‘Shellshocked’ Nuno Espirito Santo sack decision made after apology to West Ham bosses
Nuno Espirito Santo apologised to his bosses at West Ham after the latest result heaped even more pressure on his job.
His former side Wolves beat a miserable West Ham 3-0 at Molineux on Saturday despite being winless and on three points for the season heading into the game, and he also apologised to supporters post-match.
Despite a deal lined up to bring Taty Castellanos to West Ham after the arrival of Pedro the dismal result has only added to speculation that Nuno would be relieved of his duties at the London Stadium.
Slaven Bilic was close to getting the job when the Portuguese was appointed and is believed to be ready to take over if a change is made, with Nuno in danger of losing the West Ham dressing room.
West Ham back Nuno Espirito Santo despite Wolves collapse
According to The Sun, Nuno was “shellshocked” by his team’s performance against Wolves and offered an apology to his Irons bosses.
Those in charge at West Ham are said to be “dismayed” by the situation under the 51-year-old but do not want to sack a second manager this season.
Instead they are “keen” to back him in the January transfer window, with Nuno “desperate” to add a central defender to his attacking recruits.
West Ham are separately pursuing a move for Adama Traore, to reunite Nuno with his former Wolves charge from Fulham.
Pablo and Taty Castellanos under huge pressure
David Sullivan is taking a huge risk in retaining Nuno and spending £50million-plus backing him this month.
In the modern culture of hiring and firing it could be seen as commendable to buck the trend and give a manager time, especially since the former Forest and Wolves boss has proved himself before in this league and hasn’t had a transfer window to alter a squad that has proven itself badly lacking.
But with the Irons chief there’s too often a suspicion that he’s letting the status quo play out through indecisiveness or to protect how things look, rather than what will work.
Clearly, it won’t be long until it would be impossible for Bilic or whoever else to get any signings of their own, and if results don’t improve it won’t be long before the damage is irreversible anyway.
So January signings have a huge task on their hands to adapt instantly and have a transformative effect which, given neither Pablo or Castellanos have Premier League experience, is certainly not a given.
West Ham already have an appalling success record with signing forwards and the circumstances seem so far off what would be ideal for the next two attempts to thrive that if they manage to do so it will be a massive achievement.
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