West Ham United have endured a miserable opening to their Championship campaign, collecting just one point from their first two matches of the season.
The Hammers drew their opening fixture against Burnley before suffering a shock 2-1 home defeat to Charlton Athletic, raising serious concerns about their promotion credentials.
A crowd of 62,000 packed into their stadium for the Charlton game, making the loss even more difficult to digest for supporters expecting an immediate title challenge.
Questions are now mounting over the future of manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who also failed to keep West Ham in the Premier League during his tenure last season.
Former player turned BBC Sport pundit Aaron McLean has been among the most vocal critics, suggesting the club has hit “rock bottom” in English football’s second tier.
“I look at West Ham and think last season they were relegated because they weren’t good enough,” McLean wrote, adding that they “almost need to hit rock bottom” before things improve.
McLean acknowledged that the Charlton defeat represented a genuine test, describing them as “an established Championship team who will fight for every ball” throughout the ninety minutes.
“If you are West Ham at home in front of 62,000, you shouldn’t need a penalty to try to salvage something,” McLean said, noting the missed spot kick that could have earned a point.
The pundit concluded that “huge improvements in the mentality and maybe the personnel” would be required if West Ham are to mount a credible promotion push this season.
Nuno himself did not shy away from accountability after the Charlton defeat, addressing the supporters directly in his post-match comments to BBC Sport.
“It’s West Ham, the pressure is every day,” the Portuguese manager said, acknowledging the weight of expectation that comes with managing such a large club.
“It’s a big club. You just see our fans — there were 62,000 people in the stands and we let them down. This is the more disappointing feeling,” Nuno added.
He expanded further, saying “the crowd is for us and we let them down today” and admitting his side “were not able to do what they deserved, which was to win.”
West Ham did lose key players including Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka during the summer transfer window, which has undoubtedly affected squad depth and quality.
However, retaining Jarrod Bowen means the club still possesses significant talent and should, on paper, have a squad strong enough to challenge for an immediate return to the Premier League.
