West Ham’s Signs of Life in the 2025/26 EPL Begins: Earns a Draw Against Everton

 By Stadium-Pulse Sports Desk

West Ham United’s turbulent start to the 2025/2026 Premier League season has prompted a managerial shake-up, with Nuno Espírito Santo stepping in to replace Graham Potter. The former Wolves and Nottingham Forest boss arrives with a reputation for defensive discipline and counter-attacking prowess, but can he turn the tide for the struggling Hammers?

West Ham sat 19th in the table when Espírito Santo was appointed, having secured just one win in five matches under Potter. The team’s defensive frailties were glaring, with the club conceding more goals from set pieces than any other side in the league. Fan unrest was growing, and chants of “sack the board” echoed through the London Stadium.

In his first match in charge, the game ended in a 1–1 draw against Everton, offering glimpses of renewed structure and resilience. Despite the scoreline, West Ham key metrics show possession at 48.5% of the ball, showing improved control with 3 Shots on Target compared to Everton’s 6. Pass Accuracy, West Ham completed 80% of their passes, a notable uptick, alongside 5 corners and 5 saves, with 29 touches in the opposition box against Everton’s 30. These numbers suggest that Nuno’s tactical tweaks are already bearing fruit.

Espírito Santo is known for building compact, hard-to-break-down teams that strike with precision on the counter. His formations, typically 4-1-4-1 emphasize defensive shape and quick transitions. This marks a departure from Potter’s possession-heavy style, which often lacked cutting edge in the final third. Nuno’s system is less physically demanding but more tactically rigid. And while David Moyes relied heavily on set pieces and direct play, Nuno brought a more nuanced approach, using wing play and overloads to create space. The new manager is expected to lean on pacey attackers like Crysencio Summerville and Callum Wilson, whose skillsets align with his counter-attacking philosophy. Jarrod Bowen, the goal scorer and and Diouf are already thriving in a system that rewards quick movement and sharp finishing.

Despite his pedigree, Espírito Santo faces a tough road ahead. West Ham’s squad may require reshaping to fully suit his tactical demands, and the pressure to deliver results quickly will be intense. However, if he can stabilize the defense and unlock the potential of his attacking players, the Hammers may yet climb out of the relegation zone. Nuno Espírito Santo has the tools and temperament to engineer a turnaround, but success will depend on swift adaptation, squad buy-in, and a few key wins to shift momentum.

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