West Ham United had all they could handle at home against Brentford. Nuno Espirito Santo’s first home game as head coach and, as always, the pressure was on. The match coincided with a planned stay-away protest organized by supporters’ groups, reflecting the discontent surrounding the club’s board. Despite hopes that a managerial change from Graham Potter to Espirito Santo would turn their fortunes around, West Ham’s struggles persisted, leading to a disappointing defeat.
The mood at the London Stadium was truly somber. Hundreds of thousands of fans decided to stay away in protest at the board’s ill-fated decision-making. Now, after years of disastrous recruitment and administrative choices supporters are concerned. These problems, along with their erratic form, have seen West Ham unwillingly enduring their precarious position in the table thus far. As the team walked onto the pitch, they wanted to prove that they were playing with an energy and a spirit that comes with their fresh new manager.
The New Manager’s Optimism
The positivity shown by Nuno Espirito Santo prior to the match came across. He added that the team is in a good place in the days before the match. From his initial experience with the players, he saw a fierce drive. He ultimately hopes that this increased accountability will translate into stronger NFL performance on the field. Goalkeeper Michal Drobny has shown brittle skill value, but Tomas Soucek strengthened midfield by going back to the first show. He combined brilliantly with fellow summer signings Kyle Walker-Peters and Jean-Clair Todibo.
Though these alterations made a difference, West Ham failed to find any sort of rhythm or belief across the fixture. The root of the team’s persistent problems were laid bare as they took on a Brentford team that simply outmatched them everywhere on the field. Espirito Santo could feel very real concerns about the mood back home. West Ham faced a difficult time trying to out-connect their adversaries.
A Disheartening Performance
Yet the match did not take a turn for the worse for West Ham until just before halftime. Igor Thiago doubled the Bees’ lead in the 43rd minute, taking advantage of a defensive error to score from inside the box. Max Kilman misjudged a long ball poorly. This defensive error by West Ham gave Kevin Schade the room to run behind the West Ham defense and assist Thiago with a simple finish on goal. This marked Brentford’s 15th shot of the first half and highlighted West Ham’s ongoing defensive frailties.
The more time ticked away as the second half unfolded, the more Brentford looked in command. It wasn’t long before Kevin Schade went inches away from doubling the lead, hitting the woodwork and having another disallowed for offside. West Ham showed they did not have the ability to compete in the most important places. They were repeatedly bullied in duels and beat over 1v1 battles for possession. That lack of conviction on the ball showed as they failed to carve out clear cut chances.
Mathias Jensen capped off Brentford’s win in stoppage time with a low finish, capping a disjointed display from West Ham. This loss marked a worrying trend for West Ham. They had not lost five consecutive home matches since 1931, underscoring the severity of their current predicament.
The Road Ahead
After that loss, many are wondering if Nuno Espirito Santo can do anything to change West Ham’s luck. The issue is further complicated by years of needless staff and recruitment decisions that have left the team without a clear plan, vulnerable on all fronts. As they look back on this game, they know there must be sweeping reforms. These changes need to start both on the field and off the field.
Espirito Santo needs to address and resolve tactical problems directly. At the same time, he must work to foster a more welcoming environment for players and fans alike. Those are daunting tasks going forward and only some opportunism and quick homework will save West Ham from falling deeper into trouble this season.
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