Journalist Dean Jones has shared how people around West Ham United are really feeling about manager Julen Lopetegui after a mixed start to the new Premier League season.
Lopetegui seals much-needed win to ease West Ham pressure
Last weekend, Lopetegui watched his side put Ipswich Town to the sword in what was a very impressive 4-1 win at the London Stadium.
£29 million striker and his reps now considering possible move to West Ham
He’s been called a “giant”.
ByEmilio Galantini
Goals from Michail Antonio, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta cemented a thrilling three points for Lopetegui, who was under pressure heading into the contest, and the victory made it their first since late August.
However, the fact remains that West Ham have won just twice in their opening seven matches this term – drawing two and losing the other three – coming after a summer transfer window where they spent nearly £120 million on nine new signings.
West Ham summer signings
From
Fee (Transfermarkt)
Maximilian Kilman
Wolves
€47.5m
Crysencio Summerville
Leeds United
€29.3m
Niclas Fullkrug
Borussia Dortmund
€27m
Luis Guilherme
Palmeiras
€23m
Mohamadou Kante
Paris FC
Undisclosed
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Man Utd
€18m
Wes Foderingham
Sheffield United
Free transfer
Guido Rodriguez
Real Betis
Free transfer
Jean-Clair Todibo
Nice
Loan transfer
Carlos Soler
PSG
Loan transfer
West Ham summer departures
To
Fee (Transfermarkt)
Flynn Downes
Southampton
€17.85m
James Ward-Prowse
Nottingham Forest
Loan
Maxwel Cornet
Southampton
Loan
Nayef Aguerd
Real Sociedad
Loan
Said Benrahma
Lyon
€14.4m
Angelo Ogbonna
Watford
Free transfer
Thilo Kehrer
Monaco
€11m
Nathan Trott
FC Copenhagen
€1.5m
Ben Johnson
Ipswich Town
Free transfer
Joseph Anang
St Patrick’s Athletic
Free transfer
Lopetegui has been under some pressure as a result, with some believing that he is at risk of losing the West Ham job if things don’t improve quickly.
“It’s always difficult trying to judge what the owners and directors will do,” said former West Ham recruitment chief Mick Brown to Football Insider recently, who left his position in June.
“Their knowledge of the game is not great and they’ve made many mistakes in the past. They were warned to be careful what they wished for, but having made that decision [replacing Moyes with Lopetegui], they’re wary of making another mistake.
“I don’t know Lopetegui and I don’t know how he works, but if we’re looking at the results he’s had so far, which is what the game is about, he’s definitely at risk.”
People "not convinced" about Lopetegui at West Ham
Speaking on the Ranks FC Ultras podcast, via GiveMeSport, reporter Jones has shared that people around West Ham are not convinced about Lopetegui right now.
“I’ll be honest, I’ve heard reports that there are a fair few people that are not convinced about Lopetegui, and obviously there was friction recently between him and Mohammed Kudus in the dressing room at half-time,” said Jones.
“So there are other layers here that could affect the situation, but there’s emotion too, that is going to impact how this goes, and we’ll see whether they’re (the West Ham board) on the right side of those feelings once we come out of this break.
“Honestly, I’d probably sack him (Lopetegui). I think they’ve got it wrong. I don’t think this is the right man for them. I think it’s a waste of time. I’d sack him.”
David Sullivan’s decision to hire the 58-year-old was an understandable one considering his big-game experience, and past jobs managing the likes of Spain and Real Madrid, but his prestige won’t save him if lacklustre results continue.