Harry Redknapp slams West Ham recruitment in new Julen Lopetegui verdict
Julen Lopetegui is not solely at fault for West Ham United’s new signings underperforming this season, according to Harry Redknapp.
Speaking on talkSPORT (11 November, 8:54am), Redknapp said while Lopetegui needs to get more out of his team, the fault lies with who was in charge of the transfer business this summer.
Tim Steidten oversaw much of the recruitment in the summer transfer window, which saw them back Lopetegui with roughly £130million worth of new signings.
Redknapp said: “The recruitment and the good players, obviously, at the moment are not performing – it’s very difficult and the manager cops the blame.
“I don’t the know people who make the recruitment. Who brings the players in if they’re not good enough?
“It wouldn’t be him (Lopetegui), he’s only a small cog in that wheel, and the manager takes the blame at the end but you want to look at who recruited some of these players?
“Obviously, one or two of them are not good enough – they’ve not recruited well, West Ham. That’s their big problem.”
Julen Lopetegui and Tim Stiedten both at fault for West Ham
Although Redknapp is spot on when pointing out that the Irons’ recruitment is yet to flourish this season, Lopetegui hasn’t helped his cause with a lack of clear identity and bizarre selection choices.
For example, free-agent Guido Rodriguez’s arrival was his choice rather than Steidten’s [Daily Mail, 24 October], and having started all 11 Premier League matches, the midfielder has seriously failed to convince.
Some of Steidten’s decisions in the summer window hardly absolve him either though, particularly the signing of Niclas Fullkrug rather than paying an extra £13m to pluck Jhon Duran from Aston Villa.
Duran’s form this season – scoring eight goals already, including one against the Irons on the opening day – has been electrifying when compared to Fullkrug, who so far has four appearances and no goals.
It remains to be seen just how the rest of this season will play out for the Hammers’ new-look squad, but should the downward spiral continue, pressure will continue to be piled on both Lopetegui and Steiden.
In other West Ham news, Jamie O’Hara also hit out at the London Stadium board for missing the ‘perfect opportunity’ this summer.
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