Whether he walks or whether he is fired it seems likely that Nuno Espirito Santo’s five month stint as West Ham United manager is about to come to an abrupt end, as reported this afternoon. The lack of compensation requirement within his West Ham deal combined with the 50% relegation clause in his contract will mean neither the club nor the manager will have any appetite to maintain the status quo into the summer and beyond.
Strange selection calls, weird formations, tinkering with players out of position and twenty points dropped from winning positions has ‘done’ for West Ham this season: Nuno will be off to the next crisis-ridden Premier League club along with his agent pal Jorge Mendes to carry on ‘business as usual’ pretty swiftly.
For West Ham, the challenge of negotiating their way out of the Championship may not be solved as rapidly as Nuno’s next appointment.
Guardian names the two likely candidates to replace Nuno Espirito Santo
The Irons need a manager who can ‘get’ the club and drag them back into the Premeir League at the first time of asking: The Guardian claims today that the Hammers already have their top choices in mind:
O’Neil: Signed long term contract at Strasbourg in January
“West Ham will be looking for their fifth manager in two years if Nuno’s reign ends. Scott Parker, the former Burnley manager, and Strasbourg’s Gary O’Neil are of interest.”
Both would ‘get’ the club being ex-players held in esteem by the fan base: Both know their way around the championship, the transfer market and importantly, neither are strangers to the crazy way in which the club is run.
Former West Ham man Parker has become a ‘promotion specialist’ – and is not under contract – freely available.
Under the maxim of “horses for courses” either of the two former Irons players would seem ideal to do a job: Scott Parker is available without compensation having been sacked by Burnley so would seem to have the edge, knowing Sullivan’s reluctance to pay to get a decent manager appointed.
Nothing suggests he’s going to deviate from that path however poor the choices he’s made in the era since Moyes left the club.
The fact that it looks like Sullivan will be picking the next manager is a huge problem in itself. He is an incompetent loser with an appalling track record which is getting worse. The board needs to get a grip and remove him from executive authority. That’s a far more important issue right now than whether Nuno stays or goes.
Totally agree
CARRICK WAS NOT CONSIDERED GOOD ENOUGH FOR US JOKE THE WHOLE CLUB IS MAK8NG A FOLL OF ITSELF AND ITS ALL DOWN TO ONE MAN GOOD LUCK TO NUNO HES FAR TO GOOD FOR US
Bellamy for me evry time. He likes to play attacking football – see the job he’s done for Wales. And he is a West ham man – he loves the club. It won’t happen because Sullivan has no ambition
Sean Dyche is available
Things just get worse. Neither are going to be the type to change and revitalise the club’s structure. O’Neill is not good enough and Parker might get us promoted, but then what? has been proven to not be up to the job in Premier League. Personally, I would try and get Bellamy. But will never happen as Sullivan wouldn’t stand a manager who speaks his mind and would likely want to rip up the existing structure.
We have a pound shop owner who hires pound shop managers, but now will be looking to the bargain clearance sale bucket
We’ll probably sign kier Starver🤣
Craig Bellamy
Craig Bellamy feels right to me. Don’t know why, it just feels like the energy and freshness that the club needs to start off in a new direction, out of the gaze the spotlight. A bit like the Pardew move back in the day.
Parker and O’Neill – yet more uninspiring choices…..they are both decent guys, but they are not going to set the pulses racing. If Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford can find managerial gems that play front-foot, aggressive football, surely West Ham should be able to do something similar. The only name that has cropped up that has sparked interest with me is Craig Bellamy. Why not….he knows West Ham as well and has the intensity, attitude and desire to get the most out of a team. And he’s no shrinking violet either – we’ll see passion on the touchline which will resonate with both the players and the fans.
Parker and O’Neill don’t make one good manager between them. Serge should have stuck with the Boy’s Brigade. Bellamy is the one for me. He’s got balls. That’s a big plus.
Bellamy as manager and Nolan as his assistant would be a good shout.
I totally agree.
I love that idea MJ. Both know the club, both will motivate players. You listening Sullivan?
Thomas Frank, Marco Silva or Iraola.
We’re down, but show some F-ing long term ambition Sullivan, or whoever is going to be running the club.
Parker or O’Neil (if we pay compensation) as much as I like them, are a short-term solution. We’re still a massive club, even in the Championship and if we can get an instance bounce back with a clear strategy, we’ll be okay. We cannot afford to run the same formula with the running of our beautiful club and expect different results.
We need ambition and vision and it starts with convincing and hiring a coach that gets a buzz about the season to come. Parker or O’Neil fails on so many levels
Parker or O’Neill would be a mistake. Certainly Parker would get us promoted but the problem would be that he probably has not got the ability required to cut it in the Premier. We would be looking for a new manager in the first half of the season should we go up. However, I don’t see us getting up at the first time of asking or soon after that. The club has been run into the ground so it is going to take a while to get back on an even keel.
We will need the fans to keep attending in the Championship but will need a manager to get behind. Is Bellamy the answer.
The same Gary O’Neil who is under pressure at Strasbourg? Scott Parker on a free?
Yet S*lliv*n won’t pay the £900k to get Bellamy.
Wonder whats better for him – the club getting promoted or the club going bust.
Take a deep breath. Are we really going to sack a manager and poach someone else when we’ve not got a pot to pee in. And didn’t we get 25 points in the 2nd half of the season when defensively minded Nuno sorted the defense out. Not saying he didn’t make a mistake or 3 but way better then Potter or Lopetegui and probably whatever clown Sullivan would appoint next.
Scott Palmer never looked energised enough for a dog fight.
Thats what next year will be.
Paco maybe if he’s interested.
I’m Available i have a good track record on FM and am willing to forward my CV showing my achievements both on the coaching side and transfer wheeling and dealing.
Five months MT?
Pretty sure it’s closer to eight months.
yeah too many easy mornings and grey hairs. thanks for correcting…At least nobody can claim we use AI haha
Oh come on. Both would be bad moves. Parker might get West Ham back into the top flight but his record in keeping a team there isn’t good. West Ham have to think more long term than just ‘let’s get back up asap’. Previously Championship clubs have managed to attract promising young coaches from the continent so why can’t West Ham? Oh right. David Sullivan is why not. A man lacking in ambition and common sense.
react..react..react.. its all Sullivan does. No strategic plan. which is why he’ll probably go for Parker on a year or two contract
that would sum our club up really.
lazy , cheap appointment.
no vision, no plan.
lasti heard , we were going to get a director of football in.
do that 1st, let him bring in his man and build from there.
have a plan past the next 4 months.
Kevin Nolan anyone?
Er, why?
Craig Bellamy