Nuno Espirito Santo’s reaction when asked about his baffling West Ham team selections of late has spoken volumes about the problems at the club.
The Portuguese head coach looked visibly uncomfortable as he faced fair but tough questions over the utterly bizarre alterations he made to the West Ham side in defeats to Brentford and Leeds.
Nuno Espirito Santo experienced his first true grilling as Hammers boss when he faced the media ahead of Sunday’s clash with Newcastle.
A visibly irritated Nuno abruptly ended his West Ham press conference with a major statement.
But it was a spiky answer he gave to a reporter pressing him about his left-field selection decisions of late that provoked a very telling response.
Nuno gets first West Ham grilling over bizarre changes
The Hammers played relatively well in Nuno’s first two games at Everton and Arsenal.
Indeed West Ham arguably should have beaten Everton in a 1-1 draw while they were far more competitive and resilient in a 2-0 defeat at title favourites Arsenal.
What followed had Hammers supporters scratching their heads.
After 16 days with the majority of his squad – and a full four days training with all of them at the end of the international break – Nuno threw a series of curve balls.
Fans, pundits and journalists have been labelling West Ham the least athletic – and among the worst – sides in Premier League history.
Yet for damaging defeats to the Bees and Leeds, Nuno’s random changes included dropping some of West Ham’s best and most athletic, pacy players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa.
The Hammers boss also randomly started Andy Irving and suddenly brought young left-back Ollie Scarles in from the cold to play out of position at right-back.
When Nuno brought Wan-Bissaka back into the side he played him in central defence while fans were also gobsmacked by the decision to start both vital games without a striker.
It is fair to say every single change backfired.
Evidence of that came when Nuno was forced to make a host of changes at half-time in both matches when none of it worked.
The strange situation has alarm bells ringing among fans and even sparked some speculation Nuno may not last long at the Hammers helm.
In a Hammers News exclusive this week, West Ham’s board has addressed a reported clause in Nuno’s contract and spoke out on his future.
Nuno response on baffling West Ham changes speaks volumes
All eyes will now be on the line-up the manager selects for Newcastle.
But Nuno’s response when asked about his baffling West Ham changes speaks volumes.
Nuno grimaced as he was questioned on his decision to rip up the team which had performed well at Everton and Arsenal.
And he said that there were things that were not pleasing him.
As he was grilled further, though, Nuno told the reporter it would take too long to explain the real reasons for his big changes, suggesting he could explain in more detail off camera.
“There were some things that don’t please us,” Nuno admitted.
“Personally I don’t like (making so many changes), I would like to have found a solution earlier and stick to it.
“But I think it is our obligation to try and find the solution because the team is not producing. Yes we start with Andy (Irving), Tomas (Soucek) against Leeds and it didn’t quite work. Second half better so we are still looking and I hope we can solve all the problems faster than we are solving.”
The reporter was not done there, though.
He specifically asked Nuno why he made changes when West Ham had played particularly well at Everton.
The response suggested West Ham’s problems are far more deep-rooted than most fans even realise.
Hammers boss says reasons for changes would take too long to explain
Nuno added: “Yea (Everton was positive) but then we went to Arsenal and basically the same, it didn’t work out.
“Then came the international break, many things, things that we thought would work for the team. Many, many.
“We should have a conversation with you (off camera), it’s going to take a very long time! But honestly I wish we could stick with one and the team clicks and it goes well so we can move forward.
“I like routines, unfortunately we are not able to do it and it’s not easy for the players also.
“I hope Sunday we find (the right selection and balance), the team clicks, we play good, we compete well and we stick it.”
Nuno went on to add that he has split his squad into small groups to work on specific things from team shape and tactics to individual development, fitness and dynamism.
The Hammers boss also said many of the players know they are not performing anywhere near their true capabilities.
Hopefully he can be the man to change that soon.
The consequences if not are obvious even if the reasons for his changes are not.
