West Ham Bounce While Fulham Sink as Portuguese Bosses Diverge

For supporters in Portugal who keep one eye on London whenever the Premier League whistle blows, the last eight days offered a snapshot of two Portuguese managers travelling in opposite directions. West Ham United under Nuno Espírito Santo stitched together back-to-back league victories for the first time since early spring, while Marco Silva and Fulham slid further into the relegation conversation after a dismal visit to Merseyside.

East London finally catches its breath

The mood around Stratford has swung sharply since the former Wolves and Spurs boss arrived on 27 September. Inside a damp London Stadium, a noisy home end watched a 3-1 dismantling of Newcastle United and, six days later, a nervy 3-2 edging of Burnley. Those two results propelled the Hammers to mid-table safety, broke a four-match winless run at home and, just as crucially, bought the new coach time to embed his ideas. Season-ticket holders who had booed after an autumn draw with Everton were suddenly chanting the manager’s name; television audiences in Portugal clocked the change in volume.

What Espírito Santo changed – and why it matters

Coaching insiders in England point to a handful of tweaks that explain the quick uptick. First, the Portuguese technician restored a compact defensive block, asking midfield anchor Soungoutou Magassa to sit so deep he effectively became a third centre-back out of possession. Second, he instructed full-backs Diouf and Henry to surge only on pre-planned triggers, reducing the chaotic transitions that had plagued Graham Potter’s final weeks. Up front, Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville were told to exchange flanks every ten minutes, a ploy that ripped open Newcastle’s left side and later left Burnley’s rookie right-back dizzy. The cumulative effect has been more possession regained in the middle third, fewer long balls hit in panic and – tied to the Portuguese school’s enduring love of the counter-attack – faster, more purposeful breaks.

Fulham unravel while the rain pours on Silva

Across the capital, the omens look darker. Fulham’s 2-0 defeat at Everton meant one point from the last four fixtures, a tumble that leaves them hovering just above the drop zone. Supporters booed the decision to substitute João Palhinha, arguably their best player, and post-match questions centred on whether Silva’s trademark high-press has become predictable. From a Portuguese angle, the image of the former Estoril coach trudging down the Goodison tunnel in contrast to Espírito Santo’s fist-pumping lap of honour could not be starker.

Why Portuguese coaches still fascinate English football

There are now three Lusitanian tacticians in England’s top flight – José Moura at Nottingham Forest joins the two Londoners – and each carries different expectations. The island’s fascination dates back to José Mourinho’s early-2000s swagger, yet the current crop must navigate a league richer, faster and mercilessly data-driven. Espírito Santo’s early rebound will amplify Portuguese pride at home, where Premier League viewership has surged 23% since 2022. Conversely, Silva’s wobble underscores how swiftly a reputation can fray. Agents in Lisbon whisper that owners in England still value Portuguese adaptability, but the margin for error has shrunk.

What the next fortnight could bring

West Ham travel to Crystal Palace after the international break, then host Spurs under the Olympic Park lights. Four more points would nudge them toward the European places before Christmas. Fulham, meanwhile, face an awkward double-header against Leicester and Manchester City; drop both and the board may feel forced to act. For fans in Portugal, the contrasting fortunes of two familiar voices offer a reminder that, even abroad, football careers hinge on the thin line between a lucky deflection and an untimely red card.