After one of the most woeful performances that most have ever seen, Nuno Espirito Santo wasn't afraid to criticise the performance and understands why the fans are ‘concerned’.
His opening comments said: “difficult evening, and it’s going to be much harder. Nobody’s going to sleep today. And rightly so. It was not good enough… Was not good enough.”
Upon being asked about the substitutions he made, “Some of them not so good today, but it’s part of the challenge ahead.”
And despite the Leeds game being in such proximity, Nuno claimed “the good thing is it’s coming soon” and that “We have to show another face if you want of ourselves. We must improve so many things.”
It's obvious that the Hammers know they need to improve; the London Stadium managed to be more soulless than ever before, and over 20,000 season ticket holders would boycott the game.
Overlooking the boycott and Nuno’s comments, the pair of the central defenders on the night summarised why we’re in the situation we find ourselves… between £70-£80m for the pair, in which a total of three tackles were made between them… Kilman off, which would make a total of zero across the 90’.
Mavropanos, who’s been the best of a bad bunch in recent times, ended his cameo on a stretcher, which has subsequently left us with Brighton loanee, Igor Julio, as the only other senior defender we have.
The first half performance saw Walker-Peters and Scarles on opposite sides in comparison to their usual positions, which is something that the Hammers will have to succumb to in the near future, seeing as once AFCON comes around, Malick Diouf and Wan-Bissaka will be away, and no other options will be available.
Leeds away in now just three days time and there’s the overwhelming feeling of the inevitable… or is it just the persistent pessimistic mindset that Hammers fans have accumulated across the two years?
Comments
Bewildering really. The new
Bewildering really. The new back room staff are all Irons from the academy set up. I would have expected them to at least mark NES card. Especially where the false 9 set up at home and the 3 at the back crashed and burned.
Why was the accent on youth ignored to a lesser extent? Yes Scarles started, but on the wrong side. Potts never figured at all and Marshall was cannon fodder for near on 35 minutes.
It just doesn't add up. After last night I'm struggling to pick the team for Fri now myself. Only Bowen, Summerville can realistically guarantee a starting place for Leeds on Fri. Drop Pacqueta and keep Fernandes if he's struggling to get them both in the starting line up with the dreaded false 9. Utter shambles.....
Backroom staff
This is an interesting discussion. The spin from the BoM is that they know West Ham and can give advise on all members of the full squad.
I don't buy that. This is simply Sullivan doing it on the cheap. NES needs HIS team, people he trusts and have a track record of success.