West Ham v Southampton | Nuno maintains poker face but there’s one thing he will be desperate to avoid

After a year of watching West Ham’s manager perform at the obligatory pre-game press conferences, I’d suggest Nuno Espírito Santo would make an excellent poker player. He has a face which doesn’t give away anything as his words, carefully crafted to be correct, without controversy, always calm, provide little true insight into his thinking.

But after one question today you can be sure the Portuguese manager feels very much stronger than his expression or his words suggested.

Of course with Southampton coming to town there’s the thorny issue of  a reunion with their former first team regular – and first name on the team sheet under Graham Potter, James Ward-Prowse. The midfielder’s career went pear shaped the moment Nuno was announced as Potter’s successor.

Ward Prowse had spent half a season on loan at Nottingham Forest the season before under Nuno before being ‘sent back as ‘unwanted’ and so knew exactly what was coming: The football equivalent of Siberia.

After being given the cold shoulder by Nuno, Ward-Prowse was eventually sold for about £800,000,  virtually given away as unwanted after Moyes paid £30 million three years before.

You can guarantee that the dead-ball specialist is itching for a free kick or two to wreak his revenge in person tomorrow.

However, Nuno’s words suggested nothing could be further from his mind in the build-up:

“They have a very good squad, with quality players and a good manager, so I’m not surprised that they have started the season well. We know we’re going to face a tough opponent tomorrow.

We know Southampton have a lot of quality players, and James [Ward-Prowse] is one of them. Of course, we have to be aware of all the different situations Southampton might try and create, and as usual we have to prepare for the game by looking at our opponents, and what their strengths and weaknesses are.”

Deadpan.

You can guarantee behind the scenes he’ll have made it very clear to his defenders and goalkeeper that a clean sheet tomorrow – and no Ward-Prowse ‘special’ – is right at the top of his absolute must-haves, however much he plays down the occasion.

Ward-Prowse hasn’t actually scored from a free kick since February 2023 – during his previous spell at Southampton three years ago so the stars aligning tomorrow would indeed have a certain irony attached.

Providing the Irons come out on top, few home fans would, I suspect, be bothered if ‘JWP’ got his token goal against his former ‘baldy’ manager.

But for Ward-Prowse and Nuno, I suspect it’s personal.