By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
There was a certain logic behind West Ham retaining Nuno Espírito Santo this summer. Continuity, stability, avoiding another managerial change – I understood the argument.
There’s nothing wrong with continuity. It just depends what you’re continuing.
Unfortunately, West Ham have got continuity all right. We’re continuing many of the same things that got us relegated.
Last season we were a team lacking confidence, sitting back expecting to defend despite not being particularly good at defending. We lacked pace, creativity and leadership.
Look at us now.
New players have arrived, the division has changed, yet too many of the same problems remain.
That’s why, as far as I’m concerned, Nuno has to go.
West Ham Needed A Proper Reset
Relegation presented West Ham with an opportunity.
Nobody wanted to go down, obviously, but once it happened there was a chance to completely reset the football club. Bring in an attacking coach, rebuild the squad and start playing on the front foot against Championship opposition.
Instead, we’ve attempted half a reset.
There have been changes upstairs and Nils Koppen has arrived to oversee recruitment. David Sullivan has stepped down as chairman, although the sight of him sitting in the directors’ box against Charlton hardly screamed revolution.
But the biggest footballing decision was not changed.
Daniel Křetínský decided to retain Nuno and we’re now watching the same safety-first football that failed in the Premier League.
The Championship should have presented an opportunity for West Ham to dominate teams.
Instead, we’re playing a style which allows opponents to discover a very simple cheat code against us.
Sit back. Let West Ham have the ball. Wait for us to run out of ideas. Then attack our painfully slow defence on the counter.
Charlton did it and exposed some enormous problems. Plenty more will follow.
Kretinsky pushed hard to keep Nuno
Possession Is Useless Without Imagination
There were spells against Charlton when West Ham had huge amounts of possession, but what did we actually do with it?
When teams sit deep, you need a bit of fantasy.
You need somebody with vision who can split a defence, somebody capable of dribbling past opponents and committing defenders, or perhaps someone capable of smashing one in from distance.
Ideally, you want players possessing more than one of those attributes.
West Ham don’t appear to have that player.
Divin Mukasa might eventually provide some of it. I don’t know because I’ve not seen enough of him.
Arne Engels may develop into an excellent player too, and I’m certainly not writing him off after one Championship appearance.
But when you spend £22million on a creative midfielder, I want to see something immediately which makes me sit up.
A touch, a pass, a piece of vision. Something which makes you think: “Wow, did you see that?”
I didn’t see it against Charlton.
Perhaps Engels will eventually provide it, but right now I still think West Ham are missing a genuine lock-picker.
Nuno Isn’t Getting Enough From Bowen
Individual ability is only part of it anyway.
The manager’s job is to create a tactical structure which gets the best from those individuals, and I’ve thought for a long time that Nuno doesn’t know how to get the best from Jarrod Bowen.
There were moments during the second half against Charlton when Bowen got his tail up and suddenly looked like the highly effective operator we know he can be.
The more I watch him under Nuno, the more I’m starting to attribute Bowen’s reduced effectiveness to the manager.
The same applies elsewhere.
Manor Solomon is a talented footballer. Kyle Walker-Peters is a good player. Bowen is undoubtedly good enough.
I simply don’t believe all these players suddenly can’t be bothered.
Which brings us to man-management.
West Ham don’t look motivated.
They don’t look like a band of brothers. They don’t look like players busting a gut for their manager.
Of course the players themselves deserve criticism. They’re professional footballers and have responsibility for their performances.
But motivating them is also part of Nuno’s job.
I don’t think he’s an inspiring manager and I’m seeing very little evidence that these players are desperate to play for him.
Nuno does not seem to know how to get the best out of Jarrod Bowen
Where Are The Patterns Of Play?
Perhaps my biggest tactical concern is that I don’t see recognisable attacking patterns.
Watch really well-coached teams and you’ll repeatedly see certain moves. A player receives the ball, another makes a particular run, someone overlaps and one action triggers another.
It’s almost like a playbook.
Football obviously isn’t the NFL or basketball. The game doesn’t stop every few seconds to allow somebody to call the next play.
But good football coaches still drill attacking combinations into their players.
