From meme fodder to managerial exile, Graham Potter’s reign at West Ham ended not with a bang but with a reshuffled face and a tactical shrug. He needed to be gone, but the way West Ham went about it smelt wrong, do the press conference, then get sacked and then see your replacement come in, all in about what 2 hours? In comes Nuno Espirito Santo, a man who had barely closed his Forest office door before being handed the keys to the London Stadium.
After a drab 1-1 debut against Everton, it’s time to ask, what does this all mean for West Ham and your fantasy football squad?
Potter’s Parting Gift: All Vibes, Zero Substance
Let’s not sugarcoat it. Potterball at West Ham was no bite. The system was loose, the defence was laughable, and the attacking stats were lower than Chelsea’s xG under Sarri.
Under Potter:
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6 wins from 25
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Worst defensive xG of any side not relegated
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Second-most shots conceded (583)
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Fewest shots on target (140) in the league
Somehow, they limped over the line to 14th, mostly because everyone else near them was also allergic to winning.
If you were holding onto West Ham defenders, that was more delusion than differential.
Nuno’s Blueprint: Compact, Counter, Clatter
If Potter was all about possession without penetration, Nuno is the opposite. He’s a “low block and long ball” merchant. But here’s the twist: it might actually suit this West Ham team.
At Forest, Nuno’s side:
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Conceded the 4th fewest xG (27.75) post-appointment
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Recorded 13 clean sheets
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Had the 2nd-best record at limiting big chances
This squad, loaded with destroyers (Kilman, Mavropanos), direct runners (Bowen, Summerville), and fast full-backs (Diouf), might finally have a coach who speaks their footballing language: direct, pragmatic, and built for countering.
Defenders to Watch: DefCon Mode Activated
Whether you are balling out on StatrDraft Points system, or if you’re over the road with the new Defensive Contribution (DefCon) points system , Nuno’s style becomes even more relevant. His teams sit deep, soak pressure, and force the opposition into meat-and-potatoes defending.
Players to consider:
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Max Kilman – Was 6th in defensive actions last year. If Nuno settles on a 4 or 5 at the back, Kilman will feast.
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Kostas Mavropanos – Less consistent starts, but a monster when he plays. Could rotate in/out of your squad for midweek games.
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El Hadji Malick Diouf – 4 assists already from full-back. If Nuno keeps the shackles off, he’s the Antonee Robinson of the east end.
Watch this space for whether Nuno reverts to a 3-4-3, if he does, Diouf becomes must-own.
Midfield Mayhem: Summerville vs Paqueta
Two very different fantasy picks, same bandwagon potential.
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Jarrod Bowen is the obvious choice. Somehow still scoring despite being stranded in tactical purgatory last month.
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Lucas Paqueta – Penalty duties + defensive contribution magnet. He does it all.
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Crysencio Summerville – Rapid, and now managed by someone who literally tried to sign him last summer.
If Nuno installs Summerville as his main out-ball, expect assist returns to fly.
Areola In, Ward-Prowse Out?
Interesting notes from Nuno’s debut:
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Alphonse Areola back in goal. Clean sheet watch begins.
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James Ward-Prowse was benched — and not even subbed on. His minutes under threat, especially after a failed Forest loan under Nuno.
If you were holding JWP in midfield… might be time to hit that transfer button.
The Fixtures: Green Light After Arsenal
Let’s not pretend they’re going to win at the Emirates but after that, it’s Brentford, Leeds, Newcastle and Burnley.
✅ All winnable
✅ All prime for counter-attacks
✅ All perfect for a Bowen haul or a Kilman clean sheet
Statr Verdict
Nuno to West Ham feels like one of those rare moments where club and coach are actually aligned. Potter tried to make this team into a possession-based project. It flopped. Nuno will let them play fast, ugly, and effective football.
Fantasy-wise, this means:
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Sell: Ward-Prowse, Hermansen, rotating midfielders
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Hold: Bowen, Summerville
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Buy: Diouf, Kilman, Paqueta, Areola
Jon Harrison , October 2025
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