Nuno’s blueprint for success at West Ham United – Report

Going from ‘perfectly adequate’ in his first few months as Nottingham Forest’s manager to turning them into European competition qualifiers took some doing. Nuno Espírito Santo used some specific, detailed strategies to lay the foundations of the Tricky Trees’ second season success.

Detailed this afternoon is an in-depth exposé of exactly how the Portuguese and his coaching team Tok the Nottingham side from relegation contenders into European qualification one season later – and how he will aspire to use the same tactics at West Ham. writing in the NYtimes.com/athletic, Paul Taylor details the strategies coming to London stadium in his article entitled:

What West Ham can expect from Nuno: Compact squad, extensive use of subs, and straight talk

[Nuno] “Uses his bench extensively, normally utilising all five substitutes — he averaged 4.4 substitutions per game in the Premier League last season — and frequently rammed home the message that those players were just as important as those who started.

His team were disciplined, well-organised and fiercely difficult to break down. The starting point was a finely honed back four that gave little away…

Installing a similar backbone will almost certainly be his starting point at West Ham….Pace was central to everything good about Forest, who were set up to hit opposition with explosive speed and directness on the counter-attack.With his players, he strikes a balance between being a figure of authority while remaining approachable. On the training pitch, it is strictly business.”

Finding that ‘finely honed’ back four may take a while: The Portuguese has already witnessed first hand the accident prone duo at the heart of West Ham’s central defence.  “He is almost certain to talk about “bonds” and “identity”.  They are the two things that were at the heart of his remarkable success at Forest and they will be two things he will likely prioritise as he tries to breathe fresh life into West Ham.”

Whilst Espírito Santo relishes the chance to work with players in training camps, that ship has sailed for now. Quite how he finds the resources to turn Potter’s plodders into a side bristling with pace will be something to behold: West Ham fans have had a glimpse and cannot wait for more.