The Athletic FC Podcast: Can Nuno Fix West Ham?

Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: Rashane Thomas (The Athletic, West Ham reporter), Benji Legardo (West Ham fan & Pickfair founder), Mark Carey (data analyst)

Episode Overview

This episode explores West Ham United's latest managerial change: the sacking of Graham Potter and the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo. Host Ayo Akinwolere is joined by reporter Rashane Thomas and lifelong supporter Benji Legardo for an in-depth analysis of why Potter’s tenure failed, what to expect from Nuno, and whether West Ham’s problems go deeper than the manager. The discussion also covers club culture, failed transfer strategies, ownership issues, fan unrest, and what realistic success looks like for West Ham in the current Premier League landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Graham Potter’s Sacking: Context & Fallout

• Poor Handling & Timing

  • Potter was sacked on a Saturday morning, just before preparing for a Monday game against Everton, deemed "poorly handled" by Rashane Thomas (02:02).
  • Suggestion the decision should have been made after the earlier Crystal Palace loss to give the new manager time to prepare (02:02).

• Tactical Stubbornness

  • Potter insisted on a 5-3-2 formation that visibly didn’t work; only late in his tenure did he switch to a back four (02:30).
  • Team mentality was poor: “Whenever the other team would score first, heads would always drop…as if the players accept defeat.” — Rashane Thomas (02:27).

• Dressing Room Issues

  • Notable clashes with senior players, especially Jean-Clair Todibo and Niclas Füllkrug (05:31).
  • Example: Potter called out Todibo for poor training; Todibo responded by showing up late the next day (05:43).
  • Club’s hierarchy and structure described as amateurish, complicating managerial roles.

• Potter’s Fit at West Ham

  • Widely seen as the wrong appointment with complications from the start regarding contract length and leadership disagreements (02:57).
  • Benji Legardo: “One of the most forgettable tenures as a West Ham manager we’ve had in the last couple of decades… I don’t think it was clear what he was actually trying to do.” (03:41)

Memorable Quotes

• “It was the wrong fit…complications at the start because David Sullivan wanted to appoint him short term, Karren Brady stepped in and made it long term—now proving to be the wrong decision.” — Rashane Thomas (02:57)
• “I’m not sure what Potterball at West Ham was even attempting to be.” — Benji Legardo (03:44)

2. What Went Wrong: The Culture and Structure

• Both Potter and Lopetegui clashed with the dressing room, signaling long-standing structural issues (05:31).
• West Ham desired a shift to "exciting, sexy, attacking, possession-based football," but lacked club infrastructure and buy-in necessary to implement such change (07:20, 21:19).

Quote

• "You can’t just click your fingers and become Brentford or Bournemouth or otherwise." — Benji Legardo (21:35)
• “Problems were far beyond his control” — Rashane Thomas (05:37)

3. Nuno Espirito Santo: Right Man for the Job?

• Personality & Authority

  • Nuno perceived as a more authoritative, no-nonsense leader; compared to a “proper teacher” as opposed to Potter as a “supply teacher” (10:12).
  • First strong gesture: dropping James Ward-Prowse from the squad, signaling a demand for higher energy and intensity (10:52).

• Tactical Outlook & Identity

  • Data analysis by Mark Carey: Nuno teams focus on a compact low block, purposeful counter-attacks, and rapid transitions (12:48–14:53).
  • “West Ham fans can expect directness, speed on the counter-attack, strength in set pieces, and compact defending...all things lacking under Graham Potter.” — Mark Carey (14:35)

• Immediate Impact

  • In just two days, a shift in mentality and style was already notable against Everton: visible fighting spirit, energy, unity (18:06).

