West Ham United’s upcoming run of fixtures, as Rangers legend Ally McCoist and former Aston Villa captain Gabby Agbonlahor point out, is as make or break as they come.
Three home games against Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Wolves between now and January 6th. Plus, in between, a trip to a talented but inconsistent Brighton and Hove Albion outfit.
Should West Ham United fail to pick up at least two wins – surely this was a period of the season Nuno Espirito Santo circled on the calendar – well, it really doesn’t bear thinking about.
Nuno is fully aware of the ‘challenge’ he and his players face, going into Christmas five points from safety. But pick up a trio of London Stadium wins against three teams placed 13th, 17th and 20th, and suddenly 2026 will take on a very different sort of hue.
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Your humble correspondent even suggested, a month ago, that West Ham had dodged a bullet picking Callum Wilson while leaving Leeds free to bring Dominic Calvert-Lewin to Elland Road. On a miserable Hammers Saturday, Wilson started a third match in a row on the bench while another former England international took his tally to six in five games with a brace against Crystal Palace.
Speaking to talkSPORT, both McCoist and Agbonlahor cannot understand why Nuno has taken to leaving Wilson among the substitutes while shoehorning Jarrod Bowen or Lucas Paqueta into a less-effective role. If Calvert-Lewin’s searing form proves anything, it’s that there is no substitute for a physically-imposing, predatory number nine given the service he needs.
Ally McCoist and Gabby Agbonlahor say Callum Wilson must start for West Ham United
It is not as if West Ham’s own number nine has struggled. Nuno called Callum Wilson ‘magnificent’ following his instinctive brace away to Bournemouth on November 22nd. He has only started two of the following five matches, but still found the time to assist Bowen immediately off the bench against Brighton.
“I watched Leeds United picking up some form, and particularly Calvert-Lewin, by the way. So West Ham, with two wins in the last 14 games… You’re in trouble,” says McCoist.
“Big trouble,” Agbonlahor agrees. “You look at the league table. They say the table does not lie. In 18th position, minus 16 goal difference, 35 goals conceded. Only Wolves have conceded more.
“[West Ham] have only scored 19 goals. They’ve got big problems.”
Nuno Espirto Santo’s team selection comes under fire again
McCoist and Agbonlahor scored nearly 500 club career goals combined – albeit the former is responsible for around 80 per cent of those – so they know better than most the importance of a reliable centre-forward.
“Callum Wilson is doing OK when he gets a chance. He’s scored four [in six starts],” Agbonlahor points out. “He came off the bench at the weekend [in the 3-0 defeat by Manchester City].
“I’m thinking, you need goals to stay up, right? You’ve got to find them somewhere.
“It baffles me how the manager doesn’t start him more often. It’s like a defensive mentality, putting Bowen down the middle because Callum Wilson might not be able to press as much. But it was only recently he scored two against Bournemouth.
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“I was at that game. He was very good, lively, and a great finisher. He might not play 90 minutes, but I’m sure he can play 60 or 70!
“Other players have got to step up. [Lucas] Paqueta, you know, you’re this ‘superstar’ player, but all you do is throw your arms up. You let your team down getting sent off. Only three goals this season. [Crysencio] Summerville, zero goals this season.”
“Leeds have now got somebody finding goals,” McCoist adds. “And I’ve got to say I’m delighted for [Calvert-Lewin] because he’s been injury-prone. Everton fans must be saying, ‘What’s happening here now?’ But fair play to him; it’s great to see him fit and scoring goals.
“I think the West Ham fans will tell me; the best chance is getting Bowen and Wilson in the same team.
“They need more. Their next run of games— Fulham, Brighton, Wolves and Forest—those are massive. Massive.”
AC Milan move feels like a lucky break for Niclas Fullkrug
Niclas Fullkrug is set to seal a move to AC Milan on loan. A replacement is a must, then, although finding one is proving easier said than done.
Cruzeiro rejected a bid for Kaio Jorge, according to reports from Brazil. This is not the first time the Hammers have clattered head-first into obstacles, leaving them with a bloody nose and another target down.
For the two talkSPORT co-hosts, the prospect of Fullkrug falling upwards and landing himself a move to the seven-time European champions is insult to injury.
“Work that one out!” is McCoist’s response.
“Fullkrug somehow is going to nick a move to AC Milan, apparently,” agrees an equally-bemused Agbonlahor. “I don’t know how that works. That just shows what football is about.”
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