So it’s the dreaded “vote of confidence” – and in true West Ham fashion, it’s arrived via a very familiar face.
TalkSPORT’s Jim White has revealed that Hammers chairman David Sullivan has assured under-fire boss Nuno Espírito Santo that his job is safe… but only until the FA Cup tie against QPR. That’s right – no mention of the massive Premier League fixture against Tottenham just days later. Make of that what you will.
It’s hardly surprising I guess. Especially with West Ham marooned in the relegation zone following back-to-back disasters against fellow strugglers Wolves and Nottingham Forest. The so-called new manager bounce has turned into more of a limp. And yet, despite the dire form, a top London Stadium source told Claret & Hugh this morning that the board will “keep on spending.”
On the surface, that sounds like support for Nuno both publicly and privately. But let’s be brutally honest – it could just as easily be a case of Sullivan trying to protect his January investments by not rocking the boat ahead of the real must-win match against Spurs.
The board appear to be kicking the can down the road as usual – but lose to QPR and it’s hard to see Nuno surviving.
In short – Nuno’s still in the dugout, but the trapdoor is creaking.
I think DS will try and keep NES at WHU unless he really, really has no excuses left. Hoping he will turn it around. Just a hunch.
NES can use the game against QPR to play with intent and energy. Nothing reckless, but have to shift from being too defensive to a more expansive form of football and that is not easy I reckon. Midfielders will need to adapt their play to be more front foot, whilst being solid and not going AWOL Hope NES does not play silly buggers and play a B-team (do we have one?). Could rest Bowen maybe – perhaps he needs it?
Love the FA cup plus it’s a london game.
No, lose to Wolves and it was hard to see him surviving, lose to Forest and it was almost impossible to see him surviving. What he is still doing there only Kim Jong Sullivan knows and so my money is on QPR for Sunday, in the hope that he will not survive that one.
Get shot now, can’t see us beating QPR with Nuno in charge go for the Hull City manager at least he is proving he can do it in the Championship.
Ha, heard it all before.
What’s the old saying: arranging the deck chairs on the sinking Titanic.
Rather than addressing the problems
I don’t believe an FA cup tie has ever had less importance in our entire history
Disagree Morty. It is absolutely essential we start winning football matches to engender some confidence and belief. Another loss would be disastrous.