What Nuno Espirito Santo Did to Impress West Ham Fans in First Game After Replacing Graham Potter

Nuno Espirito Santo began life as West Ham United manager by overseeing a creditable 1-1 draw away at Everton on Monday night.

Barely 48 hours after replacing Graham Potter as Hammers boss — and less than three weeks after being sacked by Nottingham Forest — Espirito Santo saw his new team come from behind to earn a point after Michael Keane’s first-half opener.

Jarrod Bowen equalised for the visitors, who recorded 14 shots at the Hill Dickinson Stadium — more than in any of their previous seven matches this season.

West Ham fans encouraged by Nuno Espirito Santo’s first match

After the game, many West Ham supporters took to social media to praise their new manager for making an encouraging start.

“Much better than that dross under Potter,” tweeted one fan. “Will take that with Nuno only two days in.”

Another fan wrote: “Nuno managed a game without even having his coaching staff, and honestly, he was way better than Potter lol”.

A slightly longer message from a third Hammers fan read: “Never complain about a point away from home. Think it was important for Nuno to get a positive early like this with Arsenal next likely being a defeat. Gives everyone hope we can steady the ship. Positive signs across the pitch as well.”

Many fans had been praising Espirito Santo before Monday’s game had even started, after news broke that he had made a big selection call by leaving James Ward-Prowse out of the squad.

Ward-Prowse had become a target for disgruntled fans in recent weeks, with many venting their frustration at Potter for what they perceived to be undeserved special treatment. This led to Ward-Prowse featuring in some of the weird Graham Potter Face Swap memes that went viral on social media last week.

But while team selection may have been the first thing that Espirito Santo got right in the eyes of Hammers fans, it was his reaction to Bowen’s equaliser that impressed some even more during Monday’s match.

Nuno Espirito Santo impresses Hammers supporters with his “passion”

Previous boss Potter was accused of lacking personality and passion at times during his disappointing nine-month spell in charge — which yielded just six wins in 25 games.

Therefore, many Hammers fans were thrilled to see Espirito Santo react to Bowen’s goal with a determined fist-pump, while marching around his technical area. It was certainly not a crazy celebration by any stretch of the imagination, but one fan commented: “Love the passion from Nuno there”.

Indeed, “passion” was a word repeatedly used by West Ham supporters on social media on Monday night.

One message read: “Well, that was a much improved performance by @WestHam. Something we lacked of late, with some passion, power and decent football. Still issues over the defence, some of our attack and lack of depth, but #Nuno has something to work with at least. Respect the point.”

Another fan added: “So much better love the passion NUNO showed something for us to build on COYI”.

Hammers fan and YouTuber JaackMaate wrote: “Nuno has showed more passion in that 1 minute goal celebration than Potter did in the entirety of his tenure.”

A different Hammers fan declared: “Seen more passion in Nuno in this 1 game than Potter did in 6 months”.

Neutrals notice West Ham improvement under Nuno Espirito Santo

It was not only West Ham supporters who noticed an improvement on the pitch following Espirito Santo’s arrival.

One Leeds fan noted: “West Ham look miles better under Nuno after only one game.”

An Arsenal supporter added: “West Ham look much improved straight away. Nuno is a quality manager man. Potts, Diouf and Summerville for West Ham look like good players”.

Meanwhile, a disgruntled Man United fan commented: “Nuno has got West Ham more competitive in one game than Amorim has United in a year.”

What did Nuno Espirito Santo say after his first West Ham game?

Speaking to Sky Sports after Monday’s match, Espirito Santo said: “We have to learn so many things. It was a tough game. The reaction was good and overall we compete well.

“There’s positives and negatives but now it’s about analysing and trying to find the right solutions. Our message today was very clear, it was competing as a team, being closer to each other and the boys did well. Overall, it’s a good first game for us.

“In the second half, we started defending better. Everything starts from there. I think the team did well in that aspect. Things will come naturally and it’s about taking the right steps forward.

“The boys are slowly understanding that a football match is also about how we close our own goal, how many chances we concede — these are things we have to work on.”