Official new manager - Julen Lopetegui

MrsGrey

Pengeman said:

Many EPL clubs have thrived under foreign managers (Liverpool Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Aston Villa) but that doesn't seem to the case at WHU (Zola, Grant, Bilic, Pellegrini). Why might that be when Moyes could get the best of a small squad. Is it training methods, language, player not receptive, dud players or something else? Other Clubs can and have solved these problems, why can't WHU?

But just as many who now thrive, haven't in the past.

How many foreign managers have Chelsea sacked, for example?

The issue is not related to where the manager's parents were living at the time he was born.

Ravel49

THE SUN

Julen Lopetegui has reportedly been given two games to save his job at West Ham.

IronHerb

I'm pretty certain that owners / chairs don't tell their managers that they have 1, 2 ,3 games to save themselves.

Ravel49

Are you questioning ‘The Suns’ reporting there Herb 😮

IronHerb

"Moi?"

Ravel49

Wazza’s now available 🤪

Whitehorsehammer

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years said:

Unless the manager we get in is our 1stchoice out of all the option I don't want a change of manager

Lopetegui won't get us relegated, so yea we can sack him now but if Potter or whoever is employed only becuase they're available I'd rather we wait

Spend now and the summer working out who we want next, and don't consider anyone not in a job we don't want another freebie who's killing time till their next employment....although Klopp would be too bad I guess

It's a bit early to call that we still need a good few more points before we can relax. Many will agree that we have been lucky to accumulate as many points as we have, we could just as easily have 6/7 points less. We have to hope that we don't hit a bad patch of results and our luck runs out at he same time as teams below us start putting a run together.

thornburyiron

Lopetigui won’t get us relegated but our inept players might if they keep playing like they have been.

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

Whitehorsehammer said:

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years said:

Unless the manager we get in is our 1stchoice out of all the option I don't want a change of manager

Lopetegui won't get us relegated, so yea we can sack him now but if Potter or whoever is employed only becuase they're available I'd rather we wait

Spend now and the summer working out who we want next, and don't consider anyone not in a job we don't want another freebie who's killing time till their next employment....although Klopp would be too bad I guess

It's a bit early to call that we still need a good few more points before we can relax. Many will agree that we have been lucky to accumulate as many points as we have, we could just as easily have 6/7 points less. We have to hope that we don't hit a bad patch of results and our luck runs out at he same time as teams below us start putting a run together.

Well I think everyone agrees we've been really woeful yet we are 8 points clear with more points than games, and our forms over the last 9 is better than the first 10

Yes of course its early.... but yea, I don't think we'll get relegated under him

Fortuneseeker

Apologies but this is what really “grinds my gears” why are we having to yet again decide the success of our season based on whether we don’t get relegated? We should be far better than this shouldn’t we?

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

Fortuneseeker said:

Apologies but this is what really “grinds my gears” why are we having to yet again decide the success of our season based on whether we don’t get relegated? We should be far better than this shouldn’t we?

I can't speak for everyone, but I first really got into football in the 99/00 season when I was 5, that was 25 seasons ago

In those 25 seasons I've seen us finish in the top half on 11 occasions, highest being 6th and I've seen us in the bottom half 11 times, a lot of times not far off relegation

Additionally ive seen us relegated twice, spending 3 seasons in the first division

You may think we should be far better, doesn't every fan, but honestly for me this is kinda our level, 13th is not exactly uncommon and I'd say the league quality is a fair bit higher for a lot of the "mid" teams these days

What o can comfortably say is I've never seen our fanbase react like the way they've doen this season even whe we have been relegated

Think that's the way the game is going though, not just us but most of the top level football

jay_in_cpt

Sadly what fans see are shocking performances since the start of the season, that's a reason to be unhappy and voice our opinion, even if some don't like hearing it ( the truth IMO) it's been a load of rubbish in general, and your age, well, you're still young!!

Lukerz

Shocking performances since last January, Jay?

OutcastLondoner

Fortuneseeker said:

Apologies but this is what really “grinds my gears” why are we having to yet again decide the success of our season based on whether we don’t get relegated? We should be far better than this shouldn’t we?

I don’t think it’s about defining our success but about the likelihood of Lopetigui getting sacked. I don’t think it will happen unless we’re at very real risk of relegation, personally. I think as long as we are on track to be safe, he will be given then chance to see if he can achieve some sort of actual success.

We actually should have enough players to cover Bowen’s absence but they all need to perform far better than they have.

Slacker

I really don’t like calling for the manager to get sacked whether it’s this bloke or any of the previous ones.They don’t deliberately try to get the team to play rubbish do they? They work in a high pressure fish bowl where every single move is scrutinised to the enth degree in the MSM and socials. Everyone’s an expert it seems .
IMO he must be given to at least the end of the season and look to push on next year.

