Carragher drops Lopetegui sack verdict at West Ham after what happened elsewhere
Jamie Carragher believes Julen Lopetegui was a “bit fortunate” not to be sacked by West Ham over the international break.
The former Liverpool defender added that the Spaniard was perhaps even luckier given that Steve Cooper was dismissed by Leicester City after just 12 Premier League games in charge following their defeat to Chelsea.
Lopetegui was only appointed to replace David Moyes during the summer but has found himself under threat and Carragher, who was speaking prior to the Hammers’ 2-0 win at Newcastle United on Monday (25 November), thought a change might have happened over the past fortnight.
Speaking on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports (25 November, Carragher said: “I think Lopetegui is a little bit fortunate that West Ham didn’t pull the trigger during the international break.
“We’ve already seen Steve Cooper move on from Leicester and if things don’t change really quickly I think there could be a change here.”
West Ham could have acted on Julen Lopetegui during the international break
It was reported by Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg (20 November) that Lopetegui needed positive results against Newcastle and Arsenal to save his job.
In truth, many would have been pretty surprised to see him get that long after the dismal goalless draw against Everton prior to the international break and, honestly, few supporters would have shed any tears if the trigger was pulled.
For most, the appointment of Lopetegui to replace David Moyes has been little more than a sideways move and many would probably have rather stuck with the Scot than brought Lopetegui in.
A summer brimming with optimism quickly fizzled out and any close-season hopes of challenging the European spots in the Premier League look pretty fanciful given what has happened this season.
The Cooper sacking at Leicester might just be the first domino to fall as clubs weigh up changes ahead of the January transfer window.
A timely victory over the Magpies will certainly have aided Lopetegui’s cause but there were still plenty of nervy moments at St James’. More positive results will be needed to ensure Lopetegui stays in the job. Watch this space.
In other West Ham news, one backroom figure was slammed live on talkSPORT.
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