Julen Lopetegui sack: West Ham board update emerges tonight
West Ham United want to give Julen Lopetegui more time despite the 4-1 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday, according to Roshane Thomas.
The Athletic journalist shared the boardroom verdict on X (4 January) in the immediate aftermath of the loss at the Etihad Stadium, pointing out the alarming number of goals recently conceded.
The Irons have shipped 39 goals in the Premier League this term despite having invested heavily in the squad over the summer, with Lopetegui now seemingly hanging by a thread at the London Stadium.
“Still not convinced Lopetegui is capable of turning this around,” Thomas posted.
“The board want to give him time but how much longer can this continue? These heavy defeats, poor performances and capitulations are too frequent.”
West Ham board make Julen Lopetegui sack decision
There are far too many players in the West Ham United squad who have utterly let their head coach, the club and its supporters down this season.
Tim Steidten’s recruitment drive in the summer saw nine figures spent in the transfer window, leaving the club restricted by PSR on how they could paper over the cracks this month in the market.
The technical director was also the man responsible for bringing in Lopetegui as David Moyes’ replacement. Ultimately the buck stops with the Spaniard, who still appears to not know his best team.
Many believe Lopetegui only has a maximum of two games left.
Some believe he will be backed for weeks or potentially months, though had it not been for recent victories over Newcastle United and Wolves, a change surely would have been made.
To offer 17 attempts away at Man City is no easy feat, but many of these shots were wasteful and the impact in the final third is not the same without the injured Jarrod Bowen. Then, of course, is the defence – coping against an Erling Haaland and a Phil Foden gradually returning to their best form.
Hammers fans are sick of taking a step toward progress only to see it unravelled by more incompetent performances, with a big decision surely imminent.
In other West Ham news, Michael Dawson interrupted the entire Sky Sports studio after a moment at the Etihad.
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