West Ham coach Julen Lopetegui unwittingly highlighted one of this season’s biggest failings when he tried to explain yesterday’s 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Predictably, the Hammers boss pointed to Edson Alvarez’s red card as the game’s turning point—an important moment, no doubt. But the Hammers were already second-best up to that point, and once again, Lopetegui waited until halftime to get a grip on the game.
When asked about Alvarez’s dismissal, Lopetegui said, “It was a key moment because we were not able to equalize, and then straight away, it’s a red card. Before the half-time break, we were considering any changes and looking forward to the second half. At the start of the second half, we managed three or four corners, waiting for our moment to level the match. Unfortunately, they scored the second goal.”
And there it is—once again, West Ham seem content to surrender momentum with the intent of rescuing things after a halftime team talk and personnel change. But what about actually getting the starting eleven right in the first place? Lopetegui seems to be constantly firefighting, trying to solve problems he created.
Apart from the 4-1 win against Ipswich, the Hammers haven’t dominated both halves in a game this season. Lopetegui’s constant tactical tweaks and personnel changes make it impossible to build rhythm or a cohesive strategy.
If the next week at the training ground is spent licking wounds and seeing ourselves as victims of a red card, we’re in trouble. Nottingham Forest were considerably better than West Ham at the City Ground, and I bet Sean Dyche can’t wait for next weekend.
Past time for change at the top.
Our lack pace in midfield has led to quite a few cards this season and will be used by other teams in coming matches. Really need midfielders who have an understanding between them AND have good pace to combat through runs
Smirky Soler epitomises what’s going on at WHU. You have overpaid ‘stars’ trotting around the pitch thinking they’re better than others and they don’t understand the EPL at all.
On the other hand you’ve got Wood who gets it, is part of a team that is greater than it’s sum of parts.
The rot was set before JL came in when some fans turned on the manager. It mightn’t have been attractive at times but at least he’d have set out properly and wouldn’t have allowed the attitudes to fester the way it is now.
And please explain why Alvarez needed to make that tackle !!!
If that was true, how do you explain Moyes results from January through May? He had reached the end of his contract and appeared to be out of ideas. It was time for him to go. The real problem is the method and criteria for choosing a replacement. They chose badly and we are suffering the consequences.
Shows you what a muppet he is “ It was a key moment because we were unable to equalise” difficult to equalise when in 45 minutes you haven’t had a shot on or even off target ! This bloke is a clown, and he needs to go sooner rather than later. The bigger picture, though, is Sullivan. As other blogs have mentioned, while this Spiv is running our club nothing will change for the better 👎
Spivs, Muppets and clowns. Thanks for the in-depth analysis.
Try looking at what the fan base is like and then compare it to Forest’s yesterday.
Wonder who they Muppets really are …
“Lopetegui’s constant tactical tweaks and personnel changes make it impossible to build rhythm or a cohesive strategy.”
Hmm, what was David Moyes criticised for? NOT making tactical/personnel changes?