Julen Lopetegui torn into ahead of West Ham United clash v Everton, ‘BTEC version of Moyes’
Rory Jennings has torn into Julen Lopetegui ahead of the Premier League clash between West Ham United and Everton.
The Hammers face Sean Dyche’s side at the London Stadium on Saturday (9 November) as they look to ease the pressure on their manager with a win in their final game before the international break.
Although talkSPORT pundit Jennings has slammed the Irons’ board for deciding to appoint Lopetegui as David Moyes’ replacement, he has been quick to slam the former Real Madrid manager labelling him a “BTEC version of Moyes”.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Friday (8 November, 20:36) he said: “They’ve been done a complete mischief by their board.
“West Ham fans are getting a really bad rep here, but they are correct. I don’t like sticking up for West Ham by the way, I don’t like West Ham and Chelsea and West Ham are huge rivals.
“But what West Ham wanted, what their fans were demanding, they didn’t get. Now, when people are saying I bet you still had Moyes, be careful what you wish for, he’s a BTEC version of Moyes, isn’t he?
“He approaches the game in the same negative way, he doesn’t exactly inspire in the way that Moyes did and there is no way Lopetegui is the man to take the Irons to the next level.”
Will the Irons sack Julen Lopetegui amid London Stadium exit speculation?
As Jennings suggested, while the majority of Hammers fans did want to see Moyes exit this summer, very few were pining for the appointment of another defensive-minded coach who would face the same problems.
Lopetegui has his differences from the Scotsman, the main one at the moment being the lack of success at the London Stadium, but his ethos and playing style are incredibly similar to the one deployed by Moyes.
The Hammers spent heavily this summer to build a squad that was capable of not only competing in the top half of the table but also playing attacking front-foot football. In the opening weeks of the campaign, neither have proven to be true.
While that remains the case, Lopetegui is going to come in for criticism from fans and pundits alike.
Whether or not he will lose his job remains unclear, but it does feel as though his days could be numbered if the Hammers lose to Everton on Saturday (9 November).
In other West Ham news, the Irons will be on red alert after a new Ademola Lookman transfer update emerged this season
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