July 1st and it is now officially the start of the Lopetegui era. It does seem months since David Moyes’ last game but his contract officially expired yesterday ( I believe) and the new era began today. Our new Head Coach and Director of Football have been giving their first official press conference today. Both answered questions on a whole raft of issues, including working alongside each other and how they plan to operate. We’ve picked out a few ‘highlights’ from the club web site to share:
First question was aimed at the Head Coach, when asked ‘Why West Ham’? He replied: ‘There are a lot of reasons. I’m very happy here, I see a lot of friends here. I am where I want to be. I’m at a big Club, in my opinion one of the big London Clubs, and I think we have big potential. You look at the stadium, the fans – everything is in place here.We have a good platform – the squad, the team and the players – to go one step up, improve and to make a big noise.’
Lopetegui on new players: ‘Of course we are working to improve. The first thing to highlight is that we’re happy with the players, but of course we’re going to try to improve. We have to work very hard to be ready for the Premier League, and we would like players as soon as possible, but it’s not easy.’ Not much to surmise from that, then.
Steiden similarly would not be drawn about specific player incomings but commented: ‘ I can’t tell you specifics, but it will be a busy summer for us for sure. The owner and the board have done a really good job over recent years, so we’re in good shape financially.” – Hopefully this could be decoded as ‘All those fears of a measly £50 million budget? Don’t you worry about that’.
Steiden was also asked about the choice of Lopetegui and answered: ‘ He has the philosophy, how he coaches players and communicates with players. He speaks a lot of languages – four, two more than me. After the first time we met him I was convinced about him.’
Most interestingly in view of what came before, Lopetegui was asked about the style of play we as paying supporters could expect under his coaching: ‘ The style has to help you to win, that is the first step. We have to be able to have the initiative, to be aggressive with the ball. But my aim as a coach is to have everything – to understand the game and have the right answers. We have to know how to win games, whether we have the initiative or not. In football you always have an important thing to do, and you can always improve.’
Aggressive with the ball? That’ll take a bit of reprogramming. Can’t wait to see the results.
In appointing Steidten and Lopetegui the board appear to be doing a lot that’s progressive at the moment.
Rumours of a low budget
Yeh spread by your stooge whetstone on social media
Maybe it’s time to move on and be positive for the year ahead, all the negative comments won’t help anyone, let’s all try to be positive and reserve judgments for now, you never know everything might work out for the best
Nice to have a positive view of the board for a change
I don’t get all the negativity re Sullivan if he and Gold had not bought us when the Icelandic situation happened we were on the point of going into receivership. We have grown over the years not regressed. I’ve supported West Ham for over 40 years and believe we are on the way up. During that time we have had some real dodgy times, players, managers. lets look to the future and give Sullivan and the new set up a chance.
Whoever Anon is all he does is complain about the board. Obviously not a Hammers fan just a moran who not willing to use his real name. Ignore.
Well said that man
Well said hammer I am a supporter for 50+ years and I entirely agree with you C.O.Y.I.
He is a man of principle he won’t last long working with Sullivan and part time Brady
He’s intelligent enough to have realised what he was taking on when he applied for the job. I don’t see a problem.