Official new manager - Julen Lopetegui

Lukerz

I’m not saying it’s not a logical appointment, almost like the next step from what Moyes should’ve offered.

I’m just saying we should probably expect less goals than what we’ve been used to over the last few years. Probably lots of 1-0 or 2-1 wins.

ASLEFshrugged

I’ve read a few articles on Lopetegui’s style of play and the almost unanimous conclusion was we wont conceded many but we won’t be scoring a whole lot more

We’re going from fast breaks on the counter to slow build up play

steve

But did those teams he managed have Bowen and Kudus

thornburyiron

Saw a report that Kevin Nolan was deeply disappointed he was sacked as he really wanted to stay on as he’d spent 9 years with the club. Apparently Lopetigui wanted all Moyes staff to go with the exception of the goalkeeping coach who happens to be Spanish.

Bazshuayi

9 years is a good stint at a club considering most new managerial appointments want their own staff

claretandbluesky

I don't think Lepetigui will work out after what happened with Wolves, Spain and Madrid but I guess the club must have seen something they liked in him. I am happy that Tim has stayed after being linked with Liverpool during the season as It can only be a good thing to have someone at the club who doesn't change with the manager. A bit like the civil service and the PM.

Lukerz

He works well with a technical director, he has managed big clubs & his success is undeniable. He left Spain for flirting with Madrid (otherwise he’d have remained). He didn’t last long at Madrid but not many do. Sevilla was a huge success, as was Wolves - although he did decide to walk away when he didn’t get the investment he was promised.

It won’t be rip-roaring entertainment but it will probably be more controlled & pleasing on the eye (to an extent). It does feel a little bit like Pellegrini but what I would say is that he has already done it at Wolves, taking a squad from bottom to 13th, whereas Pellegrini had only really managed big clubs before our appointment.

MIAHammer

Looks like all slates are wiped clean and Lopetegui will evaluate everyone in pre-season assuming, of course, that this report is accurate.

https://www.footballinsider247.com/west-hams-new-flynn-downes-plan-revealed-after-southampton-update-sources/

ASLEFshrugged

I think one of us described Football Insider as the worst

Lukerz

https://www.whufc.com/news/lopetegui-and-west-ham-are-perfect-match-jarvis-and-balague-hammers-new-era

Interesting comments towards the bottom from Guillem Balague.

Also states in a seperate tweet that JL did not walk out on Wolves due to squad quality/signings, he said that the goalposts were moved three times which forced JL, being a man of principle, to leave the club. Took them from 20th to 13th & doesn’t understand the criticism JL got for his efforts there. Football was not exciting but they were in a relegation battle with a poor squad.

Lukerz

So just did a little comparison based on last seasons same 9 fixtures (swapping Ipswich in for Burnley - as Burnley finished 2nd bottom & Ipswich finished 2nd in Championship):

Last season:
West Ham 1-1 Villa
Palace 5-2 West Ham
West Ham 1-3 Man City
Fulham 5-0 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Chelsea
Brentford 3-2 West Ham
West Ham 2-2 Burnley
Spurs 1-2 West Ham
West Ham 2-0 Man Utd

11 points, 9 games (-6 GD)

This season:
West Ham 1-2 Villa
Palace 0-2 West Ham
West Ham 1-3 Man City
Fulham 1-1 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Chelsea
Brentford 1-1 West Ham
West Ham 4-1 Ipswich
Spurs 4-1 West Ham
West Ham 2-1 Man Utd

11 points, 9 games (-3 GD)

But, interestingly, our next four games (last season):
Nottingham Forest 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-1 Everton
Newcastle 4-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal

(-10 GD)

So a real opportunity to make real progress on last seasons points tally - from the same 13 games - after the next four.

When you consider we finished 9th last season which, despite not being as good as 2/3 years prior, is still very respectable, we’re currently matching the same trajectory, plus we have a chance to really improve on it over the next four matches.

buffybegood

From memory the games against Spurs and Chelsea last season were similar to Sunday's win against Man Utd; the opposition should have been well ahead at half time before we somehow managed to sneak a result. So although we've dropped 6 points against those 2 teams compared to last season, perhaps we were somewhat lucky to get 11 points from that set of fixtures last year.

Lukerz

Spurs we were bad first half, good second.

Chelsea we were ok but they did miss a penalty at 1-1 (I think). They did dominate the first half too. Burnley we were 2-0 down & fortunate to get two late goals. The Man Utd game was dire but we did enough to pinch it with two late goals.

chicagohammer

It is interesting but comparisons can only take you so far, in so many instances, especially last year, imo, the positive results were often not a fair reflection of the performance or flow of the game, I feel that this year, we have seen an overall improvement in performance but have simply struggled to turn that into improved results.

For instance our 4-1 defeat against Spurs this year was very flattering to them but overall, I have seen enough to feel confident that it will start to jive and we will be able to improve on our position on last year.

Slacker

I think our best performance so far this season was against Man. City.

Yeoldhammer

He has got to go I'm afraid. Only positive thing about him is that he doesn't mind using subs to try and make an impact.

