‘Lopetegui Needs Results’ shouted the Guardian last night :”Julen Lopetegui has two games to save job as West Ham consider replacements.”
Jacob Steinberg, well-connected journalist and remembered by Hammers’ fans for calling several of this summer’s signings (and it was he who worked on Mark Noble’s autobiography) is not normally one for sensationalising.
It is clear that the pressure widely reported in recent days and published on Claret and Hugh last week appears to be materialising: As the West Ham board stare down the barrel of another two heavy defeats against Newcastle and Arsenal the consequences of failure for head coach Lopetegui are being made pretty clear.
We have seen this before with the ‘must-win’ game against Everton that wasn’t must-win after all. However, this time, I suspect David Sullivan already has his shortlist ready to go with preferred options pencilled in too: The Hammers Chairman is not a Premier League boss to leap without the successor already lined up, waiting in the wings.
Steinberg teases Hammers’ fans with:”The Guardian understands there are others coaches in the running. Long- and short-term appointments are being considered.” Which will be music to over 85% of Hammers fans- the number voicing no confidence in Lopetegui in a recent on-line poll.
Long and short term? Either. Bring them on. Both options have their merits, the opportunity that would give Steidten and Sullivan to to ‘do it right’ this time is clear. West Ham have endured a crisis with the appointment of ‘the Spanish Moyes’ – getting another cheap choice in, who fails to turn this expensive squad into a successful team would turn a crisis into a disaster.
Lop off this 🤡 head and announce Hoeness!
Viva la revolution!!
If we were to get rid of him, then would like to see Noble come in on an interim basis initially, as he would instantly have the respect of the players that are there & would probably give opportunities to some of the youth set up & if the players don’t respond would need to start questioning the players. No point in getting someone who is not partially familiar with the club, as we cannot afford to take another risk that is going to back fire at this point, then come next summer would like to see us go for someone like Will Still. Any decent coach should be able to take that group of players & have us finishing comfortably in the league.
The problem is Sullivan. Whilst I am no fan of J Lo and his position I think is already pretty untenable, Sullivan will simply replace him with another clone and off we go again. Steidten needs to pick the manager otherwise nothing aligns. It’s the only way we’ll get out of this spiral of doom.
Hoeness will stop this circus 🎪