Forget Nuno Espírito Santo and Slaven Bilic: 332-game Premier League veteran is the man to fix West Ham
Several replacements have emerged as pressure surrounding West Ham United manager Graham Potter intensifies
The managerial situation at West Ham United could be one of the major stories of the coming weeks in the Premier League.
Graham Potter has overseen a near-disastrous opening to the new season, with home thrashings in London derbies against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur compounding a start which has seen four defeats in five league games.
Reports continue to surface that the club are considering their options and are prepared to part ways with Potter in the hope of turning things around at London Stadium. With the club sat in 19th, securing their Premier League status has already become the primary target.
Former Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has emerged as a prime candidate after enjoying a highly successful spell at the City Ground, while former Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is reportedly being heavily considered as a more affordable option. The truth is that David Sullivan and the Hammers hierarchy may be ignoring the most perfect candidate of all.
Sean Dyche can turn things around at West Ham
There is no doubt that Sean Dyche could offer exactly what West Ham need right now. He may not be the most attractive candidate - but defensive solidity has been non-existent under Potter, while Dyche will believe in his ability to galvanise the club and unite the playing staff to one common goal.
Reports have suggested that the West Ham board are considering a short-term hire to ensure the club are safe from relegation this season, with a chance to reassess next summer. There is truly no manager more adept to that role right now than Dyche, who would grab the opportunity with both hands and make the Hammers a strong defensive unit once again. Depending on how well he did, he could even stick around for the long run. He has managed 332 games in the Premier League for Everton and Burnley and knows how to keep a side in the division.
Some West Ham fans may turn their nose up at this, which is understandable given their history of wanting football played in a certain way - but should that really be their priority right now? Are the club prepared to find themselves deep in a relegation scrap just because they were too stubborn to appoint a more ‘pragmatic’ manager?
Dyche should be seriously considered as next West Ham manager
It is surprising that Dyche’s name has not been mentioned more in the speculation surrounding the West Ham job. On paper, with the personnel and age profile of the squad available, there is no guarantee a more ‘forward-thinking’ manager would be able to get a tune out of them at all.
Case in point Potter, who has changed from an up-and-coming manager with a clear identity into a shrivelling shell of his former self in each of his last two jobs at West Ham and Chelsea. Such a fate will not befall Dyche, no matter the circumstances behind the scenes or fan backlash.
West Ham enjoyed their greatest success of the Premier League era under David Moyes, who deployed a disciplined defensive style complimented by strong counter-attacking to great effect. His record of multiple European finishes and a Conference League trophy speaks for itself.
Let’s not forget the position in which Moyes found the Hammers when he returned for his second spell in 2019. Teetering right above the relegation zone in 17th mid-way through the season, Moyes kept the club up then took them on a European adventure after a sixth-placed finish the very next season.
Dyche has proven himself as an established Premier League manager but has never truly been given the resources to take a club to the next level. Leading Burnley to finish in seventh and qualify for the Europa League in 2017/18 was a near-impossible achievement considering the budget the club had, while Dyche’s time at Everton was shrouded by points deductions and constant fire-fighting.
If he is brought in to keep West Ham up and then is given the resources to improve in the summer, could Dyche become West Ham’s next Moyes and inspire a rise up the table?