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Defence vs Attack - Nuno's Issues Discussed

Submitted by Louis Nixon on Fri, 17/10/2025 - 08:05

Over the last season, it's been discussed amongst Hammers fans which is more of an underlying issue, whether it is the defence that needs more work than the attack. Or is it Vice-Verca?

The Hammers have conceded over 16 goals in the space of just 7 matches, totalling an average of 2.28 goals per game. To compare it to Sheffield United, who currently hold the worst record with 104 Goals conceded in a Premier League season, they averaged 2.73 goals per game.

In addition to the damning goals conceded stat, the Hammers have only shipped in a total of 6 Premier League goals this season, putting us just one above last placed Wolves [5]

Anyway, let’s not get bogged down with who put us in this position and how we so dreadfully ended up here.

Nuno’s culture at the club so far has been to get invested in everything the club participates in, making himself liked off the pitch, but on the pitch, it is always a more difficult task.

But, most recently, he’s exclaimed what the biggest ongoing issue is regarding the defence and the attack, putting the debate to bed.

“The team’s offence is not our priority at this time.”

“It’s no use increasing the number of goals scored if we do not radically reduce the goals conceded. We have a serious problem in dead-ball situations. The team concedes many goals and loses many first contacts.”

His play style goes hand in hand with his comments, and Nuno’s men can only hope to improve under new management, as well as in the series of upcoming games.

The Hammers are set to face Brentford at home on Monday Night’s Boycott, Leeds away, followed by two home fixtures against Newcastle and Burnley.

The real question lies within Nuno’s comments and asks the question, We’ve identified the problem, now what are we going to do to rectify it?

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'Striker Scuffles' As Hammers Linked To Ex-Premier League Striker

Submitted by Louis Nixon on Thu, 16/10/2025 - 07:58

Upon recent news of Nichlas Fullkrug receiving his now 3rd injury in the International break, it has sparked a debate amongst the club and how it is likely that the Hammers will look to sign another forward in January, seeing as we're currently down to just the Callums.

Nuno Espirito Santo has spoken to the club and said he'd like to look for a striker who is young and also hungry, which could become a prospect as time passes, a breath of fresh air for the West Ham fans seeing as all have relentlessly pressed the club about the targets we ultimately acquire instead of being after a rathe individual which we so desperately need.

Nuno had already fallen out of favour with Fullkrug, and throughout the Arsenal game, he was fairly replaced by Callum Marshall who made his debut for the club. Callum Wilson also doesn't appear to be in high favour of the Portuguese manager, which has been shown twice through his dismissal to use a player of his calibre, seeing as he typically prefers a bigger target forward. Though Marshall doesn't fit that description, Nuno made it known that his work ethic shown in training and throughout his arrival is what warranted his appearance.

The Hammers have recently linked themselves towards Ivan Toney, who has been said to be 'highly interested' in a move back to England, seeing as he's attempting to bolster his 2026 World Cup hopes and coming back to the Premier League would be his best way to achieve that in Tuchel's eyes.

Numerous clubs have declared interest in the Englishman, but a transfer could be difficult, seeing as most clubs either can't afford him or perhaps more simply, the managers aren't as interested as it doesn't fit their style of player, or that they've already got what they need.

Any deal that the Hammers have previously attempted with Saudi Arabia hasn't gone well, and usually, it's a difficulty due to the taxes that the players face once returning to England.

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'Tactic Tumble' As West Ham Test Cold Waters In Friendly

Submitted by Louis Nixon on Tue, 14/10/2025 - 09:25

Since the longing international break has occurred, Nuno has taken it upon himself to take charge in a pre-return friendly in which the Hammers suffered a defeat against Ipswich.

Whilst the scoreline isn’t publicly known, it was understood that it wasn’t a pretty scoreline or how the team played.

Nuno’s investigation decided to test the waters with a 3-4-3 formation, in which Igor-piggle lined up alongside Jean-Clair Todibo, and the final defender was one of the youth players.

JWP also featured in the fixture but who he was alongside was also unknown.

Hopefully, Nuno decided to test the prospect of a 3-4-3 formation in a friendly, and that’s the last the Hammers fans see of it this season. Graham Potter lost his job and ultimately put the squad in this position due to his stubbornness in change, and his eventual 4-2-3-1 formation he embodied was the only factor that led him to remain as long as it did.

Friendly’s typically result in managers attempting the unknown, but going off the pre-season that West Ham were subjected to, that can’t be said.

The likes of Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Mavropanos, Diouf, Wan-Bissaka, Hermansen, Soucek and Marshall all couldn’t have played in the friendly, seeing as they’re on international break, so you have to question who would’ve even started?

Maybe Micky from TNT returned despite cutting ties recently, or perhaps the clubhouse of loans returned to haunt the Hammers.

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International Injuries Hinder Hammers

Submitted by Louis Nixon on Mon, 13/10/2025 - 09:45

Nuno’s squad woes have worsened throughout the international break as Germany coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has confirmed that Niclas Füllkrug has suffered a muscle bundle tear in his thigh.

It appears to be a broken record every international break seeing as the Kraut always gets injured every international break.

