By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
Claret & Hugh have this afternoon spoken to a West Ham insider in an effort to clear up some of the mystery surrounding Edvin Austbø’s omission from Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad against Fulham last night.
We were already told by an external source this morning that there was essentially “nothing to see here”. However, curiosity has persisted among Hammers fans, with some wondering whether Nuno had taken exception to Austbø’s recent comments about eventually wanting to play for a bigger club.
Another theory was that the Norwegian had been forced upon the head coach by director of football Nils Koppen.
Edvin Austbø’s West Ham absence against Fulham has been explained by a club insider
West Ham insider dismisses concerns
When C&H asked an in-the-know source whether there was anything more sinister behind Austbø’s omission, or indeed whether the winger was injured, we were assured there was nothing to worry about.
Our source told us: “Nuno works closely with Nils [Koppen]. Every single signing this summer has been led by Nils.”
And I think that’s a point well made.
Nuno has taken very quickly to Arne Engels, who was Koppen’s top target this summer, and has paired him in central midfield with Divine Mukasa, another Koppen pick.
Austbø decision was tactical
We’re informed Austbø will be involved going forward and that Nuno’s selection decisions against Fulham were purely tactical.
Considering the Hammers boss chose to pack the wide midfield positions with central players rather than conventional wingers, that explanation certainly appears to fit what we saw.
So, as we reported earlier today, there’s nothing to see here. No drama and no scandal.
Or maybe he is just not good enough. He played the last few minutes against Derby and scored a tap-in goal in his first match. He started gainst Bolton and contributed nothing before being taken off just after half time. He looks easily muscled off the ball, fast but with no constructive delivery or ability to combine with his teammates. Solomon has been immense and getting better in every game, especially the last one against Wrexham. And we have Ajala as back up.
Nothing except more NES bizarre team selections again maybe? A winger is usually better on the wing and he needs the games to get up to speed and integrate I would think. Is it just another case of Nuno playng players out of position for hard to understand reasons?
Top of the league, and people on here still saying Nuno out lol.
It is just another example of Nunos exentricity. The man is clueless . He forces Tobido out of the club and picks Kilman game after game … The man is a fool .
What I’d like to know is why we’re selling our highest rated youth players to Tottenham. Gabriel a versatile defender who can play centre-back or left-back to Tottenham
and Isaac Allen a midfielder who captained England at U15 level and had been at West Ham for 8 years. Isn’t it bad enough to be selling Kudus and Fernandes to them. What kind of club sells players to arch rivals?
Everyone seems to have missed that he was physically there and was involved in the pre warm up on the pitch with the sub group (after sqaud was announced without him in it). I have pictures of him that my son took. We put it down to him maybe being a sub sub incase someone pulled out during the warm up. Shows he wasn’t injured though or away with Norway. Strange he didn’t even make the bench…
Nuno has no interest in the EFL Cup, and neither should he. We played to lose, but gave some experience to players who aren’t in the first-team selection. It was well managed, and an important game to lose. We need total focus on getting back up, not concentrating on silverware at the expense of squad fitness. Talk about a player wanting to progress their career is just media manipulation of what should be a given for all players.
Another mistake by nuno how many more are we fans going to have to put up with ok things look rosy in leaque but its a long season and we will face teams that will be much tougher than the ones we have faced so far and are use to playing in this leaque they know what it takes none more so than the teams that missed out on promotion nuno has to get things right or things could go pear shaped
All signings may have come via Koppen but Nuno was miffed about Nelson when Austbo was preferred.
Nuno shouldnt be manager here He holds to many grudges
I read he was away with the Norwegian u 21’s ??
I think people always draw the wrong conclusion when players are left out. We have a large squad of players to choose from now and the cup game was a good game to try some of the youngsters and players which have not played as much as others.
And as far as Nuno goes, why should he fall out with a player just because he said he wants to go to a bigger club. I am sure all players not at the top four clubs would say that would be their goal, so let’s put that one to bed
People just try to stir up unrest amongst our team, who are very much all together, Nuno included
Let’s concentrate on our team and get back in the premiership
If Austbo was fit then can’t believe Luno didn’t give him a 90 minute game let alone leave him out of the squad altogether. However with Luno you have to expect crazy decisions at times
Love the Luno name :):)
Tactical decision yeah right. Someone at West Ham seems to think they can constantly take us for fools. Nuno and tactical go together like chalk and cheese and whatever reason for his absence from the matchday squad against a Premier League side it certainly wasn’t tactical.