You’ll remember Claret and Hugh’s ‘senior source’ told us ‘Everton is a Must-Win Game’ after the debacle against Nottingham Forest. A complete contradiction to that stance appeared today from talkSPORT. Journalists and broadcasters need headlines. I understand this.
But when two such contradictory stances are taken up by different ‘sources’ then something is clearly amiss, either with the reporting or with the conflicting information coming out of West Ham United this week.
Today TalkSport host Jim White makes a counter claim (as reported by givemesport.com) that: “a source close to David Sullivan has told talkSPORT host Jim White – West Ham United’s game against Everton will reportedly not decide Julen Lopetegui’s fate at the London Stadium, even if they lose 5-0.”
Which says one of two things. Either Jim White’s source is mistaken or else West Ham United’s board is in complete chaos right now, backtracking like crazy in a frantic attempt to save face and – presumably – six million quid in severance pay to the outgoing head coach should our Hammers fail to beat lowly Everton and be plunged toward our own relegation – zone crisis.
The full quote is:
“We hope and expect to do well against Everton. If we were to lose 5-0 against them, he would still be the manager on Monday morning. We are people who honour contracts’
“The spokesman said to me, ‘We expect the manager to come good and we have to give him time’,
The thought of Lopetegui limping on even after a 5-0 thrashing by one of the worst clubs in the league is too awful to contemplate. That’d be too much for many supporters I suspect. Remember the poll conducted on associate editor Sean Whetstone’s twitter feed last weekend ? 85% had no confidence Lopetegui could turn it around – and that was before another potential loss.
Strong leadership this is not. “It’s a ‘must win game”: Oh – no it isn’t’ . OH – YES IT IS.
Pantomime performance from West Ham. “Honouring contracts” is more important than staying in the Premier League? I doubt it. Bilic got fired. Pellegrini got fired.
Just how bad will it have to get before this clueless football from a clueless coach is committed to the bin? Already 24 goals conceded in 12 games under Lopetegui. How would it feel with another five on Saturday?
Exactly.
I’m forever optomistic, and believe that yes he will still be employed come Monday morning. But sacked by tea time…
Its almost as if he is so insecure that he’d do anything, other than providing leadership and doing what’s right to try and make himself look like “the good guy” in the media? And also, like someone with NPD (narcissist personality disorder ) that sadly I think he has, he can never, ever admit to his mistakes and poor judgement. It would be a “crack in the damn” of his fragile psyche and self delusion to become aware of his incompetence in footballing matters, which unfortunately happens to be the business he is the major shareholder for. He has such a long history of incompetence and poor decisions with recruitment in particular (managers/coaches and players). He has financial sense for sure and actually does want the best for the club I’m sure but but like a lot of wealthy people ( esp. small men ), really struggles to show the humility needed to lead, to listen to others, admit they get things wrong. His biggest enemy to success is himself. IMHO
Best fans, worst club – run like a pub team from top to bottom.
If Sully & his fellow muppets think the fans are going to stand aside and let this debacle continue, I think they are very much mistaken ! It’s going to kick off massively sooner rather than later…….
Good god. Sullivan still can’t see he replaced Moyes with the wrong man. Ah well, Championship here we come next May.
Will the Baroness get a relegation bonus?
The manager has to go regardless of the result he lost the dressing room after the Brentford game. If not before
Yes, screw the fans, the people who pay for our over inflated luxurious lifestyle, just honour the contract and we will be known as having “integrity”. (If anyone can actually say integrity while laughing like a hyena).
Yep it seems like it . Horrible little two bob dwarf. That’s my season ticket gone next season after 30 years .
Unfortunately Sullivan is more interested in saving face than saving Westham .