"West Ham United are without a league win in more than two months, so can one fit-again winger and two new strikers save them from the drop? Vulnerability from set-pieces has been a problem – one Spurs can exploit..."
Rob Daly, official club commentator, presenter and pundit
What has happened at West Ham?
In late September, Graham Potter was sacked with the Hammers sitting 19th, boasting just three points from five games. Nuno Espirito Santo’s subsequent appointment seemed a smart one – a manager more tactically aligned to previously successful boss David Moyes. West Ham drew 1-1 at Everton in Nuno’s opening game, a credible start, and while losses to Arsenal, Brentford and Leeds followed, they then beat Newcastle and Burnley in early November. However, there has been no league win since, 10 games without victory, as Nuno chops and changes tactics and personnel to try to find the right formula. The former Spurs boss had tremendous joy playing three at the back at Forest – but has mainly used a 4-2-3-1 at West Ham. Regardless, they just haven’t been able to shore things up at the back.
How the Hammers concede...
West Ham have the league’s leakiest defence (43 against) while there’s been a huge vulnerability from crosses into the box. They’ve conceded from the most headers (11) and set-pieces (18) in the Premier League. This is good news for Spurs, having scored the opener from a corner against West Ham back in September through Pape Matar Sarr, before Lucas Bergvall made it 2-0 with a special header of his own. In fact, no team has scored more goals from corners in the Premier League this season than Spurs (11).
Can Summerville save West Ham's season?
Having joined for £25m from Leeds in August 2024, Crysencio Summerville’s signing looked a coup for West Ham – the then-reigning Championship Player of the Year. However, a hamstring injury ended his season in January 2025, and Nuno has been slowly integrating him back into the team recently. "He's still looking for that goal… he’s a talented player that needs to exploit his actions better,” the manager said before last weekend’s cup tie with QPR. The Dutch winger delivered with a thumping first half strike, further well saved attempts before producing a remarkable pirouette away from his full-back in extra-time to set up Taty Castellanos’ winner. “I just try to do my best in the games and I’m trying to show the fans what they’ve been missing in the nine months without Crysencio Summerville,” he said post-match.
Two new strikers...
The Hammers have made moves to change their frontline options, with Niklas Fullkrug loaned out to AC Milan, while Callum Wilson seems out of the picture, with the club spending £47m total on two new strikers. Pablo Felipe scored 10 goals in 13 league games this season for Portuguese side Gil Vicente – a penalty box finisher, good in the air, and he’ll look to press the centre-backs when Spurs play out. The 27-year-old Taty Castellanos meanwhile is more experienced, having made his Argentina debut in 2024. He scored 22 goals in 98 games for Lazio, including two this season, while his FA Cup winner last week, in just his second game for West Ham, was a powerful header. "Every match is a battle, and I'm here to contribute that, to try to bring that energy, that fighting spirit I have inside, so that every match is as important and as tough as possible.” That’ll be music to West Ham fan’s ears – and with only seven different scorers this season (a Premier League low) they need the new signings to hit the ground running.
Last time we met...