West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has made a brutally honest admission about some of his players and it shows why the club is on the brink of the abyss.
The Hammers are set to announce record £100m losses in the club’s annual accounts at the turn of the year.
So there could not be a worse time for West Ham to be kicked off the Premier League gravy train.
That is exactly what will happen unless Nuno Espirito Santo manages to turn the sinking ship around heading into the new year.
West Ham have won just three of their 17 games this season, leaving them stuck in the bottom three approaching the halfway stage.
Nuno makes brutal admission about some West Ham players
The Irons must make the most of their easiest run of fixtures of the season – on paper at least – over the next six weeks.
After Fulham, Nuno’s side welcome Brighton and Forest to the London Stadium either side of a trip to woeful Wolves.
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Does he have a point or is he simply deluding himself?
Games against inconsistent Spurs, Sunderland and Burnley present the opportunity for more points after that run too.
West Ham fans have made it clear who they blame for the mess the club find themselves in as protests against the owners continue unabated.
The players have to stand up and take their share of the blame too though.
Fans feel too many have shirked their responsibilities over the last couple of years of incessant regression in east London.
Bar Jarrod Bowen and one or two others, very few Hammers stars have stood up to be counted when it has mattered.
There has been a constant stream of stories emerging from the club of fallouts behind the scenes since Tim Steidten was put in charge of bringing players to the club.
Julen Lopetegui had bust-ups with Mohammed Kudus, Jean-Clair Todibo and Edson Alvarez.
Hammers dressing room has been toxic for too long
Graham Potter also fell out with Todibo and Alvarez before he was replaced.
Nuno has a more authoritative aura than his predecessors but he too has struggled to make a major impact on results.
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The team is undoubtedly more competitive, albeit from a low starting point.
But it is clear there have been issues in the dressing room.
You only need to listen to Hammers hero Tomas Soucek to know that.
Soucek said some West Ham players have a bad attitude when he dropped a bombshell in a recent interview.
It is worrying given the team and club need to be pulling in the same direction in order for West Ham to avoid the dreaded drop.
Now Nuno has made a brutal admission about players that sums up why West Ham are on the brink of the abyss.
What Hammers fans want to hear as the club prepare for their biggest battle for 15 years is that the players are all pushing one another to turn things around.
Supporters want to feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
But now Nuno has conceded some of his players are still not happy, despite the latest change in manager to try and get a response out of them.
Honest Nuno sums up why West Ham are on brink of abyss
Speaking on Iron Cast, Nuno said he is still in the process of getting to know some of his players.
But he has revealed it has been an eye-opener for him in regards whether certain players are on board with trying to save the club and implementing his ideas and style of play.
“The moment that you know them really well, all the squad, then you can start putting together your ideas,” Nuno said.
“And the acceptance of the idea, it’s better. So I will tell you that we are in the process.
“I’m very honoured to work with the boys every day. Very honoured.
“They are honest. Some of them are not happy.
“But all together and at the same time, trying to work without conflict, being honest, I’m delighted.”
Some of the players aren’t happy?
They want to spend a week in the life of a West Ham fan then if they really want to see unhappiness.
It is pathetic that players are still acting so selfishly given the club’s plight.
Hearing such a frank admission from the manager, while refreshing, is extremely worrying.
With that kind of attitude in the ranks, is it any wonder West Ham are facing up to the grave reality of potential relegation?
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