Julen Lopetegui should be put out of his misery
The whirlwind day of media speculation surrounding West Ham United’s managerial role surely didn’t escape the notice of Julen Lopetegui.
Despite the Spaniard’s efforts to maintain normality by leading training at Rush Green, the mechanisms to remove him were clearly in motion behind the scenes.
Lopetegui is no stranger to media dynamics, with several of his closest allies being top journalists. Reports that the Hammers’ head coach forced Tim Steidten’s removal from the training ground were accurate, despite attempts to soften the story.
It’s understood that Lopetegui had grown increasingly frustrated with whispers undermining his position.
Make no mistake, Lopetegui’s performance this season has been underwhelming. If, as expected, he loses his West Ham job, he’ll have only himself to blame. Yet, continuing to act professionally yesterday must have been difficult, knowing the club was actively working to replace him.
The original plan was to dismiss Lopetegui before the Fulham game, allowing him to manage the FA Cup fixture against Aston Villa. However, the situation has escalated so rapidly that his position now seems untenable.
Forcing a man who recently lost his father to endure one last match—particularly against the scrutiny of pre-match media—is neither fair nor humane.
Whilst I support the club’s decision to replace Lopetegui—arguably overdue—it’s time to end this prolonged exit. Allowing him to suffer a drawn-out departure would be unnecessary and cruel
Shambles of a club
Seems to me the West Ham management are concerned only in themselves. When did they show any concern or interest in the opinions or feelings of anyone else?
JL was apparently the first choice of nobody but somehow ended up in the job and the mess created has been allowed to drag on in similar vein to the replacement of David Moyes. We all admire loyalty but not stupidity and arrogance
Totally shameful behaviour from a mane with no shame. The manager should be treated with a bit more respect even if he wasn’t great. It’s just human dignity.
What do we expect from this poor -mans Arthur Daley (there’s one for the kids 😀)
Sullivan all over – the bloke is an odious little toad with no class (Sullivan not Lopategui)
Once again, “Spot On Correct”, Gonzo. He might have been a very poor manager for us, but he maintained his dignity & professionalism &, in NO WAY, did he deserve to have been treated by the club in the way he has been. Shameful.
Second manager to force Steiden from the training ground.
Anyone else starting to see a pattern and problem. Yes we’ve been crap this season but for the life of me can’t understand why stuff that should stay behind the scene get played out in public
All gossip and rumours as usual?
Spot on mate but let’s be honest , he had to go now . He is a poor manager for us . If rumours are true , let’s hope Potter accepts and we should all get behind him. The players need to respect him and get behind him too . Let’s be honest we have a good squad , come on lads show us what you can do . Potter good luck son ! COYI ⚒⚒⚒
So Potter asked for 24 hours to consider the offer? I thought he would insist in bringing in his own team, including scouts. If so then Tim Steidten would surely be superseded? Which makes the image of Steidten seemingly interviewing Potter a bit hard to understand. Or have I missed something?
Latest is that he is taking training!!! In any other business if you are sacking someone you do it swiftly or at least put them on gardening leave until the paperwork is sorted but not Mr Sullivan, I bet he has told our hapless manager to ignore all these rumours your job is safe……for at least 24 hours……pathetic
Typical of Sullivan,the geezer lacks class and he’s the reason we are in the mess we are.
Just put Lopetegui out of his misery ffs.
He should of gone along time ago so all this drawing it out in public is just wrong.
I still expect there to be a hitch and Potter ends up at Everton or something.
What other club draws out there Managers sacking or lack of it so publicly.
This has been handled so shoddily,all the talks with Potter should have been done privately with no leaks,reach an agreement with him,then sack Lopetegui, then make the announcement.
Amateur hour yet again from Sullivan
Totally agree ,dismiss him today as its unfair as he knows he’s going. Surely we can’t consider keeping him incase Potter turns us down, their are people in the club that can takeover short term or do the board not have faith in others coaches etc currently at the club . You couldn’t make it up. 52years of support but the pain increase each day now.
Well said Gonzo, totally agree. The way we’re behaving as a football club is amateur and unprofessional. The very least JL deserves is human and professional treatment, no matter what we think of him as a manager.
I could not agree more, Lopategui was a very poor choice from the start but to play out this soap opera now is unforgivable.
It is well known that the club hierarchy has links to podcasters and bloggers they use to make sure the narrative is set in their favour. It is inescapable though that this was the board’s appointment and they have to own that decision, same as the decision to offer Moyes a contract and then withdraw it ensuring the second half of last season was ruined.
Who would want to work for this company and under these circumstances? Much as Mr Lopategui has been a failure, he is a human being and should be afforded common decency and human level of respect.
And amateurish undignified and improper by the club.
Surely things can be done with just one formal announcement wishing the old manager all the best and welcoming the new one to the club.
The whole thing has been lacking. Obviously not the right appointment in the first place, this must win game that must win game eke out five minutes more, then drag the end on in a series of leaks and gossip rather than keep a decorous quiet.
That’s Sullivan all over, the bloke is clueless just sack him we can move on.
Exactly right. Really unprofessional and lacking basic human empathy. Sullivan screwed it up with Avram Grant in a similar way and scared Martin O’Neill away. At the end of the season dumped him very ungraciously. Quick decisive action is what’s required and he don’t do that.
Class Sully. Pure class
Absolutely no integrity and just looks really bad. For all his faults Lopategui deserves to be treated with respect and some dignity.
Only at West Ham! Our club is a complete shambles