I don’t see that with West Ham.
There doesn’t appear to be a plan for consistently working the ball down one side, creating an overload and opening the opposition up.
West Ham Have No Pace And Not Enough Leaders
Then there is the recurring recruitment blind spot.
Pace.
I know I sound like a scratched record, but West Ham never recruit enough of it.
Yes, we’ve occasionally had individual quick players. Crysencio Summerville was fast. Solomon has pace.
That’s not the point.
We’re competing against teams where sometimes four, five or six of the quickest players on the pitch are wearing the opposition shirt.
We don’t even contest that battle.
West Ham need pace in attack to stretch teams and pace defensively to recover when those same teams counter.
We’re nowhere near it.
The warning signs were already there when Nuno surrendered the initiative against Burnley, and they became impossible to ignore against Charlton.
Leadership is another concern.
I’ve already said I think Bowen is our best player but shouldn’t necessarily be captain. West Ham should have used this summer to bring big characters into the dressing room.
Instead, we’re still lacking leadership both on the pitch and, increasingly, off it.
Who At West Ham Is Going To Make The Decision?
This is where things become complicated.
Vanessa Gold is attempting to sell her shareholding. Amanda Staveley is trying to buy it and the existing shareholders are currently considering their positions.
The battle involving Staveley, Gold and Křetínský remains unresolved, which hardly provides the stable backdrop West Ham need.
I don’t imagine Gold is sitting there thinking her priority is deciding whether Nuno remains West Ham manager when she is attempting to exit the club herself.
Then there’s Křetínský.
He’s dealing with the ownership situation, rarely attends matches and, as far as we know, has never demonstrated any desire to own more than half the club.
Neither Vanessa Gold or Kretinsky live & breathe West Ham. Was either at yesterdays game?
But retaining Nuno was his decision.
Eventually that decision has to reflect on him.
Sullivan shouldn’t escape criticism either. His recent managerial appointments played a significant role in putting West Ham where we are today.
So who at the football club is watching what is happening and preparing to make the difficult decision?
That’s what concerns me.
I have very little faith that anybody currently running West Ham has identified the next exciting, progressive coach, let alone has plans to appoint him.
Good Players Will Only Get West Ham So Far
I’ve lost the hope that one more signing will suddenly transform everything.
West Ham do have good players and those players will win football matches.
Keeping someone as good as Bowen should ensure we win plenty.
But individual quality can only take you so far.
Good players might win enough games to ensure West Ham don’t end up in a relegation battle, but Nuno’s tactics will cost us enough points to prevent promotion.
And promotion is supposed to be the objective.
That’s why this becomes a question of when rather than if.
I don’t believe Nuno lasts the season.
If that’s correct, why waste it?
Around 50,000 supporters bought season tickets this summer on the back of hope. Relegation was supposed to provide a reset and perhaps even an opportunity to enjoy watching West Ham again.
The expectation wasn’t unreasonable.
Turn up at the London Stadium, watch some attacking football and hopefully see the Hammers competing for promotion.
Instead, David Sullivan is still sitting in the directors’ box, the ownership remains unresolved, the rebuild looks incomplete and the football remains stale.
So does the manager.
West Ham Can’t Waste This Opportunity
West Ham need somebody vibrant who embraces the opportunity this division presents.
I want an attacking coach rubbing his hands together at the prospect of having Bowen, Solomon and the other talented players at his disposal.
I want somebody trying to win games rather than trying not to lose them.
Most importantly, I want a coach who looks capable of building something.
Right now, I don’t see preparation, motivation or enough tactical invention from Nuno’s West Ham.
The players don’t appear to be enjoying themselves and I see very little on the pitch to suggest whatever is happening at Rush Green is working.
Perhaps Nuno feels secure enough to ask supporters for more patience as he did yesterday.
I’ve run out.
The club stated that promotion back to the Premier League was the goal. If they’re serious about that, they need to zoom in rather than out.
Look closely at the performances. Look at the tactics. Look at the motivation. Look at whether our best players are actually being improved by this manager.
I don’t expect everybody to agree with me.
But I’ve seen enough.
