Julen Lopetegui sack update shared as West Ham United drop points v Everton
Roshane Thomas believes that Julen Lopetegui must be on borrowed time at West Ham after the 0-0 draw against Everton on Saturday.
The Hammers dropped two points against the Toffees at the London Stadium on 9 November and they sit in 14th spot.
As things stand, the Spaniard retains the support of the board despite the slow start to the season.
Thomas wrote in the Athletic on 10 November: “Following the goalless draw against Everton, West Ham still look unrecognisable and lack identity. Although Lopetegui retains full support from the board, he should be on borrowed time.
“The team were passive on Saturday and struggled to sustain any purpose and attacking intent and hopes of a turnaround under Lopetegui disintegrate each week.
“Lopetegui’s body language on the touchline rarely gives the impression of a man who is confident his team can execute his plans. He is often seen gesticulating at players to be in different positions, which seems to cause more confusion. Lopetegui has been handed a mantle which has proven too onerous to bear.
“Majority shareholder David Sullivan and technical director Tim Steidten played key roles in recruiting Lopetegui. At his unveiling in July, Steidten said the Spaniard was the club’s first choice, but that has proven to be an expensive mistake.”
Julen Lopetegui may not have long left to save his West Ham job
Lopetegui’s tenure at the London Stadium is teetering on the edge due to the team’s ongoing struggles to assert an identity or show consistent progress.
After 11 games into the season, the club’s performance, particularly highlighted by the recent 0-0 draw against Everton, has not reflected the high expectations set when he was appointed.
Despite the board’s initial backing, the pressure is mounting as West Ham languish in 14th place, a position that does not align with the ambitions following a significant summer investment in the squad.
The lack of tactical clarity, with Lopetegui’s visible frustration and constant on-field adjustments, suggests a disconnect between his vision and the team’s execution.
This situation is critical as the club had heralded the Spaniard as their long-term solution, but continued poor results could force the board to reconsider their stance, potentially leading to an early managerial change if performances do not improve swiftly.
Hopefully, things turn around quickly but there’s nothing that suggests things are heading in the direction.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers want to sell an international player in January and have already identified a replacement for him.
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