Julen Lopetegui has been a man under fire for most of this season: From the sketchy pre-season results and peculiar team selections, playing styles and haphazard selections, all has not been smooth running under his tenure. But it seems, West Ham’s management have no intention of giving him his marching orders any time soon, however much the media pressure or supporter dissatisfaction ramps up.
West Ham are not a ‘sacking’ club.
From Roshane Thomas’ excellent summary in TheAthletic it is clear that on past form, Lopetegui has a loooong way to go yet before the West Ham board pull the trigger – hoping as they do that results on the pitch will turn around. As Thomas surmises:
“Of the eight managers hired since the current ownership group bought the club in January 2010, Grant, Slaven Bilic and Manuel Pellegrini are the only ones to leave midway through their contracts — and of those, Grant only left when relegation was confirmed. The financial implications are an obvious factor, but West Ham’s hierarchy are now inclined to give managers time.”
Thomas concludes that West Ham have only parted company with a manager mid-season on 7 occasions – the lowest of all Premier League clubs. On average, when these managers were dismissed, 23 games had already taken place before judgement was passed.
So, Lopetegui has a way to go yet before the West Ham board lose patience with him. Only Slaven Bilic – after two full seasons – was dismissed after eleven games with the club deep within the relegation zone.
West Ham are currently 14th: Anyone hoping for change any time soon can look to the club’s history and expect to be disappointed at least for another couple of months until nearer to that 23 games average is hit: In, or near the relegation zone at the end of February and Lopetegui will be history.
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Inconsiderate and crass timing for an article of this type. Be ashamed.
If you want the moral high ground, it’s all yours. I don’t come on here looking for lessons in hypocritical ethics and morality, just simply to discuss all aspects of one particular football team. Nobody has yet expressed any interest in whether or not I have had a bad day, and I am equally interested in yours. The subject is West Ham, nothing else.
“In, or near the relegation zone at the end of February and Lopetegui will be history.” As will any chance of salvaging anything meaningful (such as European qualification) from a dismal season that initially promised so much. Keep making excuses for his incompetence and you will get what you seem to be happy to accept.
Players and supporters need to get behind Lopetegui and stop running him down.
The Bournemouth game was an improved performance. It was a good starting line up by the manager and players showed they were behind him so all the supporters need to follow and then we can start climbing up the table.
Well said Darkhorse.
The media, including this site, have revelled in opportunities to run Lopetegui down. It’s been embarrassing at times.
He may prove not to be the manager we need but given the upheaval after the dinosaurs reign it was clear that a painful rebuild would be needed. My powder remains dry until the New Year.
Absolute rubbish. Fabianski saved us from defeat on Monday night.
If the present manager stays we will soon end up below teams like Everton and Ipswich.We should have dispensed with his services after the Leicester defeat but Sullivan wants to avoid paying him off.
How can you expect players to gel when he keeps changing starting lineups, putting players in questionable positions and generally winding up 50% of the team (according to media).
There’s only 6 points between 6th and 14th place in league a change in his attitude may save his job and West Ham.
Unfortunately matches directly after Christmas are not enviable.
West Ham don’t sack managers – would cost Sully money that’s why Moyes wasn’t ousted.
too little too late
What a load of cobblers !
“West Ham are not a sacking club” ? Well, they should be – no one likes to see people get their P45, but it happens in all walks of life if you’re not up to scratch, and Lopsy definitely isn’t !
Advice to West Ham, employ someone decent to start with rather than second rate options and maybe you won’t have to sack anyone.
Goes a long way to explaining why we’re a second rate club.
Maybe if people started voting with their feet, they might have a change of attitude ?
Agreed..i tried saying this but got shot to pieces….
We talk of improvement but it’s only relative when we allowed Bournemouth as many chances as we did. Perform like that and most games you’ll concede more than just one. I just don’t see him being around long term…
Fair point.
West Ham (And Sullivan & Gold @ Birmingham) gave their managers time to get things right.
Few expected West Ham to immediately gel all the new players etc. but who expected there to be soooo much turmoil, player disputes and poor performances?
Lopetegui has ‘lucked out’ a few results in games West Ham could/should have lost, but very few points dropped from games the casual observer would have believed West Ham deserved more from.