On the journey home after West Ham United’s 2-0 loss to Brentford I was trying to digest what I had just witnessed. One shot on target cannot be described as progress compared to the previous game’s zero. Just four touches in the opposition box and a meagre 43.3% possession painted a portrait of a team struggling to find its rhythm, identity, and confidence.
The most glaring takeaway from the Brentford loss wasn’t just the lack of attacking threat, it was how disjointed the team appeared. Passes were misplaced, transitions were sluggish, and the attempt to play out from the back was quickly abandoned. When they did try, it often resulted in turnovers that left goalkeeper Alphonse Areola exposed and under pressure.
This wasn’t just a tactical failure, it was symptomatic of a deeper malaise.
The squad looked bereft of belief, and the cohesion that once defined West Ham under David Moyes has evaporated. Since Moyes’ departure, the club has undergone significant changes both in the dressing room and behind the scenes. But rather than ushering in a new era, these changes have left the team adrift like the Titanic heading straight for an iceberg.
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While the team struggled in the latter stages of Moyes’ tenure, and I won’t echo the media’s “be careful what you wish for” narrative, it’s hard to imagine any West Ham fan not longing for a ninth-place finish or even a chance at European football.
Manager Nuno Espírito Santo finds himself in a precarious, exposed position. Without a backroom staff of his choosing, he’s been forced to rely on academy coaches, from within the club. Football is ruthless, and the Premier League even more so. Nuno deserves the opportunity to build a support team that aligns with his philosophy and experience. With Sean Dyche’s imminent arrival at Nottingham Forest, there’s speculation that Nuno may reunite with former colleagues, potentially injecting some much-needed stability. What is certain is David Sullivan won’t be paying compensation to prise them away.
Nuno Espirito Santo gestures to his West Ham players
Nuno has a huge task at West Ham
Next up: Leeds United away. It’s a fixture that could either compound West Ham’s woes or offer a lifeline. Nuno now fully understands the scale of the challenge. Confidence won’t return overnight, it must be earned through results. But to get those results, the stats must shift dramatically. More shots, more possession, more presence in the box, these are non-negotiable if West Ham is to claw its way back from the brink.
The club’s current trajectory is unsustainable. The club needs clarity, leadership, and unity on and off the pitch. If not, the impact of this decline could be colossal. We the fans deserve better, and the players must rise to the occasion.
Many of us saw this coming last season, a 14th place finish only served to disguise the troubles that were about to unfold
The iceberg is looming. Whether West Ham steers clear or crashes headlong into disaster depends on what happens next.