West Ham had an opportunity to reset this summer and retaining Nuno was a mistake.
His time is up.
All too late. Change now is going to make no difference because cannot change squad. We had 4 attackers on all game yesterday and added more when we took Scarles off. If teams come and sit (as Charlton did and everyone else will) then pace is irrelevant going forward as no space to run into – agree we need some at the back but neither goal yesterday came from that or against Burnley. We need to make the bowl intimidating and booing the players does nothing other than inspire the opposition. Nuno is what we have – we need to support and make our place intimidating which 50,000 mad hammers should do! I pray we add 4-5 championship quality players by next weekend then give it a good go. There are lots of faults but changing manager is not the answer nor is criticising players who clearly lack confidence.
Exactly what some of us have been saying for the last 8 months at least. The only thing that will make something happen is a few more bad results. The problem there is that the top is as clueless as the bottom and so the chances of success are remote.
Gonzo, yes, yes and yes. I gave Nuno until Christmas and now adjusted that to end of September. The 3 things for me are, don’t seen to get players motivated. Needs to take the Captains arm band away from Bowen and do something about that defence!
Nuno joined in September 2025, we were 19th. He improved the team by 1 place. A shocking decision not to sack him. Unlike the morons who wanted Moyes out, I shall tell you who I’d bring in. Kieran McKenna. Someone who knows how to get promotion from the championship. The longer Nuno stays, the less chance we have of saving the season. Villa went down 10 years ago, it took them 3 seasons to come back. That’s where we are heading.
Completely agree with everything you wrote, and let’s be honest it’s not as if the manager hasn’t been given enough time, he’s time is most definitely up ⚒⚒
Spot on Gonzo.I was quite happy to give Nuno another chance especially when over the summer he came out declaring he wanted to stay because he wanted to get West Ham back up in the premier league again.
Now after only three games i say get rid and get someone fresh in.
Yes sadly all true, just don’t see where we are going right now except last season with a worse defence.
Just not getting a serious dominant CB in before the start of the season is such an obvious mistake. Kilman has lost it and he won’t get it back being first choice with a partner who needs a dominating fellow CB. Took Mavropanos backwards to before Disasi when he was a liability too.
The lack of pace, energy and creativity is palpable. Then the tactical errors of playing players in the wrong positions.
A non penalty taker having an awful game taking the penalty and missing sums up a team lacking focus and discipline.
I thought NES would be tactically understandable and play fast energetic football instead I don’t really know what he’s trying to achieve.
Agree with every word.
Well said, totally agree – Nuno must go ⚒
Good article Gonzo. At the time Sulivan took a backward step the fact that Kretinsky stepped forward and gave Nuno the biggest vote of confidence was such a massive disaster amongst the good news.
I don’t have any confidence in Koppen as he seems to be trying to sign players that are already well known or only something to do with his nationality or previous places of work. Belgium, Scotland or Scandinavia. Whilst it’s not as sinister as Sullivan going to Salthouse and Silkman it has a smell of that..
Continuity was what was asked and is what we have got! Very clever and sadly very true
Please sack him asap
I believe our biggest problem is not lack of creativity – it is the total lack of any movement.
Bowen, Solomon has some creativity and can take the opposition on – but all we seem to produce is individual quality, and it’s not too many times per game where either manage to drible off 3-4 opposition players AND end up in a shooting position.
Engels did not impress yesterday- but even if he did; who would he have a great creative pass to? There are no runs into the box. There are no opposite movement, no one creates space or runs into it.
So what do we do? We give the ball to our creative players who can try to take the whole opposition team on, or pass sideways or backwards (it wouldn’t matter if it was JWP or Ødegård…)
Well said Gonzo Didn’t want Nuno back in the first place, why does he persist in playing this goal keeper and keeping the best on the bench
Areola would have kept both of them goals out
And that’s just position no1
Funnily enough, I’ve almost forgotten all about Areola because he won’t play I guess.
Maybe he’ll leave this week.
Prior to relegation there were articles showing a happy band of brothers in training including Nuno.
This was prior to the Sullivan/Gold/Ketinsky/Staverley shares situation.
