It looks like all systems go for Nuno Espirito Santo as West Ham fans turned on Graham Potter during yet another defeat, this time to Crystal Palace.
The Hammers have won just twice at the London Stadium since Graham Potter was appointed back in January.
A 2-1 defeat to the Eagles made it five defeats from six games for West Ham this season.
The result, hot on the heels of the 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Spurs last weekend, leaves Potter on the brink if reports leading up to the game are to be believed.
It has been widely reported that Palace was a must-not-lose for Potter to remain Hammers boss.
Nuno Espirito Santo has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Potter at West Ham.
It looks like all systems go for Nuno Espirito Santo at West Ham
It was claimed earlier this week that Nuno wants the West Ham job.
That in itself is quite the achievement given the mess he would be inheriting in east London.
Hammers News exclusively revealed on the eve of the game that West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady held talks with Nuno Espirito Santo and his representatives this week.
In a huge twist, former Forest boss Nuno was then pictured near David Sullivan’s Essex mansion after those talks.
West Ham fans lined the street to the director’s entrance to protest against West Ham’s owners before the game.
Videos show the turnout for West Ham’s protest against the board.
West Ham fans made a point, both in a statement ahead of the protests and with their actions as the team bus drove past them, that they are still behind the team.
The mood shifted dramatically during the defeat to Palace, though.
Now it looks all systems go for Nuno Espirito Santo as West Ham fans turn on Potter.
The under-fire manager has been given plenty of grace to get West Ham moving in a positive direction.
Patient West Ham fans turn on Graham Potter in Palace defeat
The Tottenham surrender saw Potter heavily criticised and now the home fans have fully turned on the ex Chelsea boss.
After a series of mass exoduses from the stadium during Potter’s tenure, boos rang out again at half-time with West Ham trailing 1-0 to yet another goal conceded from a corner.
Jarrod Bowen gave the Hammers some hope by equalising in the second half.
But West Ham conceded another soft goal from a defensive perspective as Tyrick Mitchell was afforded all the time in the world to smash home at the far post.
With the Hammers chasing the game, Potter subbed on Niclas Fullkrug for Callum Wilson. The immobile German made West Ham worse, offering next to nothing where at least Wilson had a semblance of pace.
That irked the home fans, who then vocalised their discontent when Potter inexplicably brought off two of West Ham’s best players, Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville at the same time.
Potter was jeered by the home fans for the changes.
West Ham supporters then chanted “You don’t know what you’re doing” at the beleaguered boss.
That was followed by Hammers fans joining in chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning”.
Potter looked a beaten man as he left the field.
Hammers fans make feelings clear about owners and manager
If the reporting around the subject is anything to go by, Potter will be gone by Monday – proving Paul Merson’s pre-match prediction correct.
That could see Nuno take over ahead of daunting back-to-back away trips to Everton and Arsenal.
Many have reservations that Nuno’s style is similar to that of former Hammers boss Moyes.
It was something many fans wanted to move away from.
Incompetence from the board since means the wrong choices have been made in order to progress with a more modern approach.
Palace are proof that can be done, as Oliver Glasner is proving in south London.
At this stage, it may not matter what Nuno’s style is if he can turn the sinking West Ham ship around.
