Julen Lopetegui may have unwittingly provided insight into his team selections and substitutions, which have baffled more than a few West Ham fans recently.
The Hammers’ head coach still seems no closer to knowing his starting eleven than the day he joined. However, perhaps the pressure of the last week has focused his mind on what he is looking for.
It appears that Lopetegui is going to rely on the grafters to get him out of the current predicament, which may go some way to explaining his substitutions today.
His comments on Tomas Soucek were particularly revealing but could have easily applied to his team as a whole. While West Ham didn’t produce great quality against Brentford, there was grit, fight, and determination, which was sorely missing against Chelsea.
Lopetegui said of Soucek: “I think that we need this kind of behaviour in the big matches because this is the Premier League. In the Premier League, you have to play always with eleven players fighting for the team, having this kind of high work rate.”
From those comments, it’s safe to assume that Big Sou will be starting against Ipswich next weekend, but don’t rule out Konstantinos Mavropanos featuring at full back too. As Martin alluded to in his earlier piece, the big Greek didn’t look too shabby at right back and provides the team with extra security and threat from set pieces, along with his obvious physical attributes.
Lopetegui’s emphasis on fight, work rate, and intensity reveals much about the attributes he feels will keep him off the dole queue. So, don’t be surprised if Emerson and Paquetá don’t make the cut for the visit of the Tractor Boys.
You don’t run, you dont work hard, you don’t track back, you don’t pass, you don’t play. These are the prerequisites.
At least he made some tactical subs and changes
At least he made some tactical subs and changes
Was good to see, there were moments during the game that were a bit “squeaky bum” time.
Overall, the application of the team was, in my opinion, much better. Exactly what we needed.
Looking at the other games from yesterday, Chelsea’s result against Brighton could serve as a bit of a warning.
The 100’s of millions spent building the 428 man squad, might be starting to show signs of being in the top 6 mix towards the end of the season.
And Newcastle’s draw with Man City just goes to show there are no easy games in the EPL.
Well, none for West Ham and none between top six teams anyway.
The suggestion that the only thing Lopetegui has learned from four months, a dozen games and some serious criticism, is that he might survive on the sweat of others, is not one that has me looking forward to the next game.
Very true. All grit and no guile with the players he has at his disposal doesn’t leave me feeling impressed at all.
That’s a lot of club money spent for no return, so far.
The ticket costs to fans is more than enough to require the team to provide some entertainment.
Not good enough in my book.
I just checked Lopetegui’s Wolves record in the Premier League – played 27 won 10 draw 5 lost 12 GF 28 GA 38
The defence was much better vs Brentford – and Todibo looks like he’s toughening up
We should have enough to avoid relegation – but despite our talented attacking players it doesn’t look like we will score lots of goals
Sorry I think loopy dayglow waffles ?