Memorable Quote

• “Homework is getting done, everyone taking their lesson much more seriously.” — Rashane Thomas, on the Nuno impact (10:12)

4. Ownership, Boardroom, and Fan Unrest

• Board Structure & Ambitions

  • Club operation seen as outdated, with Karren Brady as vice-chair and Sullivan as majority shareholder (23:14).
  • Rashane: “Almost amateurish how they go about some of their methods...not a reflection of a top Premier League club.” (24:12)

• Fan Protests

  • Chants of “Sack the board,” “You sold our soul, we want our football club back,” and ongoing planned boycotts (26:04–30:23).
  • Stadium issues: London Stadium lacks the atmosphere and sense of home that Upton Park had (28:21).
  • Benji: “We will always be fundamentally diminished as a club...our cultural ceiling will always be limited with that stadium.” (28:03)

Quotes

• “I don't think anyone really knows [the plan at West Ham]...just trying to stay in the Premier League.” — Benji Legardo (21:50)
• "If you read the article, you'll see what [Füllkrug] said. The number of players that Graham Potter clashed with... problems far, far, far deeper than Graham Potter." — Rashane Thomas (05:49)

5. Transfers, Squad Building, and Ambitions

• Recent Signings

  • New arrivals (Matias Fernandez, Walker-Peters, Malik Diouf, etc.) viewed as “practical,” filling obvious holes but lacking in excitement or game-changing quality (37:06).
  • “One good signing and then you have someone like Hermansen, the goalkeeper, who's been dropped…he definitely hasn't shown any signs of being capable.” — Rashane Thomas (38:39)

• Asset Management

  • Discussion on not cashing in quick enough on squad peaks, e.g., after the 2023 Conference League win (31:39–33:11).
  • Failure to double down on investment when at the cusp of breaking into the top 6–8.

• Jared Bowen’s Crucial Role

  • Called “the savior act all over again.” Without Bowen, “we are a Championship side.” — Benji Legardo (34:44)
  • Rashane: “Probably League 1, that's why they had to chant Bowen again… it really is always Bowen to the rescue.” (35:21)

6. Expectations for the Rest of the Season

• Objective: Survival, Not Ambition
  • Both guests agree: “Just avoid relegation will be a huge relief.” — Rashane Thomas (40:34)
  • Top half or Europe deemed wildly optimistic—priority is stability and avoiding the drop.
  • "If he (Nuno) keeps them up—everyone will be happy." — Benji Legardo (40:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Potter’s Tenure:
  “One of the most forgettable tenures… I don’t think it was clear what Potterball was even attempting to be.” — Benji Legardo (03:44)
• On the Stadium:
  “We are fundamentally diminished as a club...our cultural ceiling will always be limited with that stadium.” — Benji Legardo (28:03)
• On Nuno’s Appointment:
  “He’s a spicier David Moyes, indeed. West Ham needs someone who could take a no nonsense approach.” — Rashane Thomas (15:15)
• On Ambition/Realism:
  “Just avoid relegation will be a huge relief.” — Rashane Thomas (40:34)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:07] – Show intro; Potter's sacking explained
• [02:02] – Rashane Thomas on Potter sacking handling and issues
• [03:41] – Benji Legardo on Potter’s “forgettable” tenure
• [05:31] – Dressing room dynamics and player-manager clashes
• [10:12] – Nuno compared to a “proper teacher,” early signs of a culture shift
• [12:48] – Mark Carey data breakdown: What Nuno’s teams look like
• [18:06] – Rashane describes unity and fighting spirit in Nuno’s first game
• [26:14] – Fan unrest, board protests, and stadium malaise
• [31:39] – Building on past success (“square one” again since Conference League win)
• [35:21] – Importance of Jared Bowen
• [37:06] – Transfer business verdict
• [40:31] – Realistic targets: survival, not Europe

Conclusion

This episode paints a clear picture: West Ham’s woes stretch well beyond the dugout. Managerial changes, outdated club structures, misjudged transfers, boardroom ambiguity, and fan anger have created a cycle of instability the club seems unable to break. Nuno Espirito Santo’s arrival brings hope—mainly through pragmatism and discipline—but expectations are grounded: survival is the new ambition. Bowen remains the talisman, and fans, while passionate, remain skeptical without deeper changes at boardroom and cultural levels.