Just over a year ago, West Ham’s leadership made the mistake of laughing in the face of fans who voiced fears over relegation from the Premier League, during consultation meetings between Karren Brady and supporters.
It was clear that the concept of being kicked out of the Premier League simply hadn’t occurred to the board. At all.
History proved the fans right then, and more than likely it’ll prove them right again this season, as worries are already being voiced that West Ham’s win ratio is simply not sufficient to place the club on course for automatic promotion.
An average of two points per game is going to be needed, to hit ninety points and well-nigh guarantee promotion. West Ham sit on 16 points after 9 games, sadly short of their target and averaging only 1.7 points per game: At this rate, the lottery of the play-offs is the Hammers’ likely destination. At best.
Alan Pardew and I both remember losing the play-off final in 2004. If you thought relegation hurt, try being the losing finalist in the play offs and being condemned to another year in the second division.
Which would seems to justify fan concerns that too many points are being dropped.
However, Footballinsider’s article today has a tone which suggests fans are unjustly pointing the finger at Nuno:
“It’s definitely a strange situation at West Ham, it might be one to keep an eye on,” Brown told Football Insider.“Nuno Espirito Santo is in a difficult place where it feels like some of the fans have already decided he isn’t the right man for the job, regardless of what happens on the pitch.”
Regardless of what happens on the pitch? I beg to differ. It’s all about what happens on the pitch!
Every time negative Nuno takes a point instead of three, West Ham’s target of ninety looks ever-more challenging. Better to sound the alarm early, as we did last last season (little notice anyone took though), than all sit quiet and rely on blind faith that it’ll turn out fine. It didn’t work in the Premier League last season and it won’t work in this division either.
Nuno needs to take the handbrake off now and start going hell for leather for wins instead of respecting the point. I’ve watched West Ham lose one play off final, and I certainly don’t ever want to repeat that experience.
I don’t think the point position is as bad as you make out – just 2 pts behind Boro, but results will need to improve.
However, the biggest issue as far as I’m concerned is if we get promoted unless we change Manager we will just repeat last season. Nuno’s incompetence is being masked a bit by playing against weaker opposition, but the same issues still exist and Nuno hasn’t shown any real improvement in his tactician amd man management skills.