Nuno Espirito Santo is surely on the brink of the sack after West Ham put in their worst performance of modern times to lose their must-win clash with Wolves – and the perfect replacement is available.
West Ham were utterly shambolic and diabolical in an insipid, pathetic and meek surrender to the worst team in Premier League history.
Wolves had not won a single league game all season until the hapless Hammers rolled into Molineux.
Nuno Espirito Santo has been backed with new signings with the £20m arrival of striker Pablo to be closely followed by the capture of Lazio’s Argentine forward Taty Castellanos.
But he may not be the duo’s manager by Monday morning.
Nuno surely on brink of sack at West Ham
As far as many fans are concerned, he shouldn’t be after the Hammers all but sealed their relegation fate by extending their winless run to nine matches with the defeat to Wolves.
West Ham were atrocious, going in at the break 3-0 down, sparking a mass walkout from the club’s loyal away following.
If you could replace Nuno with one out-of-work manager, who are you picking?
And why?
There has been speculation over Nuno’s future on four separate occasions already during his three months in charge.
There have been tensions and friction behind the scenes over transfers too.
West Ham’s owners said Nuno was ‘very slow’ to approve signings.
And the Portuguese hit back, insisting the Hammers board had the names of the players he wants.
The abysmal nature of the defeat to Wolves will undoubtedly lead to fresh speculation Nuno will be the third Hammers manager sacked in the space of 12 months.
Now West Ham must call Mark Noble’s close friend Enzo Maresca with Nuno surely on the brink.
West Ham sporting director Noble and Maresca remain close friends to this day.
Their relationship charts back to Maresca’s stint as an assistant manager in east London under Manuel Pellegrini.
During their time together, Noble was highly impressed by Maresca’s coaching abilities, describing his training sessions to the club hierarchy as “different class”.
West Ham must call Noble’s close friend Maresca
It is believed Noble recommended Maresca to the club’s board when they were considering replacing David Moyes.
But Chelsea took a chance on Maresca from Leicester instead.
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That relationship ended this week when Maresca quit Stamford Bridge after a fallout with the ownership.
Now a free agent, West Ham’s board simply must roll the dice one last time in a desperate bid to keep the club in the Premier League.
Given how bad the Hammers have been under Nuno, fans would not want him in charge in the Championship next season.
So David Sullivan and co should be on the phone to Noble’s friend Maresca.
Especially as he fits their policy of not paying out compensation to bring a manager in.
Noble revealed in an interview that he remains in regular contact with Maresca.
If Maresca was open to managing Leicester in the Championship, then why not West Ham in a bid to make sure they don’t end up there?
At least if the worst did happen, Maresca would be able to rebuild the Hammers around a more modern brand of football.
Nuno’s low-block – without the block in most games – counter-attack style simply doesn’t work, certainly not for West Ham.
Noble told Sullivan Maresca was ‘different class’
It was unthinkable when Nuno took over from Graham Potter that West Ham might go nine games without a win.
That has very much become a reality and it could well cost the former Wolves boss his job.
If it does he can have no complaints, despite signing a three-year deal at the end of September.
If Nuno is sacked he will become West Ham’s shortest-serving permanent manager in history.
Maresca won’t cost West Ham anything to hire, but there could be a high price for keeping Nuno – even if it is the owners who are ultimately to blame for the club’s ills.
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