Irrespective of whether West Ham United stay up or are relegated this season, there will need to be a serious inquest into why assistant manager Paco Jémez was not appointed sooner.
Of course, there are other issues that demand scrutiny too — such as how Graham Potter was allowed to remain in post for as long as he did, and why the summer transfer window saw key players arriving after pre-season, a problem that feeds directly into the wider failures of club recruitment.
But when it comes to Paco Jémez, the impact is impossible to ignore.
Since his arrival as the new right-hand man to Nuno Espírito Santo, West Ham have picked up three wins from four Premier League games — a dramatic turnaround compared to the relegation form that preceded it.
The question is no longer whether West Ham are improved with Paco in place.
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It’s whether it’s come too late.
Crysencio Summerville chips the ball into the Burnley goal
Summerville has been outstanding since Paco Jemez joined West Ham
The Improvement Is Obvious — So Why the Delay?
What’s clear to me is that had Jémez been in place for those crucial fixtures over Christmas, it’s unlikely we’d be staring at our current predicament.
Which begs the obvious question: why wasn’t he — or indeed anyone — appointed more quickly?
There are only two realistic explanations.
Either Nuno chose not to bring in an assistant immediately while waiting for the right man, or he simply wasn’t given the backing he needed from the board.
We’ll probably never know the full truth.
But the contrast between West Ham before and after Paco’s appointment is so stark that it deserves serious examination in the summer.
Because when one coaching change can spark such an obvious improvement, you’re left wondering just how many points were allowed to slip away while the club hesitated.