I’m sure if you conducted a poll amongst West Ham United fans now there’d be about half a percent who wanted Lopetegui to stay on after this most disastrous last five months. The players, too, I feel certain would want this nightmare of “death by one ‘must-win game at a time” to end: There was no passion to fight for the head coach on show last night at the King Power stadium.
Even Jarrod Bowen showed resignation having pretty much run himself into the ground.
Lopetegui has lost the dressing room, he’s lost the fan base and he’s lost his way.
For what comes next and for a faster recovery, West Ham need to dismiss Julen Lopetegui immediately.
However it cannot just be me who has noticed the impending ‘car crash’ irony of the upcoming match – Lopetegui’s previous side Wolverhampton Wanderers come to London Stadium in less than six days.
Lopetegui walked out on Wolves just nine months into his deal. Surely it would be heartless to make his last game for West Ham a very public humiliation against his former employers – who will come with a very personal reason to stick it to Lopetegui and West Ham.
But then, the cynic in me thinks – maybe that’s the plan all along – David Sullivan waiting for his coach to ‘walk’ instead of firing him? (with the resultant compensation package ramifications). I’m sure I speak for tens of thousands of others that would like to see a line drawn under this now for everyone’s benefit. For pity sake, don’t drag it out until the weekend.
There are three very valuable Premier League points up for grabs: Lopetegui has more chance of being trodden on by a dinosaur than taking those points against Wolves.
If for nothing else, for Player morale, for the faster recovery of the team and to escape the threat of a relegation battle, Sullivan needs to put on his big boy pants, admit he was wrong and do the deed today.
Your opening line was interesting Martin because earlier today I was reading about a poll on the BBC Sports page where they were asking “Should he go” or “Should he stay” and the score at that time was 51% to 49% in favour of him going. Surely not I thought but then concluded that most of the voters were supporters of Spurs or Arsenal plus those from clubs below West Ham.
Lopetegui does not have the class to admit he is not up to the job and go of his own accord.
I can’t see why no one is looking at Tim.
He’s blown £150m in the summer, he signed the players who he’s got to work with,. He’s in charge of scouting and picking the players.
How anyone considered kilman at 40m, mavropanos at 20m ( previously bombed by arsenal), Gilherme for 25m (who) ,
Rodriguez the snail, and the list keeps going.
Does super Tim really go unnoticed in this mess…
Rodriguez and Kilmarnock both on JLo not Tim FYI
For God’s sake why are they waiting until Friday? Surely the results speak for themselves when you concede 8 goals in the last 2 games and it could easily have been 10! He should have been sacked during the international break but typical Sullivan drag if out as long as possible to save a few bob. It’s literally watching a car crash in slow motion. Just get on with it and sack him now.
Players also need to take a long hard look at themselves after picking up huge wages and still conceding 2nd highest number of goals this season. Coufal, Ings, Antonio, Mavrapanos, Kilman, Tobido. Soucek, Alvarez, Areola, Rodriguez. Fulkrug etc mostly experienced internationals making basic errors & need to be sold. Tim also under severe pressure needs backing but cannot afford any more mistakes. Just get it done and admit you were wrong.
Hear hear…
Or, even better, hop in a Time Machine to back before the international break or… the summer? Previous year straight after ECL win?
When LOSEpetegui walked out on Wolves he still got an agreed pay off such is the nature of big contracts . Win or lose against Wolves , overall Westham are barely treading water and have no chance of any success under SH1Tpetegui’s non-tactics that are clearly insensing all the players to the point of violence . Such a toxic situation is enormously destructive causing tensions throughout the club . A new coach installed now will defuse the Wolves revenge issue . SACK SH1Tpetegui now and save Westham ..
JLo knows he can’t walk this time as he has zero credibility and there will be even less clubs crazy enough to want to hire this fraud.
Why do they need a meeting to decide JLo fate it’s simple you just tell him your sacked there is no way he will just walk he thinks he’s doing a great job and Sullivan must be thinking the same otherwise he would have gone long ago it’s crazy why is it so difficult for Sullivan to accept he got it wrong and get rid he needs to put his ego to one side for the good of the club wolves will be delighted if JLo is still in charge come Monday I go along with the idea of boycotting the wolves game but the majority would not go along with it so we will have to suffer it till JLo finally goes
Just out of interest, assuming this manager is replaced, how long will you’ve give the next manager before you decide they have to go? It’s just by my calculations the season last for 38 games and at the end you know how well the team and manager has performed. But hey ho if you’ve seen enough then you must be right, despite the possesion football, that so many (it is claimed) wanted and what did for Moyes.
Just for the record against Leicester the Irons had 61% possesion, 31 shots, 10 on target, 10 off and 11 blocked, 9 corners. Leicester had 8 shots, 6 on targte 2 off. How ironic that if this is Lopetegui’s last game…. he was beaten by Moyesball 👍
Stats mean nothing, performances and points clearly demonstrate just how bad we are under a coach who can’t set up a team.
It must surely be obvious to anyone that Lopetegui is done. Not sacking him is an act of self harm now.
We need to appoint a new head coach is unavoidable.
Start by putting Noble in charge supported by the academy coaches, now so as they have a few days to prepare for Wolves. That solves any dressing room issues at a stroke and gives the fans something substantive to get behind.
Have Steidten approach Hoeness as the standout candidate, we do not need any repeat of the cheaper the better surely that lesson is learned. Cheapest is most expensive if it blows out in no time at all.
But what if they do a ‘Newcastle’ and beat Wolves?
Wouldn’t that be just a conplicstion in the decision making process? Maybe used as a reason to delay it.
Sullivan wont act until he has to. Still 3 points above relegation zone. He will give Loppy another game and even if we lose will find a reason to give him another chance.
Decisive decision making comes from people who know what they are doing and are not insecure with pride and ego.
The pain to continue for us all im afraid
lol – don’t think much chance of him walking, Martin- he likes himself and believes Pep learnt all
He knows from “The Lopsy Guide to Football” going forward I’m a bit concerned about Dodgy Dave
Bringing in another loser.
Now is too long it should have been done in the International break along with the disastrous SNIDEn
Not sure why the hate for Timmy. If a competent manager utilized the talent properly we would be top half at least.
It doesn’t matter how fast the race car is if the driver doesn’t know which pedal does what or cannot figure out the steering wheel.
Ignore her!
Hasn’t got a clue about West Ham. Probably not even been to our stadium and clearly has an agenda.
Seem very misguided & misinformed. Only seems intent on trying on mischief.
Got it. Maybe Brady?