With combination of relegation/shares a dark cloud has formed over club.
Plenty of hope and promises but nobody really knows what outcome will be.
This uncertainty is bound to affect players surprised anybody wants to join.
Nuno makes things with his tinkering/no emotion on line/set in his ways bring back Paco.
He’s got his main man by his side/agreeing players to be signed but don’t know what to do with them.
Disasi not coming back is a broken cog that needs fixing not just lost one player but Mavro as well.
Stagnation has created a bunch of players that need to be turned into a pacy team.
Koppen and Ben Chorley have been a waste of money doing nothing that couldn’t have been done without them.
Totally agree Gonzo
It is indeed time the Board looked beyond Nuno.
Eddie Howe springs to mind and is available.
As are others.
If it’s left too long there will be no turning back and mediocrity is all we will get.
As mentioned we also need a Captain that actually captains.
Bowen is a fine player but not a Captain.
Gets some pace in the team and please sort out the defence.
I could go on but I will run out of room.
Massive lack of leadership on the pitch mate.
100% agree. Well argued.
They’re a team that struggled to play technical “continental style” football last season in the premier league. They are now a team that still can’t play it in a division that doesn’t even require it. In fact when you watched Charlton yesterday they set out from the start exactly what they were all about. Pace and more pace on the wings with brute strength in the middle. It’s like bringing a chess board to a boxing match and we’ll see it all season unless we stop with the over passing and get on with being direct.
I’m becoming an old fossil now, but I remember how we used to play it in this division in the 90’s. It was pretty much everything down the wings, maybe a few ball’s in the channels. Overlaps between winger and fullback, and crosses either early or in from the touch line from the likes of Breaker. When the ball did come into central midfield, there was no mucking about with it, it either went straight back out to the wing or was switched almost immediately. It’s not just us, it’s a large percentage of the premier league that have this approach, they just do it far better. All we do is compress play so that there is no room to really break the lines or run into spaces. We have to start playing ball’s early. Every single time either Bowen or Soloman was given the ball they were stood up by fullbacks. The ball has to go in behind the full backs to get them running backwards. Simples
It’s old fashioned but I bet defenders hate it.
Great piece.
Can’t disagree with any of the points made.
Cheers Phil.
Often see things a bit differently from you, but thanks for the article because sadly it reflects a lot of what I am thinking. Including that I was looking forward to watching WHU do well in the championship, a tough and demanding league.
Also, seeing unmotivated players at the start of a season… anyhow, no point going through the list.
There is enough in this team to do a lot better, but NES also needs a reset. Not a fan of his, but I would hope that he fixes various problems and we can cheer the team on. Miracles can happen, but I think the title of your article sums it up really.
Its been said all morning NUNO has to go. He was a goal keeper in his playing days so his mindset has always been to keep to ball out of the net defend defend defend. He has’nt got any attacking football ideas in his brain. He’s lost the dressing room which has been obvious in Bowen’s loss of form since early last season and how many players have become disilutioned and wanted out of the club since his reign, loads. The players that have come in are very good quality players that can push us towards promotion but they need to be under the right manager and Nuno isnt that man.
100 percent agree Gonzo Spot on Well written I fill every W Ham fan will agree with that
Cheers Mick.
Two games into a very long season an you want change already, *************. Confidence is what’s needed not negative reactions, west ham are notorious for slow season starts, been watching since 67 nothings changed, couple of wins and we’ll be ok. Now if that doesn’t happen change the manager in November for who I don’t know. Carrick probably.
Hes Man U manager mate
Not 2 games, it’s been since he set foot in Rush Green. Dreadful manager, no man management skills and tactically inept. Needs to be shown the door today!
You’re really going to have to drop the personal insults if you want to post on here.
By all means argue with the individual points but I’m not here to be called names or told where to go.
Incredibly rude way to communicate.
We had another slow season start last season too. Look what happened! So the muppet might be you, Steven. Waiting until November to change the manager would most likely be too late to make a charge for direct promotion. I don’t think you are on the ball at all. Read the room!
Think you probably mean Scott Parker. Someone who at least got Burnley playing good football. Maybe he would be alright with better players, who knows