Considering the reputation Paco Jemez arrived with at West Ham United, what Ollie Scarles said about Nuno Espirito Santo’s assistant this week came as a bit of a surprise.
Scarles labelled Paco Jemez a ‘defensive coach’. Now, when his Rayo Vallecano team were playing keep-ball against Barcelona while racking up some of the highest possession numbers in Europe, the 55-year-old Spaniard was being talked about in a very different way.
Luis Enrique lauded Jemez’s ‘attacking’ mentality. Pep Guardiola reportedly saw similarities with his own gameplan reflected in the former Granada and Ibiza coach.
Admired by Luis Enrique and loved by Pep Guardiola… 🇪🇸
What do YOU think about West Ham hiring Paco Jemez?
Yet, as the young West Ham United left-back revealed after Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Sunderland, the famously-freewheeling Jemez deserves a lot of credit for ‘strengthening our back four’. And he should know, given that Scarles made up 25 per cent of that backline against the Black Cats.
West Ham United fans hail Paco Jemez’s impact at the London Stadium
The latest addition to Nuno Espirito Santo’s coaching staff has certainly made a bold impression. Jemez and Nuno were spotted arguing on the touchline at the London Stadium last time out. Clearly, a man who has spent the last two decades as a head coach has no qualms about letting his opinion be known, even in an unfamiliar ‘number two’ role.
As Scarles pointed out, West Ham’s defence has looked a lot more settled and solid since Jemez first took to the dugout. Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo suddenly appear to have the makings of a fairly reliable pairing.
When debating Jemez’s impact as part of Hammers News’ new TalkingPoints initiative, meanwhile, a number of supporters shared what they too have noticed about a man once the favourite of all footballing hipster and La Liga luvvies.
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“I noticed, at the Sunderland game, we started pressing in midfield halfway through the first half, forcing mistakes and winning a lot of the ball,” one of our readers pointed out.
“Second half, we sat back, not just in our own half but also stopped pressing in midfield. The game really opened up for Sunderland and I thought it was going to go 3-2. Jemez was in Nuno’s ear, pointing at the gaps.
“A couple of subs, more energy, and we went back to closing up the midfield. No doubt we’ve lost so many games this season by sitting on leads and giving up midfield. Hopefully not anymore.”
Jemez brings ‘new ideas’ to Nuno Espirito Santo’s coaching staff
When the appointment was confirmed, Nuno admitted he was excited to work with Paco Jemez, feeling he would bring ‘energy’, ‘experience’ and ‘new ideas’ behind the scenes. For his vast CV, Nuno is clearly not afraid of taking the advice of others on board.
“Can it be just coincidence that, since the arrival of Paco, we are playing quicker, attacking and winning football?,” another HammersNews reader wonders.
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“[Jemez has] made a big difference since pretty much the day he joined. Nuno needed help, and fair play to him for asking for it.
“This is great to see from the back room staff,” another argued in response to that eye-opening, and very public, disagreement in the dying embers of the Sunderland clash. “I think we as supporters totally agree about bringing [Max] Kilman on, and would love to rant at Nuno about the decision.
“Keep it up Paco!”
“These kinds of disagreements are healthy. I am sure Nuno does not want to be surrounded by sycophants…”
That thrilling performance last weekend certainly had felt like one with Paco Jemez’s fingerprints on it. Even when taking Nottingham Forest into Europe last season, Nuno’s team tended to sit deep and hit teams on the break.
Jemez, though, is all about possession, intense high-pressing, and a set-up so organised and detailed that every player knows their role inside and out.
Some were clamouring for a new manager after the 3-0 battering by Wolves. Maybe, just maybe, all that was required as a new coach…
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