The 32-year-old suffered the injury in training and will now probably be out injured for several weeks

The first victim to succumb to an injury under Nuno was an expected one. Fool-crook has only been an overwhelming disappointment since his arrival at West Ham. His highly anticipated arrival brought light to breaking the striker curse, but as matches have passed, the Kraut has slowly dwindled into another fallen soldier.

His petrichor pre-season under Graham Potter also reignited fans’ hopes, but as the Premier League season started, it became apparent that the level he demonstrated in the summer didn’t correlate come August as his soporific performances caused early nights.

Nuno Espírito Santo is now left with the Callums to help him drag West Ham out of the relegation zone and into a comfortable position.

It is expected that Callum Marshall will be the primary striker after Nuno’s promising comments on the Northern Irish international, with a potential debut start occurring in just seven days’ time

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Nuno's Backroom Staff Confirmed

Submitted by Louis Nixon on Sat, 11/10/2025 - 10:17

West Ham United have officially announced the backroom staff under Nuno Espirito Santo for his tenure at the club, with the Portuguese manager finalising his decision on the temporary staff given to him, and shockingly, he's taken on Mark Robson, Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville and Billy Lepine.

Mark, Steve Gerrard will be a first-team coaches, whilst Billy will be the goalkeeping coach.

Upon the confirmation of a permanent position, Nuno commented: "I am very happy that Mark, Steve, Gerard and Billy have agreed to continue in their positions permanently. They are a great asset: people who, beyond their knowledge and effort, feel for West Ham United".

Utilising a group of people for their knowledge about the club and the ideas about upcoming youth prospects will all come into play for the Hammers.

There are two sides to the situation, Nuno's hand that he was dealt ultimately ended up being as successful as he imagined it, and their first impact was enough for them to gain a full-time position, or perhaps Sully informed Nuno that he won't be buying any of his staff, seeing as it's too expensive, and ultimately was forced to use the youth srtaff.

However, despite whichever situation is the truth, having the academy coaching staff is a new angle that West Ham have never completely utilised and seeing the staff confirmed brings in a fresh feeling and thought process as to what Nuno could be doing for the Hammers

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Nuno's Comforting Welcome Rewarded

Submitted by Louis Nixon on Fri, 10/10/2025 - 09:43

Once the owners decided to make the rash decision to sack Graham Potter and hire Nuno Espirito straight away, it would be only just two days before our first fixture, in which both the Portuguese international and the club decided that it would be best to wait on confirming who would be Nuno's appui for the future.

To help him adapt to West Ham and also ensure that he wasn't sitting alone in the dugout at the Hill Dickinson, staff from West Ham U18s & U21s joined him to get him up to speed, give them their personal advice, as well as help him in training.

The nexility between the coaching staff and Nuno turned out to be evident, more specifically with West Ham U21 manager Mark Robson.

This isn't the first time that Mark Robson will be called upon for the first team, seeing as he was previously called up to assist David Moyes, so he'll be jumping right back into an environment that he's comfortable with.

Nuno is also planning to confirm the rest of his staff during the international break, meaning for the returning hot and sudorous boycott fixture against Brentford, the Hammers can hope to be best prepared as they attempt to hone in on their second win of the season.

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West Ham's Cowardly Manager Treatment

Submitted by Akira Andersson on Wed, 08/10/2025 - 09:35

Within the past four seasons, the Hammers have had four managers, and upon analysing the dismissal of David Moyes, Graham Potter and Julien Lopetegui, you can see a clear pattern that has occurred within the way their tenures at the club ended.

Upon the decision of David Moyes not to renew his contract on his own accord, contrary to what other pundits suggested about him being sacked, Moyes decided not to renew his contract due to his own decision, but why was the dismissal an ugly one?

Dithering Dave offered Moyes a new contract upon the club’s performance in the League, but three matches later, this was taken away due to the results achieved in just those three games alone. An action which doesn’t just demonstrate a lack of character, but more the way the club have no morality when it comes to concluding business and considering the origins of Dave, that goes hand in hand.

David Moyes was then offered a contract once again later on in the season, but after the initial behaviour from Sully as well as the accumulation of other events, he decided to move elsewhere.

The manager to follow after him was Julien Lopetegui. It was a rough stint for the Spaniard, and once again was an internal issue that was communicated appallingly. He was sacked in early January by Sullivan in he found out through the announcement by Sky Sports.

Whilst Football is a cruel game, Lopetegui was supposed to be ‘protected’ by the club whilst he suffered personal issues with his father, in which the so-called ‘care’ he received saw him suffer throughout his stint and was ruthlessly berated by the media through the club’s stubbornness to keep the Spaniard despite truly knowing it would result in his departure.

Graham Potter would also fall victim to the owners. Whether he did or didn’t deserve to be sacked, the manner in which it was conducted was nothing short of appalling, and despite being promised two further fixtures, after a mockery of a press conference that the Englishman had to endure, he was sacked in under 24 hours and replaced in under 6 hours.

Joe Cole also commented on Potter’s departure, suggesting “I don't believe the way that the club handled or treated Graham Potter was correct”

Pundits, fans, ex-managers and players all understand that managers are dismissed in an ugly and cowardly manner when it comes to West Ham, and it can only be suspected that it’ll never change under the PD.

Files, announcements and statements can all be kept, read and posted.

But as the clock ticks and the bells chime, who wishes to fight must first count the cost.

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