The ritual that is the Premier League press conference seemed more of a precursor to a public execution today. Never before have I heard more than one journalist apologise for asking upsetting questions of a football coach. When Lopetegui was asked ‘what’s gone wrong’ with his time at West Ham, the journo’ in question apologised after for his bluntness.
As did others for asking ‘upsetting’ questions. There was an air of -was it – sympathy? In the press room for this tortured, tense, tired man.
In what seemed a specifically pre-planned sentiment, Lopetegui launched a belated defence of his players after so many reports of bust-ups with Mohammed Kudus, Jean Clair Todibo and Edson Alvarez: This is the first time I have heard the Hammers head coach openly try to shift the narrative rather than bluster his way through:
“The players have been fantastic”
“I don’t have anything to say against my players”
“I will not talk bad about my players”
“I accept all the responsibility and pressure.”
And when asked directly about those dressing room bust-up stories, Lopetegui could only try and play down, But he couldn’t deny:”The things that happen in the dressing room have to stay in the dressing room… Nothing important happened.”
It seems to me that he has finally realised that the methods are just as important as the results on the pitch, and being reported as overseeing very clear conflicts with several West Ham players can only end one way. So now he is seeking to be more inclusive in his words and shelter the players from blame for the predicament he is in, hoping perhaps to win back favour within his own squad.
And of course, Lopetegui is focused solely on the Wolves game, admitting he’s looking no further ahead:“
The next match you play is the most difficult match you play.”
When asked if he would leave as he had done before, Lopetegui tried to play down his walk out at Wolves and commented: I have a big commitment in my work always, with my clubs always, and I am very happy to stay in West Ham, very proud to be in West Ham.
I feel sorry for him. He means well. But it feels as if he’s involved in a game of ‘chicken’ with the board who seem to be prepared to wait for him to walk out, thus saving them from any compensation payments due under his contract. And in the meantime – everyone else suffers along with him.
It would take some kind of miracle to see him turn this around, they happen occasionally and he has the right chairman to give him time for that.
I had doubts about his choice when hired and gave him a chance because historically his teams have high energy pressing and possession (even though they have very low xg per game) he hasn’t got this team upto the standards he has set previously and they don’t have any recognisable style other than being like a strawberry quality street chocolate with the softest of centres.
Even though I think the manager is completely out of his depth and made ridiculous decisions leading to both player and fan unrest, I’m starting to question why no-one is criticising the players? Most of them are experienced internationals and all earning huge wages, but how many have really showed enough quality and desire this season with a few obvious exceptions? Yes I know they are playing to systems/ tactics which none of us can fathom but at least show us that you are pulling together and want to fight for this club and win some bloody games! Too many times the midfield and defence are just wide open and you can drive a bus through our defence! Premiership and international level players should never lose players at corners or fail to track players which we see every week.
I don’t buy all the players have to get used to different systems etc – these players have to do that every time they are picked for international squads rarely playing with the same line ups every time. 100% agree a lot is due to poor management but players have to take responsibility too.
I actually feel really sorry for JLo. Things haven’t worked out for him and some of his decisions have been suspect, specially for an experienced manager as him. I wasn’t jumping up and down when we appointed him but thought this would be a tough season to get everyone to gel and work out a system that works for us. As fans, we always think that someone else would come in, wave the magic wand and we will be flying again. That’s not realistic. There are no easy games in the PL. The performance against Newcastle was awesome and hope we can replicate that regularly. Love to see us playing decent football again but there are no guarantees that another manager would deliver this straight away. Let’s get behind the team for now and maybe review the situation end of the season?
Review at the end of the season like we did with Avram Grant when Sullivan could’ve saved us from relegation by admitting he made a mistake?
Players all talk to each other to sound out what they are walking in to ahead of a possible switch.
If we keep JLo not only will our league position make us an unattractive move but also they will get the heads up to swerve this coach at all costs.
I wonder which set of players are going to fired up and motivated the most for Monday night?
Our boys who he seem to have lost faith in him, or the team he walked out on as he didn’t think they would good enough to achieve anything?
I’ve got a bad feeling about this!
