West Ham United seem to be playing through matches in various stretches of disorganised adaptation, either to positional changes made by necessity through injury or so-called tactical adjustment. It must be challenging for several of the players being asked to perform different roles mid-way through a game. Julen Lopetegui made the calls and it is clear he is not worried about ruffling feathers or upsetting some of his ‘stars’ who aren’t performing.
The change at half time in substituting Mohammed Kudus was nothing to do with injury. Roshane Thomas on X at half time confirmed: “Lopetegui says he brought off Kudus at HT for tactical reasons”. So, maybe injured pride but nothing physical then. Right or wrong, a brave, high risk call by Lopetegui who obviously doesn’t care about upsetting his star players.
Lucas Paquetá when substituted later made his own feelings clear, shaking his head as he left the pitch in a mini-sulk. Another bruised ego. Lopetegui is showing he has a ruthless streak in him to get the result he wants.
Paqueta – sulked when substituted
Opinions about those who he brought on is another matter: Soler for Kudus and then later Summerville for Paquetá have drawn plenty of criticism. The Head Coach risks upset in the dressing room but it is clear he’s not keeping players on solely because of reputation. Coming back from a goal down in the second half, he will say, mitigates his decision.
What will be interesting to see is how those players respond and whether Lopetegui gets the performance he seeks from Kudus and Paquetá next week.
He will destroy the value of our big stars, the board better get him out before its to late. Who’s to say if he had kept kudus on then we would of gone on to win the game, to say his changes got us a draw is open for debate. Actually Brentford were dismal and we’re there for the taking. I honestly think Lopetegui hasn’t a clue! He Is not a top coach and he will lose the dressing room. I for one want him out! Out by the international break.
I just can’t shake my belief that any improvements have nothing to do with smart coaching, coaching experience or even lucky risk taking, but have everything to do with players doing their best as individuals and that effort sometimes paying off.
If you look at Lopetegui’s resume, it is not good, a couple of high spots but fewer than Moyes. It is the coach’s job to mould those individuals into a team. If you combine his resume with his team selections, substitutions, touchline rants and media interaction, it does not bode well for the season. Based on results he is not an improvement and player body language indicates that there is unrest in the dressing room, and it is no longer “early days”.
i think you’ll find it is still very much “early days”
4 months and 12 games in, not in my book.
Lopetegui seems confused about what he wants on the pitch. Paqueta is really not delivering and seems to lack commitment at times, is he really a £80m player now? I don’t think the same is true of Kudus who always gives 100% so why take him off? An in form centre forward would change a lot for the team because Antonio seems to have lost it and the hole that creates in offensive play creates confusion.
Sorry for the misspelling of Paqueta
I wouldn’t play Parqueta next week. He has become more of a liability than a playmaker.