Steidten and Sullivan’s ‘picks’ over the preceding two years, Nuno Espírito Santo has had his first – and what could be his only – transfer window at the helm of West Ham United to try and ‘rebalance’ the squad ahead of the final fourteen games.
With the Hammers sitting in eighteenth spot, the odds aren’t looking good that the Portuguese coach can close the six point gap between the Irons and nearest rivals Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.
And the price for failure will be high indeed. From revelations made to day in the New York Times, Nuno could face an ignominious end if he fails to keep the Hammers in the Premier League:
“West Ham can dismiss Nuno Espirito Santo without compensation if they get relegated:
…West Ham gave Nuno a three-year contract when he succeeded Graham Potter as head coach, but a clause in his deal means that the 52-year-old would not receive a pay-off should he be jettisoned if the club suffer demotion to the second tier, according to sources briefed on the matter”.
Reportedly earning something in the region of £4.5 million a year, that relegation if it happens could lead to Nuno being fired – without the £9 million compensation still owed on his contract.
Little wonder the head coach looks pensive and occasionally haunted in the dugout. Bad enough having a ‘relegation’ on your CV, let alone being fired without that life-changing amount of money (to you and me anyway) being due as a consequence.
On the other hand, there’s going to be no shortage of motivation on the manager’s part to keep the Hammers in the top tier. Shame the same doesn’t apply to the players’ contracts. That’d make them get their fingers out.
If we get relegated he will be a huge part of the reason why with his odd team selections, alienation of some players and overly negative approach to being in front.
We should have over 30 points and be looking up the table but we are not.
It’s not too late and since Jemez joined we have played better as a team. If we do go down would like to see Jemez given a shot.
Dream job. Don’t think Nuno is concerned about not getting any pay offs for failure at the moment. Don’t think he will be concerned in the future too.
Living the dream. In the moment. Ifs and buts and what ifs are for conjecture of the rest of us.
You know if he had a right go I’d be more inclined to back him but I’m sick of his defensive substitutions when we’re winning a game. We’re clearly a good side when we’re attacking. When we sit back and defend you just know we’re going to come undone. I don’t know why he cant see it.
I guess that players don’t want the salary cut that comes with relegation and not all can be sure of transfers to other premier league teams
I dont think he is hard up for a bob or two, he has had a few payouts already in his career!
I hope he goes, his first two games in charge a toddler could have picked a better team and his tactic of trying to shut up shop with a defense that leaks goals is insane.
I’ve often joked with a lot of his tactical “genius” decisions that it looks like Nuno seems to want to be sacked before we’re relegated so if that’s the case there may be more to it than I first thought…
Say it tongue-in-cheek (kinda) but fair play on him for agreeing to that clause.
Unfortunately, based on the aforementioned “genius” of some of his tactical decisions that we’ve witnessed, then it may have been as equally daft for him to have backed himself to that extent.
Isn’t entirely out of the realms of possibility we can go up at least one spot but with Kilman and Disasi-ster having to start alongside Konstantily Suspect for however long Todibo’s out, it’s tough to be optimistic.
….results of their actions….
More importantly Martin: by the unsatisfactory results their actions -or lack of them- it appears to be the case that there has been a clear shortage of motivation on the board members part to keep the Hammers in the top tier.