For West Ham United’s new head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, the task is perhaps all the more daunting. He inherits a team in the midst of a crisis that rests at the bottom of the Premier League table. Replacing Graham Potter, Nuno’s first home match in charge is set for Monday, October 20, against Brentford, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 PM. Amidst fears of a fan boycott, Nuno has called for supporters to fill the London Stadium and stand behind the team during this critical period.
The pressure continues to build for Nuno as West Ham’s form is far below par. The team drew against Everton in one of his first two matches but suffered a loss at Arsenal, leaving them in dire need of points. Looking to make it two wins from two against Brentford! The team’s recent success and passionate following no doubt will make it even more difficult.
Fan Sentiment and Potential Boycott
Once the players went down 3-0 to Manchester City earlier this season, West Ham supporters took their anger public, protesting outside the London Stadium. The supporters’ group Hammers United recently addressed their concerns in an open letter to Nuno Espirito Santo, emphasizing the necessity of retaining full support for the team. They reiterated that the decision to even discuss a boycott was not made easily, pointing to continued problems with club management.
“The decision to hold a boycott was not taken lightly, but we believe that given the serious nature of the damage that will continue to be inflicted on our club while [vice-chair Karen] Brady and [chairman David] Sullivan remain in place, it is a necessary and justifiable step that must be taken.” – Hammers United
Nuno will be keen to avoid this feeling, though, and will likely call for supporters to rally around the team. He voiced his hope for a full house, which he says makes a tangible difference to the players’ performance.
“I wish they’re all there, I wish,” – Nuno Espirito Santo
Building Relationships with Supporters
Nuno envisions creating a palpable emotional relationship between himself and the West Ham supporters. He wanted to inform his players on the current state of the fans’ feelings. In conclusion, he emphasized the necessity of closing any divides. By intentionally crafting a positive environment where players and staff can thrive, he hopes to make the club an attractive destination and therefore reverse the club’s recent woes.
“Like I said to you before, it’s up to us now to grow closer to the fans, to make them supporters and help us so we can change everything and become a real fortress.” – Nuno Espirito Santo
Keith Andrews, part of Nuno’s coaching staff, reiterated this sentiment by acknowledging the need for players to understand the fans’ perspectives. He pointed out that even though they need to stay disciplined about measuring their success, developing relationships with their supporters needs to be just as important.
“You need to understand every angle of it and I think we will do. We’ve introduced that to the players this morning and we’ll build that over the next few days going into the game.” – Keith Andrews
Looking Ahead
As Nuno Espirito Santo prepares for his first home match against Brentford, he aims to build on the lessons learned from his initial games in charge. His priority should be getting the most confidence into a talented squad as possible, though, and not pandering to the complaints of angry fans.
With West Ham languishing near the bottom of the league, fighting for survival, every point matters. That a win this evening against Brentford would almost certainly reverse the momentum for both Nuno and the club. Realizing this success requires pointed strategies and steadfast advocacy from you—our passionate, long-time members and supporters. These next few days will be very important to Nuno. His objective is not just to reverse West Ham’s current decline, but to restore faith among its fans.
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