However:-

-No settled defence, changes every game including personnel.
-Midfield fairly non-existent, he has made so many so called international pros look genuinely League two level. None of them have pace, none of the tactics, awareness or whatever he is trying to convey is working.
-No attacking intent, its just sideways/backwards/panic hoofing
-No Plan, genuinely think he is winging it at this point with the different tactics/formations and just playing players in positions they simply have never been accustomed too.


10 league games in and there isn't a single league game that we have really deserved to win or even played well for 90 minutes. The only miracle that has occurred is that we have managed to accrue 11 points somehow.

I don't think it will get any better if you gave him 10 / 20 more games. He was supported with huge transfers and the buck needs to stop with the manager not getting an ounce of a tune out of the team at all.

buffybegood

10 league games, and we've got 11 points. Underwhelming I'll certainly give you, frustrating for sure, but too early for the sack imo. It kinda feels like he's trying too hard with his selections, that he's overthinking things.

Certainly hasn't been helped by Paqueta being massively out of form, and Alvarez missing pre-season thanks to an injury on international duty and having picked up two red cards in the matches he has played. That's two thirds of our CM from last season basically having taken a big step backwards.

Then there's our much awaited CF signing, who also gets injured on international duty and who knows when he'll be back available.

So definitely not the start to the season I wanted to see, but it's not quite a disaster just yet imo.

jay_in_cpt

buffybegood said:

10 league games, and we've got 11 points. Underwhelming I'll certainly give you, frustrating for sure, but too early for the sack imo. It kinda feels like he's trying too hard with his selections, that he's overthinking things.

Certainly hasn't been helped by Paqueta being massively out of form, and Alvarez missing pre-season thanks to an injury on international duty and having picked up two red cards in the matches he has played. That's two thirds of our CM from last season basically having taken a big step backwards.

Then there's our much awaited CF signing, who also gets injured on international duty and who knows when he'll be back available.

So definitely not the start to the season I wanted to see, but it's not quite a disaster just yet imo.

Fair points, but you could argue he's decided to play BOTH. Kudus and Paqueta in their weaker positions, rather than their favoured ones...Just saying...

buffybegood

jay_in_cpt said:

Fair points, but you could argue he's decided to play BOTH. Kudus and Paqueta in their weaker positions, rather than their favoured ones...Just saying...

For sure I don't agree with too many of his team selections, I just think he's trying to find which compromise of his playing style will work best with the players he's got available to him. He's obviously not nailed it quite yet, but has been hampered somewhat by some of the things I outlined above.

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

Don't think he's helped himself but also don't think he's ready for the sack

He has made plenty of tactical mistakes, but also think that he inherited a team in free fall, our 2024 was awful well before Lopetegui took over

He got a old, horribly mismanaged team that had run out of steam under Moyes

He has also been let down massively from his players, the red cards we've been getting are just absolute schoolboy from players who are internationals who know better.

He needs to improve, quickly, but I don't think he deserves the sack yet

Still not worried about us getting relegated, but things have to get better starting at Everton

jay_in_cpt

Reckon he’s gone before the Christmas decorations come down, just a hunch ⚒️

steve

Is his contract 18 months I can't remember .And how much to pay him off

steve

Of course it was two years not 18 months

chicagohammer

I think he will get until the end of the season at least, I do not see us going down but we will need to see some evidence of vision and cohesion by then

alderz

I think it’s highly unlikely that he’s not here for the duration of this contract at least, tbh. The owners don’t like sacking mid-season, and I think they’ll take the view that this is a transition season and we’ll improve with more time.

I get that it doesn’t look good in this moment, but I personally think that patience is important here. The guy is objectively a good manager, based on his CV and career. I still have confidence it’ll come good.

Bazshuayi

For me, it’s way too early for any sacking. A lot of players in and out plus trying to play a different way. I think we have the deepest squad I can remember. Hoping the players gel, the system(s) start to register and confidence grows. Oh and results too…

Lukerz

At the start of Moyes’ second spell, we lost 8 of his first 12 PL games, winning 2. We then went on to finish 6th, 7th, European trophy & 9th over the next four years.

It does take time & we are certainly not at the stage for sacking JL yet. A win next week, no matter how we get it, will see us go into the break with 14 points from 11. I think 3 points & a positive display will make all the difference. Players need to stand up, too. Bowen, Paquetá, some of the defending from experienced defenders, reckless & stupid decisions that result in red cards. This is not all on JL.

Barney

I understand the views about giving Jlo time but there seems to be a lack of commitment and heart in the dressing room to me. something looks very wrong there

jay_in_cpt

First mistake J Lo made IMO was making Bowen captain.

I prefer a defender or midfielder to be it.

Bowen seems too quiet on the field for this role, but I guess what do I know, just my opinion ⚒️⚒️⚒️

alderz

jay_in_cpt said:

First mistake J Lo made IMO was making Bowen captain.

I prefer a defender or midfielder to be it.

Bowen seems too quiet on the field for this role, but I guess what do I know, just my opinion ⚒️⚒️⚒️

Yeah I agree with this. There weren't any outstanding candidates, but Bowen felt like a very odd choice. That said, I don't think you should need an armband to be a leader. I think we have a lot of quiet players on the pitch, and have done since Rice left.