For the last couple of seasons, ‘resilience’ was not something which West Ham United fans would associate with their fragile side. The cave-ins from the end of the Moyes era, through Lopetegui’s chaos-ball and Potter’s limp-lettuce ball were regular and disastrous. The awful five or occasional six goal thrashings handed out were disastrous for morale, both on the pitch and in the stadium.
Nuno’s arrival heralded a new nasty habit, namely ‘reversals’ where a fragile West Ham sat back and lost points from winning positions – which was largely responsible for the club’s final eviction from the Premier League.
Hardly a trademark of a side with a backbone.
One look at this season’s early stats from the eight league and three cup games played tells a very different story.
West Ham have rescued one win and two draws after falling behind – five points from eight games – suggesting that there’s a spine to this side, this year, that has been AWOL for two seasons.
Under Nuno, this West Ham side have rediscovered how to fight
The Millwall game encapsulated everything that is both good and bad about this team: The early goals gifting their opponents a head start and then the ‘trademark’ fightback – which the Hammers simply couldn’t manage in the top tier.
Which is anther reason to look forward to the next tranche of games in this division with ‘hope’. Fans have commented about their enjoyment of this division with no VAR, less theatrical rolling around by players and tougher, more honest football.
But the real reason may be because the Hammers have found their backbone once again (albeit in a league of lower quality) and going a goal or two down is no longer the ‘death sentence’ that we were used to watching unfold – with depressing regularity.
Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t we let a two goal lead slip and end up with a 2-2 draw with Burnley? Early in the season I know.
There’s a huge difference in the quality of premier league and championship defences has a great knock on effect as to what is possible.
What you said about VAR is spot on.
In every match so far (bar one) the referees have let the games flow, been fair to both sides and not whistle happy.
The one that didn’t do that was Paul Tierney, officiating like a Premier league official does against Millwall!!
“Under Nuno this West Ham side have rediscovered how to fight”?!?
With a decent manager this West Ham would be less likely to need to keep fighting back
With a decent manager the quality of this West Ham side would more likely be sitting more comfortably at the top!
With a decent manager we’d still be in the premier league
I can’t believe this fraud is still in the job considering how he completely messed up last season and relegated us!
Promotion this season is far from guaranteed. If we fail, next season’s quad will be diminished. Nuno will f*** off and we’ll be left with the mess. A disaster!
While you are correct to point out that this began under Moyes, it would be fair to note that it also coincided with Tim Steidten who did not follow the Moyes MOT of buying players with character
I am not against a Director of Football – but the Director of Football and the Head Coach need to be in agreement most of the time
I think that Engels and others would pass the Moyes MOT
True Zahama and also Moyes had effectively given the club 6 months notice after rejecting the new contract at Christmas. It doesn’t matter how good your intentions are but it is extremely difficult to give the same level of commitment to a job once you know you are leaving. Hence the fall from top 6 at Christmas 2023