Compared with the Lopetegui era – the low point in West Ham press conferences- Nuno Espirito Santo‘s first in situ presser seemed matter of fact, calm, under control even. And without the Graham Potter ‘positivity – management speak’ which was trotted out so often on autopilot until we’d all stopped listening.
Ahead of the Arsenal fixture, the new Hammers head coach had squad news which offers an insight into the ‘stomach issue’ plaguing – apparently – Hammer of the Year Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
In Graham Potter’s last games, the defender had been absent with this non-specific ‘stomach issue’ which was never explained. Had “AWB” fallen out with Potter? We may never know the truth.
Fitness update reveals just one injury absence from a full strength squad
All we can say is that Espírito Santo delivered his own fitness bulletin this afternoon”
“Today we worked with 22 players, and tomorrow we make the decisions. Let’s wait and see. With the exception of George [Earthy], all the players are available. I think George will be four to six weeks.”
“Todibo trained. Last week, he didn’t train in all the sessions. Now, he’s involved. We will see. The same (for Wan-Bissaka) the same. Thank God, this week has been good. They are recovering.”
Recovering, then, magically, under a new head coach. Fit and apparently available. Magically healed with Potter recently departed. We will simply have to draw our own conclusions from that episode.
Which poses an interesting selection conundrum, Kyle Walker Peters being the man in possession of the shirt at right back: Has he done enough to keep Wan Bissaka out of the team?
From the problems Walker-Peters had in marking the – relatively speaking – giant Spurs’ skipper in the Tottenham derby, you’d perhaps think that Wan-Bissaka may be the better bet for a defensively- oriented Arsenal fixture.
It would seem be harsh on Walker-Peters, however, who did perform well in the Everton fixture. Nuno has not shied away from difficult decisions already so it wouldn’t surprise me to see Wan-Bissaka reinstated for the Arsenal derby.
Graham Potter’s press comments and all interviews seemed to be written by an inoffensive nice AI bot. All as inspiring as a Gareth Southgate comment session.
It will be refreshing to hear Nuno speaking something worthy of a listen. It will also be excruciating to listen to the twits of ‘journalists’ hoping for their career making faux pas from this genuine man.
Happier and more interesting days are ahead.