Fair play to West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui. It can’t have been easy keeping his head up and remaining focused with so much pressure on his position. Whilst I rarely read much into the Hammers head coach’s press conferences, I have to admit that he was far more upbeat than I imagined he would be.
Speculation surrounding his job and his two ‘must-win games’ has spread well beyond these shores and into the Spaniard’s homeland. With one of the crucial job-saving fixtures being hosted at St James’ Park on a Monday night, Lopetegui could be forgiven for thinking the world—or at least the fixture list—is conspiring against him.
However, it’s important to remember that in the likely event of West Ham getting something of a pasting in the next two games and the Spaniard losing his job, it won’t be because of what happened against the Toon.
It will have far more to do with the team’s lack of discipline and performances against the likes of Nottingham Forest, as well as embarrassing defeats to London rivals. It’s also worth noting that, contrary to Lopetegui’s observation that his team have been unlucky this season, we’ve actually been incredibly lucky.
Howard Webb has admitted that West Ham’s winner against Manchester United should never have been awarded. Lopetegui also got very lucky against a Fulham team who seemed able to shoot at will against a very porous Irons defence.
He will need luck against Newcastle, though, and probably a lot more besides. With West Ham struggling to score goals, an inability to utilise set-pieces, a shaky defence, and a slow midfield, it’s hard to make the case that the Hammers gaffer is the victim of misfortune.
And Lopetegui still doing better points wise than Moyes after the same games last season, correct?
…so, where do you get your porn from if not from him?
This is pass clutching at straws.
He has already drowned.
I have no idea how we won against Man U, they should have had an unassailable lead before half time and most teams would have had. I didn’t think that the penalty was legitimate at the time makes it even more jawdropping that we won. We were beyond lucky in that game.
We have been absolutely dire at times, and not good at the best of times is the truth of the matter.
He wouldn’t have been my choice He’s not been good but you seemed to like him in the summer when he joined.
You’ve written him off after 11 games despite a hugely changed squad.
Given the same brilliant people will choose his sucessor we may end up playing rush managers after another 11 games or so if we follow you.
How do you ensure the next manager is better given you’ve written him off?
You’ve already written off some of the options and we know that David Sullivan is reluctant to pay a fee for anyone in work.
You win some. You lose some. We just need to win more than we lose. Plenty of opportunities between now and season’s end. Keep the faith.
COYI
He isn’t the “victim of misfortune”, so why would you want to make a case?
The fact he has said unlucky shows how clueless the bloke is. Don’t feel sorry for any manager in top flight, most have a few million in the bank so doubt he will be sleeping at Embankment any time soon. Bottom line is, he should never have been employed in the first place – another major cock up by the Porn Baron.