By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo has sent his biggest message yet to the Hammers board that he needs more players – and quickly.
Nuno rightly copped plenty of flak following yesterday’s 2-2 draw against Burnley, having watched his team surrender a two-goal lead at Turf Moor.
Far too many times we’ve seen the West Ham boss park the bus, sit back and squander leads. His substitutions and tactics certainly deserve scrutiny, but his claim that he doesn’t have enough players, particularly in forward areas, also has plenty of merit.
Speaking to West Ham’s official website after the game, Nuno couldn’t have made his transfer requirements much clearer.
“The transfer window is open, so we have to be ready for everything.
Unfortunately, today Pablo felt something in his calf at half-time and for me we need more options in the offensive part of the team, of course.
Hopefully for next week we are going to have more options and our game will improve.”
Pablo looks to have picked up an injury
Nuno Has A Point About West Ham Squad
It was encouraging to see Manor Solomon score on his debut and immediately bring some much-needed pace and trickery to the team.
But we have nowhere near enough.
As things stand, West Ham are likely to be considerably slower than most teams we face this season. The squad desperately needs quicker attacking players who can stretch defences rather than constantly playing in front of them.
I’d argue we’re currently at least two strikers short, while Nuno also needs cover on the wing and in central defence.
Then there is the midfield.
With Edson Álvarez and Soungoutou Magassa both linked with exits, another midfielder may also be required if those departures go through.
West Ham have started addressing the problem, with Solomon arriving and Arne Engels joining from Celtic, but the rebuild is nowhere near finished.
Nuno must take responsibility for what happened at Burnley.
But the board can’t ignore the obvious deficiencies in his squad either.
With around two weeks of the transfer window remaining and potentially as many as five players still required, West Ham need to get a wriggle on.
Should have brought earthy on rather than JWP and kept the same shape at least earthy is mobile and would have been no worse than Pablo,
squad is thin but Nuno cannot use that as an excuse, he had a full squad last season and still parked the bus, Nuno is the problem should have gone at the end of last seaxon
How much did AZ demand for Parrott do we know, and what were we prepared to pay? I’d like to know the gap and why it was insurmountable? Or did the player not fancy us?
The board are too slow like the team , what is Koppen doing concentrating on out goings rather than addressing the glaring shortfalls .
The best thing out board could do is phone Eddie Howe
Before his run and assist, Kanté looked unathletic. Orford was okay and there’s something to build on from that performance, but Scarles really disappointed me. He looks very naive at times, and those mistakes, not the first we’ve seen from him, cost us points. He needed to be making those mistakes on someone else’s dime, out on loan.
I’m not blaming the capitulation on those players specifically, although Scarles certainly had a hand in it. The bigger concern is that I don’t feel we have enough players who can currently be relied upon against competent opposition.
We need to get the players who want out moved on this week and bring in, at the very least, 2 strikers, 2 wingers, a CM, a CB and, on this performance and assuming Diouf leaves, another LB. That’s 7 players, and we’ve taken seven weeks to bring in four, one of whom was essentially already with us.
No takers for Cornet and Fulkrug? Put them in the squad and play them. If they are so toxic that they are ruin morale, then sack them; but Nuno’s job is to train and motivate, and if he can’t do that then questions need to be asked.
Why, oh why, can’t we access the loan market like every other club in the Championship? Are we genuinely too good for a top-six loanee?
Who else thought it was going to turn to sh*t when he bought on JWP? There must be other players we can choose to cover that position. And for me, Scarles isn’t nowhere near the quality we need, too many mistakes in him. As for Diouf, we definitely need a quality left back. Isn’t Zinchenko still available as a free?
Yep squad woefully weak. Nuno at fault but no options aside from kids.
Need a CDM of “steel”, physical and quick, a central striker with physicality and pace and finishing, a left back ( Diouf wants out) and Disasi at CB ( the dream ).
Does board really have to be told haven’t they got eyes perhaps they don’t watch games it’s painful.
Nuno needs to take some whacky backie or drugs to liven him up stands there crossed arms like a boy in the playground.
Lucky not to concede 4 against Burnley and they also are suppose to be in disarray.
Whu are aware of what they need and can’t keep saying they are short of players without doing something about it.
Without being paid millions even a layman can see the problems which should have been addressed already.
Nuno needs to change his tactics and team has to play united and attack as a pack.
Pablo injured perhaps this will show Nuno he can do without him.
Alvarez needs to stay has good communication skills just needs to stay away from cards.
Everybody keeps saying it: Disasi, X2 strikers, midfielder_Sorba Thomas for pace/goals and East End grit.
Mention of overseas youngsters Job/Austbo (apparently bids are in but not sufficient) would add to depth.
Correct in all you say, Gonzo. Still don’t trust Nuno, though !
Imperative we get the players in and then he will be judged – no excuses.
Yesterday’s result was all on Nuno. I hear the clamour from Nuno and claret & Hugh for more players and we do need a decent striker but what is the point with Nuno in charge. So many games are the same I.e start poorly , then grow into the game then if we do get in front park the bus.
My biggest concern today is that the person who appears to be running the club does not bother to go to the games.
The papers are trying to say we have switched targets from Parrot to Piroe though I suspect or at least hope it’s both not one or the other, if we wanted pace why we aren’t going for Vardy seems a bit odd he will lead in the dressing room also because he is a winner.
We need more wide options also on both flanks and as pointed out a genuine CDM.
Yesterday Josh Landers was on the bench so not sure why at half time he wasn’t added and Castellanos dropped back to no 10 role…
For me we should initiate contact with Eddie Howe which would be made easier if Staveley was on the board.
Nuno didnt help but it was clear as soon as Pablo went off (and many fans were actually calling for him to be subbed ) that we had no one to replace him with.
I dont think Nuno told the team to sit back i think when we lost Pablo we lost the player that was linking up play but as always at west ham we have to have scapegoat and that player this season is Pablo .
Its clear to see that we re worse without him in the team but even yesterday people were calling for him to be replaced with JWP . They got their wish and we know what he result was but hey lets now blame the manager even though its clear that this squad isnt good enough.
I agree Pablo on the face of it doesn’t seem to offer much, but his hustling and energy seem to have a positive impact on the team, we always do so much worse without him.
Whislt our defending remains woeful. Nuno is our biggest problem, his tactics are woeful. The set up against Newcastle with 5 defenders cost us a must win game and meant we were relegated.
His switch to a three man mid-field with JWP on the right was catastrphic and his desire to park the bus when you have a ropey defence with Kilman in it is always the worst decision.
WHEN WILL HE LEARN THAT THE BEST WAY TO DEFEND A ONE GOAL LEAD IS TO MAKE IT A TWO GOAL LEAD AND THE BEST WAY TO DEFEND A TWO GOAL LEAD IS TO MAKE IT THREE.
Gonzo we are miles of it We have a very small squad and it appears every one player we bring in we flog two It just dosnt add up and its going to show in performance and league standings