Leading pundit Jamie Carragher says new coach Paco Jemez, rather than Nuno Espirito Santo, can be the big difference in West Ham pulling off a great escape this season.
West Ham have been the main protagonists in making sure there is a proper Premier League relegation battle this season.
That is an achievement of sorts, especially if the Hammers go on to survive come what May.
Because at the start of the year, West Ham found themselves cut effectively eight points adrift of Nottingham Forest and 12 off Spurs.
Carragher says Jemez key to West Ham survival not Nuno
Now the Irons are level with Forest and one point off Spurs going into the Premier League run-in.
There have been a number of reasons for West Ham’s resurgence under Nuno Espirito Santo following a difficult start to his tenure when he took over from the hapless Graham Potter.
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He's certainly made a big impact…
Paco Jemez the manager of Rayo Vallecano reacts during the La Liga match between RC Celta de Vigo and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Abanca Balaidos Stadium on May 18, 2019 in Vigo, Spain.
But Jamie Carragher says new coach Paco Jemez can be key in keeping West Ham up instead of Nuno.
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Crysencio Summerville, Mads Hermansen, Mateus Fernandes, a vast improvement in the club’s centre-backs, the signing of Axel Disasi and the workrate of striker arrivals Valentin Castellanos and Pablo have been credited with West Ham’s rejuvenation.
Paco Jemez looks on during West Ham United's Premier League game against Bournemouth.
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The penny dropping for the players as to what Nuno wants from his side has also been highlighted as key to the turnaround.
But Carragher believes it is the arrival of Paco Jemez as Nuno’s new assistant which has had the biggest impact behind the scenes at West Ham from what he has heard and seen.
Carragher has played down the impact of Taty Castellanos and Pablo.
No-nonsense Jemez has become a cult figure already with West Ham fans.
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Especially after Jemez read the riot act to Nuno on the touchline over his tactics.
Nuno wanted to bring on Max Kilman to see out a game and Jemez revealed after that he was telling the head coach a more attacking sub would be better.
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Jemez has been credited with helping improve West Ham defensively from an organisational perspective.
His teams, including former club Ibiza, are known for their solid but attacking play.
And Carragher believes Jemez’s attack-minded philosophy has been the key, especially in unlocking the talent of Summerville.
Paco Jemez and Nuno Espirito Santo embrace after West Ham United draw with Manchester City in the Premier League.
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
“Yeah, I can (see West Ham getting out of relegation trouble),” Carragher said on Sky Sports, which you can see in full below.
“And there has been a real upturn. It took a while to get going under Nuno. I think a lot has been made of what they did in the January transfer market in bringing the two strikers in.
“I don’t think they’ve been that special, it’s more from the wide players in Jarrod Bowen and Summerville on that left-hand side.
“Obviously a lot has been made about a coach (Jemez) I think who has come in under Nuno as well. An attacking coach and he’s had, I think, a big impact on West Ham and the fact that they’ve now actually got a fighting chance.”
Ironically, Carragher said he felt West Ham would be ok after watching their 5-2 defeat to his old club Liverpool recently.
The Reds legend said the Hammers did not deserve to lose that game and were the better side, something most observers – and the stats – concurred with at the time.
That was one of only two defeats the Hammers have suffered in 12 games since January 6th.
If that form continues, Carragher’s prediction that West Ham will stay up will be proved correct.
And Jemez will be cemented as a true Hammers hero.
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