Whether it is a brave new world in the making or just ‘back to the future’ – head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has been explaining his determination to force through change at London Stadium. This feels like Julen Lopetegui’s muddled thinking all over again, but one thing is clear, what had gone before hadn’t worked.

So change is essential. Whether the Portuguese coach can pull it off with enough points accumulated to stay in the Premier League is another matter altogether.

Over-analysing how the Hammers got to this point is unnecessary- every fan who has been turning up to the London Stadium more in hope than expectation has their own opinion. The decline has been several years in the making. So turning results and attitudes around does, indeed require something different than simply more of what has come before.

Espírito Santo wants to change ‘what has gone before’

Speaking on the skysports podcast, West Ham’s fourth head coach in sixteen months was resolute. When asked if he had to look around at what he’s got and then experiment, maybe trying something different, Nuno replied:

“Yep, I believe so. I believe we have to have a different approach so that...