A damning conspiracy theory going around about a West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been addressed by the club via a prominent insider.
There is rarely ever a dull moment at West Ham and it’s been no different since the arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo.
The Portuguese has not even been at West Ham for a month but has already endured a rollercoaster ride.
Nuno had many Hammers fans won over from the very start.
Partly because they didn’t think things could get any worse than the woeful performances under Graham Potter.
But also after Nuno told David Sullivan he wanted to take on the challenge of tough back-to-back away games at Everton and Arsenal rather than wait until the October international break before taking over.
Nuno in rollercaster start to life at West Ham
The Hammers showed encouraging signs and new resilience in both, even if they could never really compete with the Gunners.
What happened against Brentford after 16 days working with much of his squad was nothing short of an abomination, though.
West Ham’s performance in the 2-0 home defeat has been labelled the worst of any Premier League side this season.
Indeed this Hammers team has been dubbed the worst the top flight has seen for some time too.
That is particularly damning for those not deemed good enough by the new head coach.
James Ward-Prowse was instantly bombed out of the West Ham squad when Nuno arrived.
It comes after his disastrous loan spell under Nuno at Forest was cut six months short last season.
Given Ward-Prowse has a reputation of being a solid professional, it suggests there is something more to his expulsion than his ability.
Especially given the lack of quality in West Ham’s squad, which was highlighted by Andy Irving starting in central midfield against Brentford and looking like a fish out of water.
Another who has been brutally snubbed so far is Callum Wilson.
It took Nuno one game to identify his top priority in the January transfer window – signing a new striker.
West Ham respond to conspiracy theory about Nuno
Niclas Fullkrug was chosen as Nuno’s starting striker but struggled badly in the new manager’s first two games.
Then over the break the German picked up yet another injury to add to his lengthy list, ruling him out until Newcastle or Burnley.
Ageing, injury-prone free agent signing Wilson and young striker Callum Marshall are the only other recognised strikers in West Ham’s first team squad.
Nuno has warned West Ham’s board to sign him a striker in January – but Hammers fans have been pleading with the owners for over a year to go out and get the young, pacy, powerful forward they so obviously need.
Now their failure to do so could cost them their Premier League lives.
Nuno started without a striker against Brentford.
And Wilson has been left on the bench by Nuno in all three games so far.
Marshall has been brought on ahead of him against Arsenal and Brentford. And even when the Hammers were desperate for a goal as they trailed 1-0 at home to the Bees, Wilson was left sat on his hands.
Former Hammer Dean Ashton says he spotted Wilson looking ‘pretty annoyed’ with Nuno.
Nuno has come in for his first bit of criticism after his curve-balls against Brentford and a performance that was as bad as anything under Potter or Julen Lopetegui.
His decisions have been slammed, including electing to go without a striker and leave Wilson on the bench again.
The Wilson snub in particular has raised eyebrows and sparked rumours.
Now West Ham have responded to a conspiracy theory already doing the rounds about Nuno.
Some have speculated that Wilson’s contract might be having a bearing on his situation under the new head coach.
Hammers News exclusively revealed West Ham would be signing Wilson on a free transfer during the summer.
It was also revealed Wilson’s contract would be a seriously low base fee – rumoured to be as low as £6-10k per-week – but heavily incentivised around appearances and goals.
Wilson receives a larger sum when he is named in the squad, a full Premier League-standard wage if he gets on the pitch as a sub and more if he scores.
Now the Hammers have spoken out on the claims Nuno isn’t playing Wilson because of his contract.
In a damning response to top insider ExWHUemployee, the Hammers revealed Wilson isn’t getting picked because Nuno simply doesn’t rate him.
ExWHUemployee says he asked the question about Wilson’s situation and the notion Nuno has been leaving him out due to finances was ‘completely denied by the club’.
“We were told that the manager just doesn’t fancy him,” ExWHUemployee said on the West Ham Way Patreon.
It comes after Troy Deeney said West Ham’s Wilson is so finished it is painful to watch him play.
