Julen Lopetegui sack update as final straw mooted at West Ham United
Roshane Thomas believes an unconvincing performance against Everton could lead to Julen Lopetegui being sacked at West Ham United.
Questions are being raised about the Spaniard at the Hammers after their 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on 2 November, and the Toffees are set to visit the London Stadium on 9 November.
Lopetegui has struggled since being appointed this summer, and writing in The Athletic [4 November], Thomas suggested the next game against Sean Dyche could be essential for the 58-year-old’s future.
“Lopetegui has flattered to deceive,” he wrote. “Failure to produce a convincing performance at home against Everton next Saturday could be the last straw.”
Julen Lopetegui on borrowed time at West Ham
Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian shared on X [3 November] that West Ham still backed Lopetegui after the loss at City Ground.
The London Stadium faithful will undoubtedly be surprised that the former Wolves manager has lasted this long despite the poor results.
In the current campaign, the Hammers have already lost five games in the league and sit fourteenth in the table, just six points above the relegation zone.
The game against Forest showcased the lack of ideas in the team, and it wasn’t surprising to see most players putting in below-par displays.
Lopetegui shouldn’t be given any leeway, and if such results had continued under David Moyes, there’s no doubt that the board would’ve gotten rid.
Edin Terzic is someone who has been mooted to replace Lopetegui [Patrick Berger, 22 October], and if the Hammers are unable to get a positive result against Everton, then a swift change has to be seen in the dugout.
In other West Ham news, Dermot Gallagher is baffled by what Edson Alvarez did against Forest.
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