AWAY from the Crysencio Summerville soap opera that is threatening to overshadow all else at West Ham this week, the Hammers have their second official pre-season fixture away at Stevenage. Fans are of course concerned that no new signings have come into the club despite several departures, and that was one of the key themes in Nuno Espirito Santo’s interview featured last night on West Ham’s web site.
“Commitment” figured large amongst the head coach’s requirements from his players as he agreed that West Ham only need players at the club who are 100% up for the gruelling challenge of the championship.
Nuno offers fan reassurance that there is a plan, a strategy for tackling the Championship
And when quizzed on new arrivals, after the departures of Callum Wilson, Adama Traore, Axel Disasi, Mateus Fernandes and – imminently – Summerville himself – Nuno explained exactly what he and the leadership team were looking for in new recruits and how they were determined to avoid previous costly mis-steps in the transfer market, in a 12 minute interview with Sky Sports
“We’re trying to do it right: We cannot afford mistakes. First of all you have to take your time and decide well [over new signings] so that we choose the right pieces for our project. We [must] avoid mistakes, we cannot make things wrong.
Nuno reassured fans that the club will learn from costly transfer mistakes made in the past
It’s vital for us to keep the togetherness that we had in this squad and then integrate the right players for the right positions with the right purpose. So that takes time. I cannot go much further and say,.,. but soon, soon it’s going to be really soon”
It’s going to have to be, with pre season well advanced and the 18th August just over the horizon. Nuno’s instincts in January with Taty and Disasi proved sound, so Hammers fans will be hoping he makes similar judgements on the recruits who do come to the club over the coming weeks.
Given their coaching claims and massive wages, I would say he is stating the obvious. Just for the record Nuno, we fully expect you not to screw up again. That said, it would be a step in the right direction if the newly assembled team actually got the opportunity to play together BEFORE the opening game of the season, which is in 3 weeks. I am expecting West Ham to crush the Championship with a new record points total, anything less will reflect an inability to learn from past mistakes. No pressure.
The whole thing is a disaster all the good players are gone, the local street league is what am gonna watch this season. Am not going to spend a penny on west ham this coming season I have even cancelled sky sports, and a while back they did say there not a selling club anymore 🙄 lies lies and more lies
Stevie Mac is probably a Spurs supporter, or if not someone acting like a 10 year old who throws his toys out of the pram at anything and everything. All the good players are gone are they? Really? Buying and selling players is part of the football business. I think we have sold 1 player at this precise moment for £85 million, so hardly a selling club and definitely not lies lies lies!
Sounds good. I’m glad he emphasised taking time to get the right players. Sometimes the wrong player can be worse than no player. As we’ve learnt.