Julen Lopetegui must address West Ham ‘problem’ position as Guido Rodriguez singled out
West Ham United midfielder Guido Rodriguez’s lack of mobility is a problem that Julen Lopetegui has to address to keep his job.
Speaking on The 2 Robbie’s podcast (20 October), former Premier League midfielder Robbie Mustoe flagged up the 30-year-old Argentinian as a major issue for the dynamism of Lopetegui’s setup.
Rodriguez arrived at the London Stadium on a free transfer from Real Betis this summer, but after starting all eight Premier League games so far, has performed far below the expectations set for him.
Mustoe said: “Without the ball, you can run through them.
“They set themselves up to be counter-attacking, (but) Guido Rodriguez in the middle of the park – problem.
“That’s just a problem – he can’t get around the pitch.
“He can’t get around. Tomas Soucek will help, of course, and Paqueta at times comes back, but he’s more of a talented player.”
West Ham midfield dilemma set to cost Julen Lopetegui
There’s no denying that Lopetegui has made a below-average (to say the least) start to his career at the London Stadium, and one key issue continually exploited by teams is their passive midfield structure.
Most recently against Tottenham, a game the Hammers were in command of before conceding four on the bounce and going down to 10 men, Paqueta, Soucek and particularly Rodriguez were left exposed.
Rodriguez is clearly not mobile enough to anchor the midfield alone in a 4-1-4-1 formation, and with the likes of Edson Alvarez sat on the bench, it’s clear Lopetegui needs to re-shape his side.
Alvarez may have been linked with making a January exit to AC Milan [Daily Mirror, 8 October], but having arrived just a year ago, there is surely still time for him to reclaim his place ahead of the under-fire Argentine.
Carlos Soler is another central midfielder who would add more pace and dynamism to an side which keeps being cut through, and given the options Lopetegui has at his disposal, there is no excuse for his continued faith in Rodriguez as part of an overrun Hammers team.
In other West Ham news, one player’s actions against Tottenham could indirectly buy Lopetegui precious time at the London Stadium.
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