For Julen Lopetegui to suggest that whole loss at Spurs was about a mad eight minutes when West Ham United lost focus and conceded three times suggests all was well in the first half. It wasn’t. Mohammed Kudus‘ goal may have given the Hammers a lead but remember, Spurs laid siege to West Ham’s goal with no less than 12 corners in the first half. That is the second highest ever recorded in the Premier League so if the head coach thinks we did ok, he needs a reality check by watching that half again.
He told the club web site whufc.com:“I think it was a match where we started well and did good things. We were able to score and to have other clear chances, so it was a pity that we suffered their goal before half time, but this can happen.”
“After the second goal, we had a lot of time to be competitive and to draw or even win the match, and I think the worst thing today was the eight minutes when we were not competitive.”
It wasn’t solely about eight minutes. It was about Paquetá losing the ball and being porous throughout the first half. Lopetegui compounded a bad selection decision by sending him out again for the second half. Antonio was blown by half time and Spurs just played around him in the second half. Kudus’ head wasn’t right from the start. Certainly for the second half he was ambling around. Our midfield was woefully immobile and uncompetitive as soon as Spurs’ switched tactics.
Wan-Bissaka remaining in a forward position whilst Spurs scored again and again. Wrong decision, should have been pulled back for the second half. Better a dull 30 minutes in the second half with no goals conceded.
So to suggest it was all about a mad eight minutes is naive. Actually the defence wasn’t the issue. Strolling through a non-functioning midfield again and again as we over committed seemed more the case. And by the way, Julen, if you can stop your goalkeeper turning over possession every time he clears, the burden on the defence will be that much less.
Lopetegui needs to get honest with himself. There were some awful selection issues. Some bad substitution issues. And some strategic blunders. So, go put those right in the next five days and then worry about “changing the mentality”.
Otherwise what is at present a drama will start to look like a looming crisis.
A colleague on C&H posted: “I know it’s only been 1/2hr but some really great footy by our boys!”
I agree. That first half gave us hope. Dissing it like there were no signs of green shoots appearing does not sound like the match some of us watched.
We are back to old days when the players don’t run for the club they just walk around. If the manager was to watch the wolves, Manchester City match he would see both teams ran to the end and played for wearing there club shirt. Earn you wages
I thought we had some spirited and exciting attacking moments in the first half which sadly fizzled out in the second so I don’t see where your criticism about the first half comes from…the second half…? abysmal! Agreed.
Everybody has an opinion and many of us generally share the same opinions. Blind Freddy can see some of these bleedin’ obvious problems because the same things are happening again and again with regularity.
For example players placed out of position and full backs gallavanting upfield and abandoning their defensive reponsibilities. Kudus does not like playing on the left wing and Wan-Bisaka is obviously being told to go up into attack.
Why on earth can’t our head coach see his own errors? He seems to be in denial. By now he should know his players pretty well. Maybe it’s time the coach was on the next bus out of town! Could Harry (Graham) Potter come in and wave a magic wand around West Ham?
Have to agree with all comments above…We are now losing by large margins as the season rolls on. These are not tight games ..In fact i haven’t seen a close game with us all season.
I have commented before that the players need to take responsibility..They need to get together as a group…But saying that if JL keeps on putting square pegs in round holes,then they will get even more disconnected from each other.
I think the writing is on the wall..Its just that to sack him would have to be admitting that the club..Sullivan…Has made a mistake with his appointment..Sooner or later someone has to grasp the nettle.
I have seen so many people say it is paqueta who’s at fault, or areola etc etc but nobody seems to see the blindingly obvious, namely that soucek playing means we can’t play effectively through midfield as he doesn’t have the skill set. We know he will score a goal now and again but his constant presence in the middle of the park stifles any concept of progressing the ball through the phases, he has been a magnificant servant for us but if lopetegui continues to lay him we will see the team get over run in midfield on a weekly basis
It could a lot better anyday if the manager didn’t pick out of form players and had serious tactics including players in their right positions. Potentially the back 4 seems OK. The main problems are midfield and centre forward and Lopetegui keeps picking the same players that are not delivering. Not offering protection of the defence and real energy or creativity to go forward. Then we are depending every game on a 35 year old striker….
agreed, 100% its crappy slow porous midfield that need surgery
Thanks for this article with very accurate concern points.
1. As long as Lopetegui is gonna pick the same disastrous first 11, without correctly assessing player forms and attitudes, West Ham is in for more hidings. That we seriously cannot afford, and the board should not allow.
– Kudus + Pacqueta: Their emotional issues stand out as a sore thumb. Kudus + the Ghana team have been criticized for months, with Kudus not performing. His goals have dried up for both Ghana + WH. And has attitude towards criticism stinks. What about behind WH closed doors. Pacqueta’s match fixing problem is clearly a heavy burden. The best is for a formal decision to rest him asap.
– How Antonio can still be picked in the first 11 (after International matches, where he never did well) Surely Ings or Bowen can do better. Tells you something about the coach and his lack of understanding player form etc?
– And yes the keeper and the lack of proper centre back strength… ie. Dawson (who on sun put the ManC viking in check again) and Ogbanna – When they left WH’s goals has become a picnic spot for opposion.
• Lemme stop right there, because the problems are everywhere, starting with the board, the coach, captain, individual players, and team corporately etc, etc.
• Lord, help us. Coyi – God bless West Ham.
good points Simon. Some of these have been clear for weeks to all except the head coach..