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

jay_in_cpt said:

Sadly what fans see are shocking performances since the start of the season, that's a reason to be unhappy and voice our opinion, even if some don't like hearing it ( the truth IMO) it's been a load of rubbish in general, and your age, well, you're still young!!

And the majority of those this year were under those were under Moyes with his squad...

Again, in 25 years I've seen us be a LOT worse than we've been this year, multiple times

Happy for anyone to voice their opinion, I just think some of our fans just want us to fail and just aren't going to be happy as they have unrealistic expectations of how good we are as a club because of a season or 2 of what could be classed as over-performing, especially given our history

Think the young comment is curious, because the older I get the less and less I care enough to get angry, football jsut becomes less and less important in my life

The old man is in his 60s with a season ticket still and he likes a little groan but he probably moans less than me

Guess each to their own, but given where my original post was intended this is a team that was in freefall throughout the 2nd half of the season when our overperforming caught up to us

So yea I think not being involved in a relegation scrap would be a good season

jay_in_cpt

Lukerz said:

Shocking performances since last January, Jay?

Oh Luke, you know it's been for 18 months, BUT it's got probably worse this season....

Fortuneseeker

@Lukerz, Looking at the results over the last twelve months several standout as not being very good. We drew away at Sheffield United, home to Burnley, who both ended up getting relegated and lost in the FA Cup to Bristol City. I haven't even mentioned the AFC, CFC OR CPFC matches!

jay_in_cpt

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years said:

jay_in_cpt said:

Sadly what fans see are shocking performances since the start of the season, that's a reason to be unhappy and voice our opinion, even if some don't like hearing it ( the truth IMO) it's been a load of rubbish in general, and your age, well, you're still young!!

And the majority of those this year were under those were under Moyes with his squad...

Again, in 25 years I've seen us be a LOT worse than we've been this year, multiple times

Happy for anyone to voice their opinion, I just think some of our fans just want us to fail and just aren't going to be happy as they have unrealistic expectations of how good we are as a club because of a season or 2 of what could be classed as over-performing, especially given our history

Think the young comment is curious, because the older I get the less and less I care enough to get angry, football jsut becomes less and less important in my life

The old man is in his 60s with a season ticket still and he likes a little groan but he probably moans less than me

Guess each to their own, but given where my original post was intended this is a team that was in freefall throughout the 2nd half of the season when our overperforming caught up to us

So yea I think not being involved in a relegation scrap would be a good season

Each to their own...hey, but after spending more than most, J Lo should have been doing far better, he has some quality players but seems to have FAILED so far to improve them, but hey, WHU you carry on, do as you please, your thoughts are as valid as mine....Whether I agree or not, NO WAY..you see what you do, and I see another story...

BTW LOL, I never want us to fail, I just perhaps can see things differently to you, J Lo is gonna be history soon, just see it happening.....

With how many additions, do you not think he should do better, come on, you're only kidding yourself IMO

jay_in_cpt

Avram Grant, worse, yeh...anyone else ........performance wise, not many IMO.....

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

jay_in_cpt said:

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years said:

jay_in_cpt said:

Sadly what fans see are shocking performances since the start of the season, that's a reason to be unhappy and voice our opinion, even if some don't like hearing it ( the truth IMO) it's been a load of rubbish in general, and your age, well, you're still young!!

And the majority of those this year were under those were under Moyes with his squad...

Again, in 25 years I've seen us be a LOT worse than we've been this year, multiple times

Happy for anyone to voice their opinion, I just think some of our fans just want us to fail and just aren't going to be happy as they have unrealistic expectations of how good we are as a club because of a season or 2 of what could be classed as over-performing, especially given our history

Think the young comment is curious, because the older I get the less and less I care enough to get angry, football jsut becomes less and less important in my life

The old man is in his 60s with a season ticket still and he likes a little groan but he probably moans less than me

Guess each to their own, but given where my original post was intended this is a team that was in freefall throughout the 2nd half of the season when our overperforming caught up to us

So yea I think not being involved in a relegation scrap would be a good season

Each to their own...hey, but after spending more than most, J Lo should have been doing far better, he has some quality players but seems to have FAILED so far to improve them, but hey, WHU you carry on, do as you please, your thoughts are as valid as mine....Whether I agree or not, NO WAY..you see what you do, and I see another story...

BTW LOL, I never want us to fail, I just perhaps can see things differently to you, J Lo is gonna be history soon, just see it happening.....

With how many additions, do you not think he should do better, come on, you're only kidding yourself IMO

And where did I say he can't be doing better?

