‘I really don’t get…’ – Tony Cottee baffled by what Nuno Espirito Santo did in West Ham vs Brighton
Tony Cottee is rarely one to bite his tongue when it comes to his beloved West Ham, and relegation is on the cards this season.
Nuno Espirito Santo is under major pressure at the London Stadium, winning just two of his first 14 games in charge, and leaving the Hammers four points adrift of safety in the Premier League.
Alongside Wolves and Burnley, West Ham are in serious danger of being relegated, and the draw against Brighton on Tuesday, 30 December, will do nothing to alleviate fears in East London.
Despite scoring twice through Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta, the Hammers were pegged back on each occasion, with Max Kilman being criticised for his role in defence, especially.
However, one of the moments that baffled supporters the most was Nuno’s decision to hook Callum Wilson just after the hour mark, replacing him with winger Crysencio Summerville.
Tony Cottee hits out as Callum Wilson gets hooked vs Brighton
While Wilson has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, this substitution appeared completely tactical, and one that backfired, ultimately, with the Seagulls unfortunate not to find a winner.
Taking to X (30 December), Cottee wrote: “I really don’t get how we need to win the game, and Nuno takes off our centre-forward?! One point out of six – not good enough!”
Multiple supporters raised the same point during the game, but with Cottee also calling out the manager’s decisions, it is clear that something isn’t quite right behind the scenes.
The Hammers are now without a win in their last eight matches, having last claimed three points against Burnley in November, and that could have all changed had Nuno stuck with his experienced striker.
Nuno Espirito Santo remains frustratingly positive at the London Stadium
Despite searching for just his third victory since arriving in East London, the manager continues attempting to find the positives from his team’s performances.
Speaking after full-time, Nuno said: “We felt it. We wanted to play today, so we can put things right. We are chasing our improvement. We are chasing a win, desperately, to give back to our fans.
“So we can feel everybody. To make more of reality in terms of performance, transforming our results, which are getting away from us.”
He was also complimentary of his players fighting for each other, and that was evident at moments during the game. But it was also evident that heads dropped in the final stages.
Fabian Hurzeler‘s side will have been disappointed not claim their first win in six games, but the points being shared is probably what both sides deserved at the London Stadium.