How West Ham's European glory sparked a slow decline

So West Ham enter 2026 staring relegation from the Premier League in the face. West Ham fans had hoped for better when the season began back in August. The board had decided to stick with Graham Potter as manager, despite an underwhelming display for the second half of last season - when he was in charge. Potter's results record was almost identical to that of his predecessor Julen Lopetegui. The summer transfer window brought a mixed bag, with Mateus Fernandes, Soungoutou Magassa, El Hadje Diouf, Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters representing varying degrees of success. The signing of Leicester keeper, Mads Hermansen was the one outstanding failure. He played just four error strewn games before being replaced by Alphonse Areola. The season began badly, with West Ham losing four out of the first five games. The board then decided to sack Potter, bringing in Nuno Espirito Santo. His tenure in charge has represented a mixed bag. Two wins, five draws and seven defeats. There have been a number of games where the team should have won or at least got a point. Tactically, Espirito Santo has been keen to defend, once his side gets ahead. Shut up shop, bring on defenders. But many pundits claim that this team is simply not good enough to do that. Their record of retaining possession is among the worst in the league. There are positive signs, though, with Espirito Santo more willing than any recent manager to give home grown youngsters a chance. So, Freddie Potts has become a regular in midfield. Ollie Scarles and Ezra Mayes have appeared at full backs. And George Earthy is often on the subs bench. Things have tightened at the back, though, not enough. One of the biggest problems is the lack of a central striker. German international, Niclas Fullkrug, has moved on, without ever really making an Impact. Wilson has been effective, but the manager seems reluctant to give him much more than half a game. The team is over reliant for goals on captain Jarrod Bowen - who must be thinking about his own future, given the growing relegation prospects. It all seems a far cry from that halcyon day in 2023, when Bowen scored the winner, as West Ham won the Europa Conference League in Prague. Few, would then have predicted the demise that followed, yet it was at this time that the seeds were sown. Talisman, Declan Rice, left for Arsenal, for what is increasingly looking like a cut price £100 million. The board decided to appoint Tim Steidten over David Moyes to take care of transfers. Steidten seems to have been a divisive influence. He never had a great relationship with Moyes, eventually being banned from the training ground by Moyes in his final months as manager. (The same scenario later played out with Lopetegui.) His record, signing players, was mixed, with some successes, like Aaron Wan Bissaka and Mohammed Kudus but more failures, like Fullkrug and Max Kilman. The responsibility for the present situation, though, lies squarely at the door of the board, who have mismanaged the club. Since Moyes left, they have employed Lopetegui, Potts and now Espirito Santo. The paying up of sacked managers contracts, alone, must have cost way over £20 million. There are some amongst the supporters now clamouring for Espirito Santo to go. But why should that work and why would those making the decision on the next manager get it right at the fourth time of asking? What the present board should be asking themselves is why they ever got rid of Moyes? He'd won a trophy, secured European qualification for three seasons and pushed the club forward. West Ham finished ninth in the Premier League and reached the quarter finals of the Europa League in Moyes final season. What if they'd trusted Moyes, not employed Steiden and let the manager decide? Unfortunately, these questions only now seem relevant to 'what if' quizzes down the pub. But the West Ham board have questions to answer and there is a growing campaign calling for change. In terms of the immediate future, the club should stick with Espirito Santo. They must back his judgement and secure the players he wants in the January transfer window. Supporters also should entertain the idea that the manager may know what he's doing. Whether, it will be enough to keep West Ham up, only time will tell. What is for sure is that there needs to be fundamental changes in how West Ham United are run as a club, if they are to remain amongst the elite of the Premier League. published - morning star - 5/3/2026