Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer both admit they were wrong about West Ham

Add as preferred source on Google

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer may have felt they were being a little down on West Ham United’s chances before the 2025/26 Premier League season kicked off in August.

Little did they know, at the time, that they were actually being somewhat optimistic.

The two England icons both predicted that the Hammers would finish somewhere between 10th and 14th place in the table.

Oh, how West Ham United would bite your hand off now for mid-table mediocrity. A repeat of last term’s 14th place finish under Graham Potter is nothing more than a pipe dream these days.

Ironically, Nuno Espirito Santo’s stumbling side will travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday with the hosts sitting in 14th.

And while only five places separate the two local rivals, Spurs have nearly double the number of points racked up by their neighbours from the east.

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer believe relegation is inevitable for West Ham United

As recently as November, and following successive wins over Newcastle and Burnley, Lineker hailed Nuno’s impact at the London Stadium. Two months and nine Premier League games later, West Ham have accumulated only three points from a maximum of 27.

Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos have shown glimpses of quality since arriving from Gil Vicente and Lazio for a combined £44 million. Especially the Argentine, last week’s FA Cup third-round hero. But, although West Ham’s January spending is not done yet, both Lineker and Shearer cannot envisage a repeat of 2007 Carlos Tevez-inspired ‘Great Escape’.

As former Upton Park stalwart James Collins explained recently, West Ham’s remarkable escape in 2007 was built upon rock-solid defensive foundations, as well as the individual exploits of a young Tevez. Alan Curbishley’s side picked up 20 points from March until the end of May.

But, while the same could probably be said about their 2006/07 vintage, there has been little to suggest so far this season that West Ham are capable of putting such a run together. Especially without a backline boasting the physicality or the commitment of a Collins or a Danny Gabbidon.

Konstantinos Mavropanos could miss the Spurs clash with a neck injury. Thus, meaning a Hammers side so weak on corners and crosses will be without Nuno’s most aerially-dominant centre-back.

“It’s been a bloody awful season for [West Ham], hasn’t it?,” Lineker says on The Rest is Football podcast. “It really has.

“I actually said [they would finish] 10th to 14th, Alan, you said, ‘tough season ahead for them, can’t see them finishing higher than 10th to 14th’. Same as me.

“Nuno… I mean, imagine losing two jobs in one season.”

Lineker predicts Jarrod Bowen exit as the Hammers fight for their lives

Lucas Paqueta, arguably their most naturally-talented player, is leaping into the liferaft as Nuno’s hull springs leaks. Even the uber-reliable Jarrod Bowen has struggled for form at times.

“[Bowen] is the one player who’s actually still delivered to a degree, hasn’t he?,” adds Lineker, the second-highest goalscorer in the history of the English national team. “If they do go down, he might have to leave.

“I don’t see them getting out of it.

“When I watch them, they seem to be a little bit like ‘PC Plod’, you know? There’s no real energy to their game. It just seems a little bit pedestrian, particularly in defensive positions. I think they’re a little bit slow, a little bit ponderous. I don’t know, maybe that’s a confidence thing.

“But I can’t see them getting out [of the relegation zone].”

“I didn’t think it would be this tough for them!” agrees Newcastle hero Shearer.

“I don’t see anything in [West Ham]. I know they’ve got Jarrod Bowen but, other than him, I don’t see anything that would give me hope they can get out of the situation they’re in.

“I can’t see them getting out of it. I don’t think they’ve got enough quality.”

Tottenham’s injuries give Nuno Espirito Santo some hope

On a more positive note, West Ham can cut the gap between themselves and 17th-place Nottingham Forest to four points on Sunday. That is if Nuno masterminds a win away at his former employers – Spurs have lost seven home games already in 2025/26 – and Forest lose to Arsenal.

Tottenham are without Mohammed Kudus, their most consistent creator, as well as top scorer Richarlison. Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall are also among the wounded.

There is still hope, then, even if Lineker and Shearer do not share it.

“[Tottenham’s injury situation, particularly in forward positions… any team that loses their most creative players and probably the most potent goalscorer are going to struggle to a degree,” adds Lineker. “But it’s still been very disappointing nevertheless, hasn’t it?

“[Frank] has found it difficult so far,” agrees Shearer, who heard the boos ring out once again during the 2-1 FA Cup exit at the hands of Aston Villa. “The fans, I was there last weekend. You can just feel there’s an atmosphere on the ground. It’s not a nice atmosphere.

“The game they have this weekend against West Ham, whoever were to lose that game, I would fear for the manager.”