He might get 2 more games after a defeat simply by having the most corners we’ve had in 2 years. 🤦♂️
The boast that we had 31 attempts on goal against Leicester was crazy as it was a direct comment on how poor Leicester are, yet they won 3-1.
Our high line was to force the play into Leicesters half, the problem being that Leicester don’t hurt you other than with through balls to runners. If ever there was a game for not a high line it was that one.
Possession stats & shots on target are futile!
Like you said Leicester are an extremely poor team but we played in to their trap and made them look clinical.
We were disjointed all over the pitch, even more so when the substitutes came on and what little shape we had went out the window!
Performances are what coaches should be judged on. JLo has only delivered 2 out 14 as we got extremely lucky with wins against Man Utd and Palace.
Yes, Leicester didn’t beat us we set up to lose. Against Arsenal we actually raised the matter of corners with the ref before the game then looked clueness facing them, we hadn’t prepared properly for what we knew was going to be an issue. Then did nothing during the game to address how we were being exploited.
Those things are the worst performances imaginable.
The Forest game was equally forgettable. I think we only had one shot on target.
We keep setting up with strange systems and players out of position or combining slow midfielders against mobile dynamic opponents.
The fact JLo wanted Rodriguez tells its own story. If he had evaluated our team like he said he did, it was obvious we needed a powerful young mobile CM.
Yes, it’s as if we set up to fail with tactics that do not suit the actual game being played. Then we go down, there’s panic substitutions, and it’s no longer possible to see a system.
I genuinely believe a respected new coach, one with man management skills and that can get our players to believe in the tactics and system could instantly get results.
Our squad is not as terrible as our performances have been under JLo.
I see no reason why he should walk. He’s doing the job he was brought in to do. If I was him, I’d accept that it’s only a matter of time, play the players who I haven’t fallen out with and carry on.
It’s not his fault he was hired. It’s Sullivan’s, and it’s Sullivan’s job to fix it.
I agree he shouldn’t and won’t walk.
He knows his reputation is in tatters right now and will want to prove to himself and others he can turn things around.
On the evidence of his time in charge it does look highly unlikely.
Getting one game to save your job just adds a ridiculous amount of pressure on a man who already looks shot to bits!
Honestly, he doesn’t look well the pressure is obviously telling and I expect relieving of his duties would be a welcome relief after such a disastrous six months. There’s no one else to blame this is squarely on the shoulders of Sullivan and the Board and they don’t have the ball’s to do what needs to be done. Why he wasn’t sacked after the Arsenal debacle or the defeat at Leicester is beyond sense. Do they honestly think by beating Wolves it’s going to change the course of our season, there’s only one way we’re going and it isn’t up!
Dead man walking, it is typical Sullivan could have sack him and gave the manager the weekend to see the players training. Sorry he should have been sacked weeks ago so the last couple of defeats is down to Sullivan as he is gutless when a manager needs to be sacked.
Gutless at sacking managers and clueless appointing them!
The man is broken. He knew how different the Premiership is from Euro football from his time at Wolves.
You’re absolutely spot on John, why put everybody through the wringer again on Monday?
Does the club management not see this needs to be dealt with immediately, should have been weeks ago when the alarm bells started to ring.
I for one am not looking forward to Monday’s game.
I’m not looking forward to it either. It’s a case of heads we lose, tails we lose too. I always hope we win, never anything other, but is that even right on Monday ? We’ve all known bad times before, we’re not short on bad times we pull together, but in the past it’s always been plain bad. This is like it’s crazy.
What is Monday even about. Wolves are as dire as we are if we beat Wolves it means nothing.
Is it about making him walk without compensation ? He has walked before. He looked dishevelled at Leicester and has ever increasing tics and twitches. He has the look of someone who is totally out of their depth and being affected by it.
I try to make sense of it but it makes little sense, it’s as if barmy. What if we concede quickly again on Monday or collapse pre half time like against Arsenal. The mood will be ugly.
Unfortunately we’ve got a lunatic running this asylum at the moment. Craziness in the dugout and in the boardroom.
Monday night is going to be bedlam!