Shortly after Nuno Espirito Santo addressed the media on Friday afternoon, West Ham United announced an addition to his backroom staff at the Premier League outfit.
Of course, those who tuned in to watch Nuno preview Sunday’s clash with Eddie Howe’s Newcastle would have seen this coming.
Former Under-21 coach Mark Robson earned a London Stadium promotion earlier this month. He was handed a role in Nuno Espirito Santo’s first-team staff, alongside fellow academy coaches Billy Lepine, Gerard Prenderville and Steve Potts.
West Ham United are still very much in the process of cementing their new manager’s behind-the-scenes hierarchy. Another new face could be in the dugout when Newcastle arrive in the capital, meanwhile.
The Hammers have now confirmed that Rui Barbosa has been appointed as their Men’s First Team Goalkeeping Coach. And, as Nuno reunites with a very familiar face, he feels that Mads Hermansen, Alphonse Areola and the extremely highly-regarded Finlay Herrick will benefit greatly from his nous and knowledge.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty ImagesNuno Espirito Santo says Rui Barbosa will help Mads Hermansen at West Ham United
Barbosa has been part of Nuno’s staff at no fewer than six of his previous jobs.
During spells at Porto, Wolves, Al-Ittihad, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Rio Ave, the 52-year-old helped coax arguably career-best performances out of the likes of Matz Sels, Rui Patricio and John Ruddy.
He helped develop a young Jose Sa at Porto too, while also spending time with Iker Casillas during the Spanish legend’s autumn days in the professional game.
Considering the goalkeeping headache Nuno inherited at West Ham – Mads Hermansen remains on the bench behind Alphonse Areola – it is no wonder he pushed for the appointment of a man he trusts to make a big impact on the training pitch.
“I think Rui can help us,” Nuno said. “He has a lot of experience. He has been working with me for many, many years, and he’s always been able to improve goalies.”
That Areola is back between the sticks in East London – only a few months after the club spent £18 million on a supposed upgrade – rather sums up their problems right now. Chief among them, of course, being backfiring recruitment and the continued underperforming of many expensive acquisitions.
Hermansen, relegated with Leicester City last term, has not featured since conceding 11 goals in his first four outings.
Nuno hopes that the much-maligned Dane can turn a corner on Barbosa’s watch. Interestingly, the head coach was also keen to mention Finlay Herrick, the 19-year-old who many see as a future West Ham number one.
“I expect [Barbosa to have an] effect on Alphonse, on Mads, on Lukasz [Fabianski], on the young lad Finlay,” Nuno adds. “I think it is going to be important for us.”
Linus Kandolin called Finlay Herrick ‘unbelievable’ at West Ham
West Ham surprisingly re-called Herrick from a loan spell at Boreham Wood this week.
The recent England Under-20 call-up was in outstanding form at a team sitting fourth in the National League, and dreaming of a first-ever promotion to the EFL. In his 10 appearances, he kept five clean sheets and even saved a penalty.
Linus Kandolin, who enjoyed a brief spell on Graham Potter’s staff at the beginning of the season, feels West Ham have an ‘unbelievable’ talent in Herrick. In addition to his penchant for penalty saves, the teenager has made real strides with the ball at his feet of late.
“We sent Fin on loan to Boreham Wood in Non-League,” Kandolin told Goalkeeper.com. “He needed a new challenge and to play men’s football.
“He’s unbelievably good on the ball, but he needs to challenge himself by commanding his area and defending the box.
“We try to see what goalkeepers are good at and where they need to improve. Every goalkeeper will have a different pathway, but our main objective was to put that time into individual improvement.”
Nuno, meanwhile, is expected to start Areola for a sixth successive league match against Newcastle.
“When we got here, the change in the goalkeeper position had already been made [by Potter],” Nuno told ViaPlay a fortnight ago. “But we have seen a good and top professional goalkeeper [in Hermansen] who works, like many of his teammates.
“So, the relationship is developing, and it becomes normal as time goes by.
“As I mentioned to you, it was a decision that was made before our arrival, this change in the goalkeeper position. And we felt that, when we came to the club and had limited time, we had to continue with Alphonse.
“But all the players will get their chances. It’s a new start for all of them.”