Latest Opinion

West Ham United have struggled heavily this season, picking up just 14 points from 19 games this campaign.

This has left the side four points away from safety, with recent results leaving them winless in eight, having drawn 2-2 against Brighton on 30 December, leaving West Ham 18th as they approach the second half of the season.




The Hammers went through an early managerial shift as previous manager Graham Potter was sacked just seven games into the season after just one win and 16 goals conceded in all competitions, following heavy defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea. West Ham swiftly looked for replacements and settled on former Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked having fallen out with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

However, Nuno’s time at West Ham has been overshadowed by disappointment as his win rate has fallen to just 14%, the worst record in the club’s history. These results are a stark contrast to his last tenure, as he helped guide Nottingham Forest to European football.

Having said that, performances have been improving with West Ham seeing themselves in winning positions but they have failed to hold onto leads. West Ham have recently dropped points from winning positions against Aston Villa, Bournemouth, and Brighton on two occasions.

The experienced manager has received criticism from fans, with many pointing out his stubborn nature as well as his continuation to try a false nine system, a formation that he has not used previously.

It’s not all doom and gloom, however, as Nuno has given youngsters such as Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa a chance to impress, which has helped bolster a slow midfield lacking in quality.




The inclusion of the two midfielders into the side has been a glimmer of hope that West Ham have needed, alongside consistent impressive displays from new signing Matheus Fernandes and captain Jarrod Bowen.

However, these positives are meaningless if results do not improve, and with relegation rivals Leeds and Nottingham Forest both picking up points in recent fixtures a huge turnaround is needed.

Thankfully, the perfect time for a resurgence is the January transfer window, in which West Ham will look to make their mark. Having already signed striker Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente, the club are rumoured to be looking at multiple defensive and attacking reinforcements as they have failed to keep a single clean sheet under Nuno and struggle for depth in attack.

Centre-backs Charlie Cresswell and Nathan Ake are two names that have been highlighted by West Ham, with the former having been on the side’s radar for some time now and the latter having recently rejected a move to east London.

In terms of attacking assets, West Ham were rumoured to have shown interest in Wolves forward Jorgen Strand-Larsen but baulked at the €40 million asking price.

This meant that West Ham turned their attention to 22-year-old Brazilian striker Pablo, who scored 10 goals for high-flying Gil Vicente in Liga Portugal and was half the price of the Norwegian forward.




In terms of departures, 19-year-old Luis Guilherme looks as though he will leave the club and join Sporting Lisbon for a €17 million fee. The attacker has struggled at West Ham and has been out of favour ever since he joined the club in 2024, having only started two league games for The Hammers.

Other names that may depart the club along with 32-year-old Niclas Fullkrug (on loan with Milan) include James Ward-Prowse, who has not been selected in the squad since Nuno joined the club. With the revenue gained from these transfers, West Ham will have licence to spend more this January, whilst also avoiding any potential Financial Fair Play breaches.

It is evident that West Ham United need something drastic to happen in the next few weeks, as the teams around them are simply stronger than in previous seasons.

The Hammers will look to target upcoming fixtures as a turning point, facing relegation-threatened Wolves and Nottingham Forest in the next two. Winning both games could even take West Ham outside the relegation zone before the end of the month, showing that a comeback is still very possible.

Forest also face a congested January schedule, as they will have to juggle important league games with Europa League fixtures too. This leaves West Ham slightly more time to recover than The Reds, which could give them a well-needed advantage and help the side pick up momentum as they look for an improved second half of the season.

So, yes, it is possible that West Ham may survive relegation this season but it certainly will not come easily. The Irons must reinforce in January in order to match their relegation rivals and pick up results as they did briefly in November. They will look to emulate these victories against Newcastle and relegation-threatened Burnley to escape the drop.

* Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the highlighted author/s and do not necessarily represent or reflect the official policy or position of KUMB.com.