The three simple ways Nuno Espirito Santo has already improved West Ham – and what he’ll do next

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It’s been a steady start to life at West Ham United for Nuno Espirito Santo.

After replacing the sacked Graham Potter at the London Stadium, Nuno steered his side to a 1-1 draw at Everton and a 2-0 defeat against Arsenal before the international break.

The next fortnight or so will give him time to pause and reflect on what is a mammoth rebuilding job, but the early steps he has already taken have been promising.

Now, Nuno Espirito Santo will cast his mind forward, able to build from a very solid foundation despite inheriting a rudderless team who were drifting nowhere under Potter.

Here are three ways he has already improved West Ham.

1. Tightening up the defence

Nuno was hired with a glowing reputation for making his teams difficult to break down. This has certainly been the case during his time coaching Wolves and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

In fact, in over 500 senior matches he has taken charge of, Nuno’s sides have conceded just over a goal a game. This ratio would be more than enough to keep West Ham above the dreaded dotted line.

It didn’t take him long to improve their defensive solidity, and they successfully held West Ham and Arsenal at bay for large periods in both games.

Unfortunately for him, his players still have a glaring individual mistake or two in them, so it is crucial that he stamps this trend out during training.

2. Fighting for the supporters

Supporters have taken well to the newfound passion and desire burning through Nuno’s ranks.

From his very first interview at the club, he promised “hell” for opponents once he had got his feet properly under the table, and he will be determined to make the London Stadium a venue to be feared.

Nuno speaks from the heart, admittedly a trait which saw him fall out with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, but this has gone down a treat at West Ham after too many gloomy days under Potter.

His celebration after Bowen’s equalising goal at Everton perfectly encapsulated what he is all about, and his rallying cry behind the scenes has seen his players step up to the plate.

“The coach said it clearly – the main thing is to have a fighting team that fights every game to win points and to reconnect with our fans,” said goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. “They were important at Arsenal and they are in every game. Now it’s up to us to do the job on the pitch to make everyone happy.”

3. Big selection decisions

It didn’t take long for Nuno to upset the apple cart. He almost immediately ripped up the blueprint and, determined to start fresh, pushed several first-team players out of the picture.

Never one to shirk from making bold decisions, Nuno has purposefully overlooked the underwhelming trio of James Ward-Prowse, Jean-Clair Todibo and Callum Wilson.

During training sessions, Nuno often works with a core group likely to make up his squad for the next match, while the so-called ‘substitute squad’ have been known to conduct their drills separately.

All three of the aforementioned players are likely to be shipped out of the club altogether in January, with the head coach stamping his authority over a club that badly needs some direction.

So, what’s next?

Nuno admitted the international break arrived at the perfect time for his players after they were made to endure weeks of speculation over Graham Potter’s future.

When they return, they will be welcomed back with a clean slate. Next up are Brentford, Leeds United and Newcastle United, and West Ham will want to take six points from that run.

There will be funds to spend during the winter transfer window, and the hard work will continue on the training ground as Nuno looks to get his squad in shape and playing in his image.

Should they spend wisely and reinforce the right areas, they should have more than enough in the tank to stave off relegation. Only then can they set their sights on an exciting new era.