Image Source: Tom McCoy – BBC Sport journalist
Key Takeaways
- West Ham faces a crucial match against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, with the risk of slipping seven points adrift of safety if they lose
- Pressure is growing on West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo after a 3-0 defeat to bottom club Wolves
- The Hammers have sanctioned urgent spending in the January transfer window, signing Brazilian striker Pablo Felipe and Argentine forward Taty Castellanos
- Nuno Espirito Santo’s future as West Ham boss will come under increased scrutiny if the team loses to Nottingham Forest
- West Ham is chasing a first top-flight double over Forest since 1968-69, having won 3-0 at the City Ground in August
Introduction to the Match
The upcoming match between West Ham and Nottingham Forest on Tuesday is a crucial one for the Hammers, as a loss would see them slip seven points adrift of safety. The team’s boss, Nuno Espirito Santo, is under increasing pressure after a disappointing 3-0 defeat to bottom club Wolves on Saturday. As Nuno himself admitted, the first-half display was "embarrassing", and he highlighted "a lack of effort that is really concerning", questioning whether some of his squad "realise the situation we are in". This defeat marked a new low for West Ham under Nuno, and the team’s hierarchy is taking urgent action to address the situation.
Pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo
The pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo is growing, and the team’s performance under his leadership has been underwhelming. Despite the managerial change, the team has not shown any significant improvement. In fact, since Nuno took charge on 27 September, the team has averaged fewer points per game than under his predecessor Graham Potter, conceding more goals and scoring fewer. This has led to doubts about the wisdom of appointing Nuno, and his future as West Ham boss will come under increased scrutiny if the team loses to Nottingham Forest. As the BBC Sport notes, "the Hammers hierarchy certainly do" realize the situation the team is in, and they have sanctioned urgent spending in the January transfer window to give the club a fighting chance of survival.
New Signings and Transfer Window
The Hammers have made some significant signings in the January transfer window, including Brazilian striker Pablo Felipe and Argentine forward Taty Castellanos. Felipe joined from Portuguese side Gil Vicente for a reported £21.8m fee, while Castellanos arrived from Lazio on Monday for approximately £26m. These new signings are clearly needed, as the team’s current performance has not been impressive. The addition of these new players may bring some much-needed energy and talent to the team, and it will be interesting to see how they perform against Nottingham Forest. As Nuno Espirito Santo looks to turn the team’s fortunes around, these new signings may be crucial in helping the team achieve a much-needed win.
History Between the Teams
West Ham is chasing a first top-flight double over Forest since 1968-69, having won 3-0 at the City Ground in August. This result proved to be Nuno’s final match in charge of the two-time European Cup winners. The team will be looking to repeat this performance and secure a crucial win against Nottingham Forest. The match on Tuesday will be a significant one for Nuno Espirito Santo, as it will be his first match against the club that sacked him in September. As the BBC Sport notes, "should his current side lose on Tuesday, his future as Hammers boss will come under increased scrutiny". The pressure is on, and it will be interesting to see how Nuno and his team respond to the challenge.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the match between West Ham and Nottingham Forest on Tuesday is a crucial one for the Hammers. The team is under pressure, and the future of Nuno Espirito Santo as West Ham boss hangs in the balance. The team’s performance under Nuno has been disappointing, and the new signings in the January transfer window may be crucial in helping the team achieve a much-needed win. As the team looks to turn their fortunes around, they will be chasing a first top-flight double over Forest since 1968-69. The match on Tuesday will be a significant one, and it will be interesting to see how Nuno and his team respond to the challenge.
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