West Ham: Nuno Espirito Santo searching for solutions after stormy start | OneFootball

Hammers are marooned in bottom three after nine games

What Nuno Espirito Santo would do for some calm amidst the storm at West Ham.

However, even he admits he wished the answers to his side’s problems were more straightforward.

The east Londoners sit 19th in the Premier League table after nine games,

Nuno has played his full-backs out of position, with left-back Ollie Scarles at right-back and right-back Aaron Wan Bissaka on the left against Leeds. He also brought midfielder Andy Irving in from the cold and opted not to operate with an out-and-out striker.

There is an understanding that the former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest boss needs to look outside the box to try and turn things around at West Ham, but so far, there has been no upturn in results, and supporters cannot help but refocus their attentions towards the club’s board.

Supporters’ group Hammers United are organising a sit-in after the full-time whistle against Newcastle as they seek to put pressure on chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady to step down.

The sit-in is the latest in a series of sustained protests against the club’s board, and with every passing result, West Ham are without a win since August, calls for Sullivan and Brady’s resignations grow louder.

Nuno is trying to ignore the outside noise and the “speculation” around the future of midfielder Lucas Paqueta by creating a siege mentality.

His job is to improve the players he has at his disposal. Results have to improve before he can look to the January market for reinforcements.

“We must improve the players individually,” the Portuguese continued.

“Many of them, and they know, are performing under their real quality.

“This is what we are doing. We are doing really, really hard and focused on individual development.

“Until January 1, I don't even think about it [new signings]. My priority is to improve these players, improve our squad. Starting individual[ly], then with small groups, by lines, defence, midfielders, attackers. Everybody has to improve.“

Paqueta, who turned down a move to Aston Villa in the summer, is someone Nuno says he is looking at to be a “symbol” for his side.

“Being a No10 is more than a number in my view. Being a 10 is a symbol. This is what we need from Lucas,” he continued.

“[We need] the best of him. For him to really help the team-mates, because the team-mates trust him a lot. They know that there's much more for him to give us.”

Ahead of two crucial home games against Newcastle and Burnley, Nuno is looking for some inspiration from Paqueta.

“We need Lucas,” the ex-Wolves manager said, as well as the “massively important” Jarrod Bowen after a dispiriting start to life in the West Ham dugout.

Nearly four months into the season, and the Hammers’ form is quickly becoming more than just a worrying start.

Relegation talk is not as far-fetched as it seemed when Nuno dismissed suggestions his team were facing a fight against the drop in his first week in the job.