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Nuno Espirito Santo has come a long way since a dreadful start to life in the West Ham United dugout.
Certainly in terms of his relationship with the fans and his grip on the squad, but also down at the bottom of Premier League table.
West Ham leapfrogged Roberto de Zerbi’s Tottenham before the Italian had even seen his side kick a competitive ball last weekend. This means that, while Spurs can return the favour should they finally win their first match of 2026 against Brighton on Saturday, West Ham United are going into a weekend outside of the bottom three for the first time in four months.
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Credit: Getty Images/Rob Newell – CameraSport
Out of the 18 points they have accumulated from a possible 33, one came from a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Andoni Iraola’s AFC Bournemouth on February 21st.
Iraola has since announced his departure from the Vitality Stadium outfit, out of contract in the summer.
But, while the 43-year-old Spaniard has established himself as one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe on the South Coast, when asked by Hammers News, the majority of our TalkingPoint users would rather see Nuno stay on.
West Ham United fans give their backing to Nuno Espirito Santo
Photo by Tiego Grenho/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
At the time of writing, 70 per cent of you voted to keep Nuno over hiring Iraola.
It is difficult to imagine that the poll would have been so lopsided back in early-2026, when successive defeats by Wolves [0-3] and Nottingham Forest [1-2], left the Hammers seven points adrift in the bottom three.
But if he keeps a seemingly-doomed side in the division, Nuno should be in line for the Manager of the Year award let alone a new contract.
“Would [Iraola] fit? He may not. Would he get what he wanted from above? He may not,” one fan argues, pointing out that Iraola had the benefit of working as the central cog in a well-oiled Bournemouth machine.
“Change is always a gamble. Bournemouth and West Ham are totally different types of club. Nuno is doing an OK job and has the players believing at the moment.”
“Nuno deserves a full season at West Ham,” another agrees, speaking out in support of a coach who took unfancied Wolves and Nottingham Forest into the Europa League while constructing some of the best defences in England.
Who makes YOUR West Ham and Crystal Palace combined XI?
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“His experience and tactical know-how is just starting to work with our players.”
“I would only go for Iraola if for some reason Nuno or his assistant [Paco Jemez] left. If Nuno keeps us up, he definitely deserves another season. The recruitment of players is now more important than getting a new manager.”
“Keep Nuno, survive or not. He got Wolves promotion, he got Forest to Europe. He’s a keeper.”
“Stick with Nuno. He’s worked hard as manager and we can’t throw that away.”
Andoni Iraola announced Bournemouth exit after stunning Arsenal
Interestingly, Bournemouth are one of only four sides to have picked up more points than West Ham since Callum Wilson scored a stoppage-time winner at Tottenham on January 17th.
Nuno is demanding that West Ham keep the momentum going ahead of Monday’s trip to Crystal Palace.
After piling the pressure on Tottenham with a 4-0 Friday night victory over Wolves last time out, it is now Nuno’s turn to wait and hope that results go their way.
Eleventh-place Bournemouth, meanwhile, hope to move into the top half while repeating last season’s 4-1 thumping of Newcastle at St James’ Park. Iraola’s cheerful Cherries played a frozen-with-fear Arsenal off the park during a well-deserved away victory at the Emirates.
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