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Evolution Not Revolution as Lopetegui Answers Critics

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Despite a challenging start to the season, West Ham fans have reasons to be optimistic about the team’s future. The Hammers have shown glimpses of their potential and are making progress under new manager Julen Lopetegui but it seems to be evolution rather than revolution.

The Irons has faced tough competition in our opening matches, including games against Aston Villa and Manchester City. While the results may not have been ideal, the team has shown resilience and determination even if the quality hasn’t always been on display.

There would have been many predicting the Hammers to have zero points after three games. Jeff Stelling’s comments on Talk Sport were a good case in point. The former Sky presenter suggested West Ham had produced poor results since Lopetegui took charge and had to be corrected by a colleague who pointed out that the Irons had in fact just beaten Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. Stelling has since apologised and more or less admitted his observations were influenced by his defence for former manager David Moyes, but the fact remains . . . many expected us to have zero points.

Instead, we have three, and could’ve had more had we not conceded so late on at home to Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the season.

The Crystal Palace game was an excellent and almost perfect away performance. We looked solid at the back throughout the majority of the match, and we looked devastating at times on the counterattack.

Most of West Ham’s new signings are integrating well into the squad. The players are slowly adapting to Julen Lopetegui’s style of play and contributing positively to the team’s performance.

With continued development and improvement, the Hammers can compete for success in the Premier League and hopefully challenge for European spots come the end of the season but it may take a while to get there.

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  • Ray says:

    I agree there is a lot to be positive about and as many have said already it does not seem as though Lopetegui has put his best team out yet. When he does, and assuming the first choices stay healthy, things will change. That said, I have no idea where that assessment of the Palace game comes from. Maybe I am wrong but as I recall WHU could have been 3 goals down at half time and the end result had more to do with luck than “a solid back line throughout”. We rode our luck on that one with 2 or 3 players who will hopefully not make the first team for much longer, and as the season progresses, I think we will have a team to get excited about.

  • Zahama says:

    Based on Slaven and Pellegrini we need to see where we are firstly at the end of teh season and secondly at the end of next season – in the meantime to use teh cliche let us take it one game at a time and enjoy the football

  • Andy Stone says:

    I’m hugely positive about the future and think it’s not too far away too. I did laugh at the headline, evolution not revolution. I remember that being Graham Taylor’s mantra when he first became the manager of England. I really hope we don’t end up saying “Do I not like that.”

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