Much as an old movie playing where the picture is out of synch with the soundtrack, Julen Lopetegui’s latest press conference came across as fine words, but not at all in keeping with the reality of what was clear on his face. Here is a coach living through the most pressure anyone at work can expect to endure.
Yes, he is extremely well remunerated for his work but living out this West Ham soap opera with every step in the public domain and pored over repeatedly for clues and signs is taking its toll. He repeats the same words of just about every media pre-match outing; ‘The team are working very hard’ and ‘Bournemouth are a top, top team’: But then in answer to a specific question, he tried to make light of his present situation.
The words come out:”I’m enjoying my work, and I love managing West Ham” but I don’t think he’s fooling anyone right now. He looks absolutely exhausted.
Lopetegui in December – above – and in happier days during October – below
His face is etched with tiredness and stress and it is clear to every onlooker that his position at the moment is a deeply uncomfortable one.
I still feel sorry for him. I don’t blame him, he has just been placed in an impossible position by the West Ham board – backing him almost game by game on one hand, whilst at the same time interviewing coaches to replace him.
It’s quite clear that West Ham and Lopetegui is a mismatch and should be brought to a halt for both parties’ benefit – immediately.
I’m sure, given the choice Lopetegui would just walk – as many of us would under this kind of never-ending, very public scrutiny and game-by-game jeopardy of public failure and humiliation.
Financially though, he almost certainly needs to stay until either he succeeds or the board dismiss him and pay him his year and a half salary owing. Which is millions.
In his current pressured, exhausted state, how this man is supposed to take rational, calm decisions for the best outcome of the team right now is beyond me.
He looks as if he has not slept since September. How is he supposed to be involved in planning for the January window – who does he want to sell? What are the recruiting priorities? If West Ham are not careful the January window could be a total failure.
As to the rest of the interview -Lopetegui did cover Fullkrug’s imminent return to action – for which, apparently, ‘Fulle’ is now fully prepared – and he raised again the ‘one or two problems’ that seem to be a regular part of his weekly squad briefing. We will try and find out more regarding the ‘one or two issues’ of player fitness over the weekend, since Emerson is already suspended for the Bournemouth trip, so the back line is a little thin on the ground.
Fullkrug may be recovered but Lopetegui himself looks like he should be in the medical room himself.
How much more can this poor man take?
What was he so damn happy about in October? He has been a consistent disaster since June and has nobody to blame but himself. He took the job under false pretenses and he knew it. If it is hurting him so much, he can always do us all a favour and walk away, just as he did at Wolves. The way he looks is just part of his pantomime, nothing to do with stress.
Sullivan will cling on to JLo as long as possible for the same reason they let Moyes contract run to a close.
He didn’t want to pay Moyes a golden hand shake and that will be same for JLo.
How lucky is it that Wilson has picked up an injury otherwise that would have been another (crocked) aged team member.
I think he’s looked like that all season personally. If he looks old and tired it’s because he is. The blokes nearly 60 and he can’t help his tics and twitches anymore than Harry Redknap.
Careful with the ‘ageist’ comments mate!
Or we’ll be paying you a visit….. 😉
He looks dishevelled and has tics and twitches. In no condition to be managing a premier league football club.
That in itself means that he will be underperforming, but I’ve not seen anything to make me think that even at his best he had matters in hand.
Nobody but nobody thought that he was the right appointment in the first place, only Sullivan, and so it has proven.
The sooner he goes the better for all concerned, but when he goes we need a far better appointment not the cheapest option available.
Surely Fullkrug should have came on against Wolves who have the worst record in the league at conceding goals from corners and headers.
Not giving him 25 minutes in that game after scoring with his first chance when we had 31 opportunities in total was naive or stubborn.
Our coach has fallen out with so many of our players and by denying Fullkrug minutes against Wolves it does suggest woeful man management skills.
Making decisions that don’t benefit West Ham seem to be common by our coach and chairman.
Agree with you Dave.
Danny Ings was running around like a headless chicken for all the time he was on.
With you 100% on this one, Martin. The situation that he is in may be down to him on the playing side, but the way he is, apparently, being treated by the board is disgraceful. No more “must win games”; either back him or sack him. Now. Simple decency, really.
Yep, Sullivan’s mode of operation not the board so much. And I suspect if Sullivan did not have his pride and ego and the avoidance of paying a coach off as his priorities, this “circus” would have been avoided.
The only guarantee is that there will never, I repeat never, be any progress made at West Ham on the football pitch while David Sullivan remains in control.
14 years and we are where we started when he took over albeit the unexpected winning of a euro trophy which was very much in spite not because of David Sullivan.
Read any book or story of business success, regardless of industry, it always comes down to great leadership. We need a Tony Bloom ( Brighton ) type mind and visionary at the helm but sadly have David “Del Boy” Sullivan and his 1990s approach to running a football club. 30 years behind the times but as the great sage Donald Rumsfelt once said, about the “unknown knowns and unknowns”. Poor Mr Sullivan means well but he simply is neither aware of nor understands what is needed.
Nailed it!
Off the pitch the owners have succeeded beyond expectations in boosting commercial revenue.
However, in terms of football infrastructure they have failed miserably, no clear path for youth players, terrible transfers outbound especially poor.
Moreover, awful managerial appointments.
A) Grant
B) Allardyce
C) Moyes (twice)
D) Pellegrini
I have deliberately left Bilic off the list as had Payet not forced a move away I’m confident that he would have surpassed his first season results.
During this period of time we havre had Terzic (champions league finalist) and Maresca both coaching at our club and nobody from the executives spotted their obvious talents, both excellent at integrating young players. An absolute dereliction of duty!