West Ham United’s current perilous situation is not the result of one bad season or one bad manager. It is the cumulative consequence of years of financial mismanagement, poor investment, bad transfer decisions and even worse managerial appointments.
The fact that Nuno Espirito Santo is doing his utmost to pull the club up by its bootstraps out of the relegation zone possibly – just – maybe – in the nick of time is incredibly fortuitous and certainly not down to any change of approach or input from the boardroom.
That appears to be the not – so – surprising conclusion from journalist Daniel Taylor writing in today’s nytimes.com.
Comparing the histories of relegation candidates West Ham, Spurs and Nottingham Forest, Taylor identifies the painful years of mismanagement of the trio that has led, gradually to this crisis point in each club’s history that could have far reaching consequences for the losers in this season’s relegation battle.
No need to rehash them all here: Hammers fans are only too familiar with the last decade’s many low points.
In West Ham’s case, Taylor wonders, like the supporters, whether the ownership are even willing to realise just what they’ve contributed to their own demise.
“Do the relevant people at West Ham understand that many of those protestors, wanting better for their club, make relevant criticisms?
Because if the answer is no, in any of these cases, they would be kidding themselves. And that is maybe the most important lesson for all of them here, unless the people in question are just going to continue making the same mistakes, over and over again.”
Which is probably the scariest part of the whole report. Even if Nuno’s side do manage to pull off the ‘great escape 2.0′, West Ham’s owners don’t appear to be listening.
Chances are they will carry on regardless next year with a repeat performance of the same misjudgements, mistakes and mismanagement in a footballing version of ‘Groundhog Day’ until their ineptitude finally succeeds in getting the club swept into the championship – or until change is forced upon them.
My goodness, I know that football fans are fickle.
But to label our fanbase as the worst, or reckon that Moyes contract wasn’t renewed because a portion of match going fans objected to his dull brand of football is frankly laughable.
Hammers fans are by nature outspoken, they shine the spotlight on any boards failings for as long as I can remember.
All we want, is to be the best version of ourselves!
Appoint a manager who aligns with our philosphy of how we perceive the game to be played. Provide him with players that can carry out that mandate.
Not hire managers who do not have an affinity with the club, or respect it’s traditions.
Appoint best in class professionals to oversee the football operation. Forward plan for outgoing players in advance and recruit like for like with a view to preserving the clubs DNA.
Caerns, Brown, Icelandics, GSK all have one thing in common.
Answers on a postcard ( ask your grandad)
Sounds good to me, DJH.
It should be all about us and nothing to do with financial speculators trying to turn us into the next great thing.
The West Ham United Vision. The West Ham Way. The best versions. Greenwood and Lyall timescales and success. (I would ask my Grandad but no need – I was there)
COYI
Mass tourism and new supporters who wanted it all now…Thats why Moyes was driven out..The chairman listened to his new bunch of supporters who spend on merch…And that was it..Game over Moyesey!
I think the board have to take responsibility for Moyes leaving. As a reward for continuing success he was offered a new deal in December 2023 which removed his final say over transfers. No decent manager is going to accept that
Ultimately it is too many poor managerial appointments and a poor, or simply lack of, transfer strategy that is our downfall. This, despite the increased revenue streams from the increased capacity and European campaigns.
With regards managers:
Grant – abject failure
Allardyce – success (promotion & established us in EPL)
Bilic – initial success (UP) but couldn’t get to grips with our move to LS and failed in Europe
Pellegrini – failed, despite a decent transfer budget
Moyse – success but left us with an aged, slow squad which was the start of the present problems.
Lopetegui – failure
Potter – failure
Nuno – ?? I’m hoping he becomes the next Moyes
At best you can say Sullivan has a 50/50 record (and that is being generous given he’s sacked 5/8 and says he doesn’t sack managers easily!)You can toss a coin and get that record! You need a minimum of 2/3 record and if you had that with our revenues and a properly thought out transfer strategy and recruitment team we would start realising our potential.
No chance of the above happening with Sullivan and Brady in charge.
I do think in the past, that DS tried with Pellegrini to take WHU into the big time. Then the club hired Steitden, which also did not work out. So perhaps this is evidence DS is willing to envisage progress in how club is run?
Now with NES and his favoured agent Jorge Mendes, alongside Max Hahn and as always DS, you MIGHT have a valid working relationship when it comes to recruitment, seeing arrival of Pablo & Taty as evidence of this.
If relegated and IF NES + Jimez stay, some players might be encouraged to stay as well (maybe 2 or 3 only), club would not need to enter the minefield of hiring a new manager and perhaps recruitment could function within limited financial means.
It is all a bit cobbled together and pie in the sky, but never know. NES does not seem to be a journeyman manager and might fancy alongside Jimez, a longer term appointment. At some stage, the board will have to face up to financial shortcomings i presume and work out a business plan or put money in, but I cannot say much as know nothing about it all.
Rubbish, it’s only since Moyes was hounded out, before that we had our best time for over 40 years or thereabouts. How quickly everyone forgets who caused the problem and it wasn’t the board.
I think you are confusing the general running of the busines which is hardly the fault of the fans and your Moyes agenda. If you are pro Moyes fair enough but remember he did well in spite of the board. The guy worked wonders under a difficult ownership.
Let’s not forget it was Sully who wanted something else in Pellegrini (ego signing) and it was Gold who fought for Moyes to return.
This board have somehow taken three years of European football and the Rice money and turned into a financial Armageddon inside a few seasons. Which is quite an achievement even for this lot.
Please give your head a wobble!
Only since Moyes’ contract ended?
Please watch the videos and read the statements made by these board members from the day the received the keys to the Boleyn ground.
After youve done the research, or remembered (post head wobble) what has and hasn’t occured, perhaps you’ll have a different perspective.
Honestly our biggest problem is our fans , they are by far the worst in the prem and probably deserve to go down.
I suppose its the fans fault we have the best training facilities in the league 😅
Ever been to or heard of Spurs?
or Arsenal fans booing their team off the pitch for having the temerity to lose a game at home 3-2 to Manchester United (despite being top of the league, in the Carabao Cup Final and the last 16 of the Champions league!!!)
I don’t know of ANY fans who would wear it as well we do given what we have had to endure