New West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui left his previous role at Wolverhampton Wanderers due to a lack of support in the transfer market.
However, fortunes have changed for the former Real Madrid boss, who now finds himself benefiting from an unprecedented spending spree that has seen West Ham recruit top-level players.
Hammers’ director of football, Tim Steidten, has left no stone unturned in his pursuit of transfers, remarkably strengthening every area of the squad. Steidten’s recruitment work-rate has been nothing short of sensation and at times he has seemingly been in two places at once.
As a Hammers fan, this is a transfer window I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams.
The contrast for Lopetegui over the past year is stark. Twelve months ago, he left Wolves due to a lack of backing, yet at the start of this campaign, he finds himself in charge of a squad completely reconstructed in his image. Remarkable.
No excuses for J-Lo now. He has a large blank canvas and all the colour oil paints he needs on his palette to produce his fine art masterpiece. It’s up to him. He could be a Guardiola, or an Ancelotti. Even an Emery would do – he has all the Spanish pedigree – or will he fall away like many other managers before?
One thing for certain David Moyes could paint ….. three coats of Magnolia, not a bare patch anywhere!
Just as long as he doesn’t become a Pellegrini! Oops, did I really just say that? 😱
Moyes did paint, but had great difficulty getting the right colours. It was no fun watching his paint dry!
If we’re using Metaphors, then In Moyes defence he seemed ‘Colour Blind’ in many instances, and completely out of touch with what was actually transpiring on the canvas, players in the wrong position, sitting back far too often anr pushing forward completely at the wrong time,
having said that look what we achieved in his tenure, albeit ‘Colour Blind’ to the colours gracing his canvas, those colours performed admirably, to understand Moyes and his art style you really need to look at it in Black & White.
I’m concerned by the usual ott expectations, this isn’t s spending spree this is making up for the sheer and contemptible neglect with which Moyes treated squad building, “I like a small squad”. Have you all forgotten. So let’s get that straight first before the pressure is piled on Jlo. Right backs? We’ve spent 5m on one right back in the past 7 years. We have a 35 yo at left back who would struggle in the championship. We had one of the 4 worst cb combo in the league. We had two 34 yo strikers who are both an embarrassment. Our central midfield is the slowest and unskilled in the pL. our back up winger cornet is destroyed as a footballer. thank you for nothing Moyes you could’ve gone on a high instead you left as an utter disgrace arrogant to the end
Really? The only embarrassment is you! I’ve got utter contempt for people like you who love to just troll and bash. We’re you spouting all that rubbish when we lifted the trophy, or were you singing Bowens On Fire? What a hypocrite! Obviously you must be some kind of qualified coach with grade A passes in all your coaching badges….Oh, no you aren’t! So maybe keep your opinions to yourself as that kind of abuse isn’t welcome here!
It’s a big overhaul, it’ll take a few months for all involved to be singing off the same song sheet.
I’d not be surprised if a few spankings happen early on, but as Christmas approaches I’m thinking we’ll see a team that’s top 6.
Top 6 that’s giving cause for the top 4 to be looking worriedly over their shoulders.
With Villa and Newcastle likely doing the same, we might finally have an interesting EPL season where the “big” boys don’t get it all their own way.
Spuds, top 8. Just in case you’re wondering 🤣
“I’d not be surprised if a few spankings happen early on,”
Fair point, fans will require some patience as the team/rotation comes together. But West Ham fans in general are knowledgeable enough realise this and so long as we are seeing progress, with players giving 100%, then this maybe be a great season.
Still top have top end CF so let’s see before we go mad with predictions
Yeah the players are there now ..its getting them to play the system he wants…I agree i think wexwill get beat a few times early on but once we do ..we will.be a force..
Let’s hope we hit tye ground running ⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️
Yes have to agree to all of the above..He has everything he has asked for …To be fair Sullivan has backed his manager ..Didnt think i would ever say that !…So dont expect too much early on ..But as the season progresses i am thinking a top six finish ..COYI
We have managed to get decent players through the door at sensible prices (Kilman, maybe over paid)
£110m on a squad rebuild is remarkable & still AWB coming in. Moyes spent £187m a couple of summers (2022/23) ago & left us with a sh¿t show, I’m not talking net spend, just outlay.
We now have a strong squad with depth so we options from the bench.
Should be a decent season with europe a sensible expectation ⚒
We’ve definitely grown as a club, establishing ourselves as European regulars over last few years has made us a much more respected club. Everyone can see the project and perhaps for the first time believe it. When we say we want to win trophies nobody is going to scoff at that anymore. That’s why it’s so important to get back into Europe at the end of this season. That’s why it’s more important we spend in this window than perhaps any other we’ve ever had. If we don’t qualify for Europe we’re going to lose players left right and centre to bigger clubs. If really is a make or break season.
Is he one of those managers who can’t make it work unless he has millions to spend?