Determining exactly what the Nuno Espírito Santo era has brought to West Ham is ‘complicated’. The past five games have produced two draws, two wins and just the solitary loss to Liverpool. Which is a big improvement over the results of Nuno’s hapless predecessor.
Squad selection has played a huge part: Entrusting young players at key moments also separates Potter’s West Ham career from that of his successor. In three months, Nuno has used Freddie Potts, Callum Marshall, Soungoutou Magassa, Ollie Scarles and most recently Ezra Mayers – none of them over 22 and each stepping up with no shadow of inexperience clouding their performances.
But the eradication of the ‘cave-in’s – the four or even five goal avalanches that Moyes, Lopetegui and Potter suffered in turn – hints at something deeper. As the telegraph.co.uk write today, in their article entitled:
“West Ham have fresh hope of survival despite late heartbreak at Brighton”
They suggest that finally, there’s some backbone within Nuno’s side, be it through pride or self belief – which is likely to prove more important than individual player selection:
“There was still plenty about West Ham’s performance to suggest improvement. A little luck to go with their new-found steel should steer them away from danger.”
Nuno cannot impact the luck element or the useless VAR interactions. However, be it through his own coaching ethos or the sports psychologist involvement – the Hammers squad now looks more equipped to defy opponents and invoke some justifiable pride from their supporters once again.
As the telegraph article concludes:
“West Ham remain in the relegation places but can gaze higher playing like this.”
Far reaching consequences, not from player purchases at the cost of millions. Instead, from re-discovering good old fashioned east London spirit and a bit of spine. Enough of the draws, time for three points against Villa to really show that the corner has been turned.
Right now Villa are the form team of the Premier League and as such represent Nuno’s toughest match so far . I’ll be happy for Westham to get yet another draw . A win would be a real statement .
I like the optimism MT good signs indeed that we are harder to beat. We also blooded Kante against Utd to add to the other academy players and would suggest Ezra might have more minutes during the period of AFCON given Scarles is still injured.
The kids are against Colchester tomorrow and if they win that could be a chance to make it to Wembley this season.
Villa are playing great at the minute which means this will be a tough test but they are also going to be tired with a lot of hard games in their legs so let’s hope we can produce our best games of the season in the coming matches COYI !!!
Interesting article Martin
I think that in your turn of phrase the board “failed to read the room” when replacing Moyes – while fans did complain about us making e.g. Fulham look like Barcelona, what spelled the end of Moyes was the 4 or 5 goal beatings we started taking – so Nuno has done well on that score (fingers crossed for when we go to the Etihad)
Lopetegui and Potter both seemed to think that if they could improve possession stats then all would be forgiven
I will be happy if defensive tactics manage to save us from relegation – then we can look to reset next season
COYI
Three points against Villa, Martin? You really are a half glass full guy! I wish I could feel as confident but, even if we are leading with two minutes to go, Nuno would make a substitution to stuff it up again. Ok, maybe I’m a half glass empty guy, for now. But if Nuno can just believe that fortune favours the brave and therefore NOT take off our attacking outlets just to park the bus then we might actually manage to get three points in one game. Oh, and some extra shooting practice for Summerville might not go amiss either.
Stop surrending games before we have even started.
Don’t forget the 4 games that were 2 draw 3 pathetic defeats.
Youth,tokenism atm.
Go and watch the Colchestrr game and see for yourself how good they are.
Two draws and three defeats out of four games really does show you how far we have fallen.