West Ham’s Rocky Start: Nuno Espírito Santo Takes the Helm
West Ham’s challenging start to the season took a dramatic turn when they parted ways with Graham Potter after just five Premier League matches, leaving the Irons languishing in 19th place. On September 26, Nuno Espírito Santo stepped into the hot seat, ready to guide the team through turbulent waters. His first true test came just three days later at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
A Draw Against Everton: A Mixed Blessing
The match against David Moyes’s Everton ended in a 1-1 draw, which at least spared West Ham from a third consecutive loss. However, few would consider this result a tactical triumph. First impressions are crucial—let’s hope Nuno doesn’t view a draw with Everton as his crowning achievement!
Midfield Selection Raises Eyebrows
Before the whistle blew, questions arose about Nuno’s midfield selection. Summer signings Soungoutou Magassa and Mateus Fernandes were tasked with anchoring a double pivot, while experienced player James Ward-Prowse was surprisingly left out. This decision contrasted sharply with Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and James Garner, who looked like a well-established pairing, leaving Magassa and Fernandes to chase shadows as Everton took control of the midfield tempo.
Struggles Up Front for Niclas Füllkrug
Up front, Niclas Füllkrug found himself isolated. Now into his 25th appearance for West Ham, the German striker has managed only three goals—none so far this season. A brief 20-minute flurry of activity did lead to Jarrod Bowen’s equalizer, yet Füllkrug struggled to stretch Everton’s defense, largely toiling without support.
Defensive Decisions Under Scrutiny
Defensively, the choice to position Fernandes on the left, tasked with covering El Hadji Malick Diouf’s forward runs, seemed logical. However, Everton’s primary threat came from Jack Grealish on that same flank. With a more combative Magassa left out wide on the opposite side, Grealish was granted too much freedom to orchestrate attacks and disrupt Kyle Walker-Peters. Although switching the two midfielders could have reduced Grealish’s impact, the change never materialized.
Signs of Promise Amidst Challenges
Despite these setbacks, glimmers of promise emerged. West Ham showed resilience by avoiding defeat for only the second time this season, and Bowen’s equalizer demonstrated that the squad’s spirit is not entirely extinguished.
Moving Forward: Opportunities for Improvement
Looking ahead, Nuno has several critical areas to address:
- Bolster Midfield Experience: Adding seasoned players to the midfield could stabilize performance.
- Inject Potency Up Front: Finding ways to enhance goal-scoring opportunities is essential.
- Tweaking Defensive Structure: A reevaluation of defensive strategies could yield better results.
If the midfielders don’t find their rhythm soon, Nuno might feel like a gambler chasing long odds—but even the most tenacious of players know when to adjust their stakes.