West Ham, battling near the foot of the table, intends to stand by head coach Nuno Espirito Santo and support him when the transfer window reopens. The Portuguese manager, who previously led Wolves, Tottenham, and Nottingham Forest, arrived on 25 September to replace Graham Potter.
Nuno’s reign began with four matches without success before a period of improvement followed, losing only once in six outings. That progress has stalled again, with three consecutive defeats leaving them third from bottom, five points behind Forest and seven away from Leeds.
The threat of falling out of the Premier League for the first time in 14 years has heightened scrutiny. The club’s move to the London Stadium in 2016, with its 62,500 capacity, was thought to drastically reduce the chance of a drop by boosting income.
Even so, internal voices insist the coach retains their trust and are optimistic he can alter the trajectory with squad adjustments. There is a determination to secure funds for reinforcements, though uncertainty surrounds whether that could mean parting with Lucas Paqueta, who remained at the club after a blocked summer departure.
Defensive troubles and on-field setbacks
A recent late setback against Fulham underlined the problems. An error from Ollie Scarles allowed Harry Wilson to deliver for Raul Jimenez, who struck in the 85th minute to seal defeat. Nuno reflected afterwards that the team had built momentum and looked poised to score before being punished at the end.
He described the reaction from the stands and the side’s intensity as encouraging but stressed accountability extends across the entire group. The coach also pointed to the limited turnaround time ahead of the next fixture as the focus shifts to responding collectively.
Defensive lapses have been a recurring issue throughout the campaign, and the failure to eradicate them leaves Nuno with the poorest statistical return of any West Ham manager in the Premier League era so far. His average stands at 0.77 points per match.
Although that figure is bleak, circumstances offer some explanation. He took over a squad already low on belief and leaking goals. West Ham have managed just one clean sheet in the league this season, underlining that the structural problems predate his arrival.
Context, fixtures and historical concern
Since Nuno’s appointment, only Burnley and Wolves have accumulated fewer points. Across his 13 league matches, West Ham have struck 14 times and conceded 23. The squad is a blend of signings made for Julen Lopetegui and then Potter, with the new coach yet to shape the team through his own recruitment.
Upcoming fixtures could define the season. Brighton awaits on 30 December, followed by games against Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, Tottenham, and Chelsea before heading to Burnley on 7 February. Those results may determine not only West Ham’s prospects but also the mood towards Nuno internally.
A fall to the second tier would carry significant financial consequences despite the stadium rent dropping to £2m if relegated. The broader monetary picture would be heavily damaged by losing Premier League status.
West Ham’s current haul of 13 points from 18 games equals their lowest total at this stage since 2010-11, when they ended the campaign at the bottom. Nuno will be afforded the chance to change course, but precedent provides little comfort as the pressure grows.
