Gabby Agbonlahor has offered his verdict on West Ham and Julen Lopetegui 
[Credit: Imago and talkSPORT via YouTube]
Gabby Agbonlahor has offered his verdict on West Ham and Julen Lopetegui [Credit: Imago and talkSPORT via YouTube]

Lopetegui to get 'one more game' as West Ham manager amid sack news

Jonathan Burnett

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

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West Ham United shouldn't sack Julen Lopetegui yet despite no real signs of improvement on the pitch, Gabby Agbonlahor has said.

Speaking on talkSPORT (5 December, 7:23am) Agbonlahor argued that while it's understandable that the Spaniard is under pressure, he deserves at least one more game to turn things around.

Lopetegui's side suffered a 3-1 defeat at Leicester City on 3 December following a 5-2 home thrashing by Arsenal four days prior, making next Monday's clash with Wolves a must-win for the Hammers.

Agbonlahor said: "You can see why the pressure's on, this isn't improving – West Ham fans and the board wanted West Ham to go to the next level.

"I would give him Monday, I would, (against) a struggling Wolves. Don't forget they went and beat Newcastle away from home – that was a great performance.

"I wouldn't rush into it if I was West Ham, I would give Lopetegui one more game."

Julen Lopetegui walking the tightrope at West Ham United

Monday's home match against Wolves could prove to be the final time Lopetegui occupies the home dugout at the London Stadium, with the club's board debating whether or not to show him the door [Kaveh Solhekol, 4 December].

Although they produced their best performance of the season to beat Newcastle at St. James' Park, and dominated large swathes of their loss to Leicester, the last week or so has typified their inconsistency.

Julen Lopetegui
West Ham v Wolves on 9 December could prove to be Julen Lopetegui's curtain call [Credit: Imago]

Being put to the sword by Arsenal in ruthless fashion between those two games, the Irons conceded four times in 36 minutes, making Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson's goals nothing more than consolation.

Shipping a further three to Leicester despite having 31 shots of their own is frankly inexcusable, and with such erratic performances at both ends, it's no surprise to see the wolves are at the door for Lopetegui.

The Wolves in question – Lopetegui's former employers – are mired in the bottom three and in awful form themselves, but given how unpredictable the Hammers are, that may not matter at the London Stadium.

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