For the second time in just four days, West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo is set for an emotional reunion with a former employer. But after a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday, his next encounter—against Nottingham Forest—could have fatal consequences for his tenure at the London Stadium and for the club's Premier League survival hopes.
A Relegation Battle Reaches Crisis Point
A loss against Forest would leave West Ham a daunting seven points from safety in the Premier League table. It could also see Nuno achieve an unwanted distinction: becoming the first manager to oversee two different clubs in a single season where each employs three separate managers. Forest reached that mark by the end of October.
Despite Forest's own poor return of zero points from four festive fixtures—one point fewer than West Ham's—their manager Sean Dyche, appointed for his perceived similarities to Nuno, has them closer to securing their top-flight status. For Nuno, whose achievements in guiding both Wolves and Forest to seventh-place finishes made him a hero in the Midlands, 17th place with West Ham would now look like a significant achievement.
Systemic Failure and Baffling Decisions
The scale of West Ham's problems was laid bare at Molineux. The 3-0 capitulation doubled Wolves' points total for the season and stands as arguably the worst result and performance by any team this campaign. It prompted a public apology from Nuno to the travelling supporters.
His rushed appointment by West Ham, coming just 18 days after his departure from Nottingham Forest, appears an increasing error in judgement. The manager, known for building cautious and canny teams, seems to have abandoned his own principles. His tactical choices have bewildered fans and pundits alike.
Using inverted full-backs early in his tenure was bizarre, and despite a proven record of getting strikers to score—evidenced by his work with Chris Wood—he has repeatedly fielded sides without a recognised number nine. His reputation for defensive solidity has evaporated: West Ham have conceded 28 goals in his 15 games in charge, averaging nearly two per game, and have kept no clean sheets. Their only shut-out all season came against his former Forest side.
Questionable Squad Management and a Wasted Legacy
While giving youth a chance in Freddie Potts is commendable, Nuno's decision to exile set-piece specialist James Ward-Prowse looks a major mistake, robbing West Ham of a potential route to salvation. Meanwhile, the club's recruitment has been spectacularly mismanaged.
The nine-figure windfall from the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal has been squandered. Signings like Edson Alvarez (now loaned out), the overlooked Ward-Prowse, and Mohammed Kudus (sold to Tottenham) have failed to solidify the squad. Flagship 2024 arrival Niclas Fullkrug has also been sent out on loan. In total, around £400 million has been spent in two-and-a-half years, leaving a disjointed mishmash of players bearing the fingerprints of multiple managers and directors of football.
The club now lacks the spirit and resilience shown by rivals like Leeds United. With no win in nine matches and just one point from the last five available, the situation under Nuno is deteriorating. West Ham, a club whose past relegations have been described as both embarrassing and avoidable, are now in pole position for another catastrophic drop, seemingly blind-sided by their own decline and the resurgence of others.
