After West Ham's 3-0 defeat at Brentford and Spurs’ subsequent win over a heavily rotated Aston Villa side, things look very bleak for the Hammers’ Premier League status.
One point behind Tottenham – and Arsenal at home next. Spurs have an already-safe Leeds on the same weekend. We could be four points adrift with two games to play. We could be relegated within the next fortnight. It’s a tragic state of affairs which will need one hell of an inquest if it happens.
But talk is already focused on who should be in charge if relegation is confirmed.
Reports this weekend suggest West Ham really want to keep Nuno Espirito Santo in his post, regardless of what happens. Some reports say Nuno is also keen on staying on. Others claim he's undecided.
Whatever the truth, it's hard to look past Nuno as the perfect manager for West Ham in this moment. He was promoted with Wolves at then finished seventh in the Premier League in consecutive seasons. He has a history of bringing a club up and then re-establishing them in the top flight.
He guided Nottingham Forest to European football in a season when they were one of the favourites to go down. The Portuguese knows what it takes and that’s what West Ham need. We need to bounce straight back and then stay in the top flight.
Some fans are calling for Scott Parker, and while I get the very obvious sentiment, I can't see it being a good long-term appointment for West Ham.
Parker was promoted with Fulham and relegated the following season. He then took Bournemouth to the Premier League, only to lose his job just four games into the next season after a 9-0 defeat by Liverpool. Now he’s taken Burnley up, only to suffer relegation at the first time of asking.
Parker is a top second-tier manager but has proven at three different clubs he doesn't have what it takes at the top level.
Meanwhile, we have a manager with a track record of doing what we desperately need a manager to do. That's why Nuno is perfect – if we go down, that is.
Hopefully, he can form a miracle before then…
Do you agree that Nuno is "the perfect manager" if the Hammers end up being relegated? If not, who would you bring in instead?
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Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham
