It’s remarkable how quickly optimism has vanished at West Ham United once again.

After the spirited comeback against Everton, there was genuine belief that Nuno Espírito Santo might steady the ship and guide the Hammers back up the Premier League table. But back-to-back defeats — first a predictable one at Arsenal, then an embarrassing home loss to Brentford — have crushed that brief sense of hope.

Right now, West Ham look lifeless. They play without tempo, creativity, or conviction. The lack of ideas may take time to solve, but Nuno has at least one issue he can fix immediately — the team’s glaring lack of athleticism.

A team short on power and pace

There are plenty of problems plaguing West Ham on and off the pitch, but few are more obvious than their lack of physical sharpness. Against Brentford, that deficiency was impossible to ignore.

Jamie Carragher even branded the Irons “one of the slowest teams I’ve ever seen in Premier League history” — an exaggeration, perhaps, but not without truth. Brentford repeatedly outran and outmuscled the Hammers, particularly in the buildup to the opening goal when Igor Jesus had all the time in the world to finish.

Recruitment will need to address this problem long-term — with younger, more dynamic players brought in when the transfer window reopens — but Nuno can’t wait that long. He needs to act now, and that means making changes to his starting XI.

A necessary sacrifice in midfield

One of those changes should involve Andy Irving. While the 25-year-old’s technical ability is clear, his lack of mobility has become a major liability. Tomáš Souček still offers value through his work rate and aerial presence, meaning it’s Irving who should make way.

Removing him would allow Nuno to inject much-needed energy into midfield — and there’s already a player waiting in the wings who can do exactly that.

Magassa: The spark West Ham are missing

Soungoutou Magassa is far from the finished article, but the 22-year-old Frenchman has the raw tools West Ham desperately need. He’s athletic, powerful, and aggressive in duels — everything the current midfield lacks.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has praised Magassa’s ability to “spray passes to the wings” and his potential to thrive as a defensive midfielder thanks to his excellent reading of the game. Meanwhile, U23 scout Antonio Mango describes him as “strong in both offensive and defensive duels” and blessed with “pure athleticism.”

In short, Magassa offers pace, strength, and bite — the kind of qualities that could immediately make West Ham more competitive in midfield battles. Mistakes will come with experience, but his energy and defensive range would make it far harder for opponents to simply slice through the team as Brentford did.

And the numbers back it up. According to FBref, Magassa ranked among the top 1% of Ligue 1 midfielders last season for tackles plus interceptions, dribblers tackled, and ball recoveries. He also sat in the top 5% for tackles won and top 9% for successful take-ons per 90 minutes — proof that his defensive and transitional play already stands out at a high level.

A simple step toward progress

No one expects Nuno to transform West Ham overnight. But starting Magassa instead of Irving would be a step in the right direction — one that adds urgency, power, and athleticism to a team crying out for all three.

It wouldn’t solve every problem, but it would finally make the Hammers look like a side ready to fight again.