West Ham turmoil ramps up pressure on Nuno
Iāve always felt that if Nuno EspĆrito Santo managed to keep West Ham up this season, it would be something close to a miracle.
Now, that task has become even harder.
The wave of resignations at the club, led by Karren Brady, only adds to the sense of chaos. Comparisons to rats deserting a sinking ship will be inevitable, leaving Nuno trying to steer through some very choppy waters.
Make no mistake about itāhis job has just become a lot more difficult.
Timing couldnāt be worse for West Ham upheaval
Like many, Iām pleased to see Brady goāand ideally, David Sullivan follows sooner rather than later.
But this timing? Far from ideal.
In a perfect world, Brady would have left much earlier. Failing that, the next best option would have been a planned transition with a replacement already in place. Even leaving at the end of the season would have made more sense.
Instead, weāve got a sudden exit with no obvious structure behind it, and the reasons will no doubt become clearer in the coming weeks.
Right now, though, it does nothing to help Nuno or his squad.
Uncertainty grows behind the scenes
You have to wonder what the players are making of all this.
Assistant manager Paco JimĆ©z still doesnāt have a contract beyond the end of the season, and if players werenāt already speaking to their agents before the last few days, they almost certainly are now.
It all adds to a feeling of a club lacking direction and leadership at a crucial moment.
Speaking to the press earlier, the boss said “My job is to prepare the boys, especially to face Everton.”. He’s bang on and I appreciate his calmness.
Nuno must somehow rally a drifting squad
Nuno now has to find a way to get his players focusedāplaying for a club that, from the outside, looks rudderless.
Thatās no easy task.
But sometimes situations like this can create a siege mentalityāan āus against themā mindset that brings a squad together when it matters most.
Even so, thereās no getting away from it: heās up against it.
And if he somehow keeps West Ham in the Premier League with everything going on around him, it will go down as one of the most impressive rescue jobs in recent memory.
Gonzo it is what I have always thought. To most of the board members it’s just a job, just an investment to make money, no more no less. The love and care for the club, players and fans is just not there. This sticks out like a sore thumb with the timing of the board members leaving. Don’t care how it affects the club we are off now!
I think you’re bang on there Rob
I think articles like this will only bring more pressure on the manager and the players!
Survive or not, I doubt even the resurrection of John Lyall would make some people happy.
The timing of all this is shocking, Gonzo. Why now? We are in the fight of our lives and the chess games begin in the boardroom. This could’ve been sorted in the summer. Unbelievable.
Come on Gonzo….I know you speak from the heart mate…But the squad are fired up and ready to go…Have we been battered regularly by everyone?….Did we really look like Palace were gonna beat us on Monday?..No….Try to put some positive vibes out there geezer!!….Yes we are in the trenches ..But i believe in our brothers in arms…You should too….COYI…
I can only assume you haven’t read my preview where I have predicted a win mate. I also praised Nuno’s positivity in the press conference in another blog before this one.
I just think the drama has made the job harder.
But I often get accused of being negative and everyone comments yet when I write something positive, nobody replies.
Here’s a case in point, a piece written 6 hours before this one and full of praise for Nuno . . . just gets ignored which makes it easier for people to say I’m negative.
https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-boss-nuno-shuts-down-brady-questions-ahead-of-everton-clash/
C’mon, regardless of whats happening off the pitch, its not that dramatic as your implying.
Its what we’re achieving on the pitch, that matters.
Karen leaving, its a no big deal. With her gone, i think it helps, if anything
Paco needs to be our most important signing followed very shortly after by Disasi
Needs to blank it off, difficult yes and easier said than done.
Having a full squad helps and needs to make right choices.
Everton are also in good position regarding injuries.
Just three showing of which Grealish is one who has hardly played.
Unfortunately Beto looks to be available but biggest blow probably is Branthwaite, c/bk.
Whu goal scoring is something which comes under scrutiny often.
Statistics show (For/Against): Whu 40/57, Everton 40/39, Forest 36/45, Spurs 42/53.
For is very even it’s Against that lets whu down but defence looks to have improved remarkably.
Come on you Irons.
Brady leaving shouldn’t effect these players who are handsomely paid for their job and they should just concentrate on their ninety minutes on the pitch and forgot everything else.
Sorry but this is a very negative article from you Gonzo
I agree with your sentiments Gonzo but we have all been screaming for her and DS to go, and so we can’t now really be critical of the timing. I think the players and the manager/coach can stay detached from this, and the players agents are sniffing elsewhere anyway, regardless (eg. Fernandes/PSG, Mav/Deutschland, Bowen/Millwall (joke). Imagine how busy the Spuds’ players’ agents are at the moment lols