I said that a lot of the abysmal performances I'm 2024 were under Moyes, which is true

I said that 13th isn't an uncommon season for West Ham, which I'd say is also true

I said that outside of Ipswich the losses have been to the better teams in the league, which again i can't see how you can deny that

I said that I don't see any point in brining someone in now if they arent our preferred option as I'd rather we wait for the right guy, because we've been beating the teams we need to beat to not get relegated which so far we've done

To clarify, yea I deffo think he can do better and should deffo be but also know that this isn't FIFA you can't always just overhaul a squad in a single summer and adopt a polar opposite playstyle to the previous manager and expect it all to just click, football just isn't that easy

Expect to see him gone in the summer

Just think the pitchforks are always out immediately at the club atm and I think the toxicity at the club is only getting worse and worse, again I said this applies to not jsut us but top level football in general

jay_in_cpt

Look WHUFC you say a lot, so do I, I have never said "you said this or that"" let's agree we think differently, we both support the same team, you have your opinions, I have mine, they are different...

I've said too many times, it;'s nothing personal with J Lo, I just think:
1- He''s not the right person for the job, or fit for that matter
2- He should have achieved a lot more IMO
3-hE/the club spent a small fortune compared to most are where are we since Moyes' last season which was bad, WORSE OFF IMO
4-He' hasn't made 1 player better
5-Has no idea his best starting 11
6-His squad lacks serious discipline
7-Hearing fans boo, reading every week how bad we are from ex footballers ( even if it's Jamie O Hara ( Luke ) they know more than you or me, and state we are BAD...

I could carry on, but hey, it's New Years Eve, so let's agree to disagree....Cheers

jay_in_cpt

If we get thrashed today, IMO J Lo should face the most severe scrutiny so far, anyone who watched Man City last week beat Leicester would have seen them ride wave after wave of Leicester chances, if they were more clinical they would have got a draw at least.

I watched the whole game and while they won 2-0 it was very unconvincing.

Man City were very average, so I feel that we should be able to at least give them a go, ( Bowen or not ) sadly I don't believe the players have faith in J Lo though, and the end result will be another thrashing, ( I really don't won't that to happen, even though I want J Lo gone ) but if it is by 4 goals or more, surely J Lo
must be pushing his luck to remain......IMO

Lukerz

Regardless of their form, I think you’d be harsh to overly criticise the side for losing at the Etihad.

I think, if we do things well (mainly City continue to do things badly) we have a chance of this being a competitive match & the possibility of taking something from it. If City are at even 70% of their best they will probably win.

But another 5-0 thrashing would not be good.

jay_in_cpt

Lukerz said:

Regardless of their form, I think you’d be harsh to overly criticise the side for losing at the Etihad.

I think, if we do things well (mainly City continue to do things badly) we have a chance of this being a competitive match & the possibility of taking something from it. If City are at even 70% of their best they will probably win.

But another 5-0 thrashing would not be good.

Exactly Luke, a 2-0 or 2-1 loss fair do's, but 4 or more AGAIN, no can't be acceptable...

EXETERHAMMER

Another bad scoreline. Not acceptable so time for J-Lo to go.

jay_in_cpt

Even though we had our moments this is too much of a regular thing.
We have conceded 3 or more 8 times now, JOINT WORST WITH BOTTOM CLUB SOUTHAMPTON.
J Lo seems unable of sorting it out...
Please let this be his LAST game for WHUFC.

Barney

There is something missing in the whole set up. We lack passion, energy and ,I sense, a togetherness. Enough now time to go JLo

Lukerz

The issue is, when you are a new manager, players need to trust you & what you want. Otherwise confidence goes.

After 20 games, a -15 GD, there is very little to give the players faith that JL knows what he is doing.

How long do you leave a head coach in charge who has probably failed (so far) to win over the majority of the players to his methods because we lose so often (not only lose, but get heavily beaten)?

You only have to watch the players during games. They look confused, they argue with each other & the coach, they look fed up when goals go in. I don’t see how this ends any other way than a change. You regularly see Álvarez, Emerson, Paquetá, Kudus remonstrating with the coach.

ValiantIron

After the discussion of our form and do we deserve even the points we have, I thought I'd have a look at xG, for and against, and what it said about us (the somewhat subjective nature of xG is noted, but it's what we have!) So what it suggests:

- we've been making more chances than we've been taking.
- we really are not defending well and could even have let in a few more goals! This stat was even worse before the last two matches, where xG suggests the performances were roughly 3-1 to Liverpool and 2-1 to Man City.
- Combined we would be a few points and a couple of places worse off, but still well clear of any relegation battle.

Make of that what you will. To quote 'All models are wrong, some models are useful'!