[West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-exclusive-nuno-espirito-santo-set-to-be-named-west-ham-manager/) are in trouble, no question. Fourth manager in just over a year. Rooted to 19th place like an insect on sticky fly paper, the Hammers looked just as doomed right now. The only blessing is that this is all still nine games into a season which doesn’t end until May.
Last night will have chilling reminders of Lopetegui’s chaotic selections that saw the Hammers routed. The only reason the score remained ‘respectable’ was though our opponent’s shortcomings. The main worry is the head coach selecting ‘that’ eleven and making the half time changes he did, clearly made judgements that Scarles should play on the right, that Todibo and Kilman was a ‘solid’ pairing and that Irving in a midfield was preferential to Magassa.
Plus the introduction of a half time trio of defenders and a switch to five at the back – with a one man midfield. Beyond me. And don’t even start me on Guido Rodriguez.
West Ham’s horror show was down to the coach, not lack of squad depth
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Just about any group of West Ham fans who’ve watched a game or three could have picked a better starting eleven. And whilst there’s no decent striker, the rest of that circus-like performance is on the manager. Of course, the defenders were woeful. Kilman and Todibo have been leaking goals since forever. But without a credible midfield shield – back to Lopetegui again.
If that is Nuno Espirito Santo’s proffering then West Ham look doomed, January window, or no January window. No amount of the inevitable ‘_we must try harder’_ platitudes from the players that will come out today will do anything to arrest the fears that West Ham United football club feels like a burning bomber in a headlong dive that is starting to gather pace.
Whilst the ground may still be a long way off, without a strong, focussed, brave hand pulling upwards on the controls for the next seven months the Irons look set for a messy end in May. And on that showing, Nuno and his coaching team clearly don’t look like theyr’e up to it. Normally these ‘morning after’ articles allow me to find some perspective and at least one positive to pull out of the ‘night before’.
Today, I have nothing. Except Leeds await in three days time. And it cannot, possibly, get any worse. Can it?