Martin Keown convinced Julen Lopetegui has lost West Ham players after what he saw v Everton
Martin Keown thinks Julen Lopetegui might have lost his West Ham players after he noticed some not responding to his instructions during the 0-0 draw with Everton on Saturday.
Former Arsenal and Everton defender Keown was speaking live on BBC Final Score (9 November) and reacted to the Spaniard tell his side to press during the first half at the London Stadium.
But after noticing not all players reacting to what they were being told, Keown said he thinks something bigger could be at play.
“What’s worrying for West Ham, Lopetegui is shouting instructions from the sideline, it’s like he’s lost the players a little bit,” he said.
“No one really engaged, he’s trying to get them to press some want to do it, others don’t. Pickford has all sorts of time at the back, hits it long when he wants to. “
Julen Lopetegui not getting a full tune out of West Ham players
It was reported by the Telegraph this week that the Hammers would opt to stick with the underfire Spaniard regardless of what happened in Saturday’s contest against the Toffees, who have also had their struggles this campaign.
While it can be good to give Lopetegui that sort of vote of confidence before a big game, it will be a concern to those in the board room to see the players not responding to their manager and in a truth a point at home to the Toffees will do little to convince anyone he is the right man moving forward.
Once you have players who are not reacting to what they are being told that can be an extremely slippery slope and ultimately what the manager says simply has to go, and in this instance clearly they were not willing to do what they were told.
The Irons invested heavily in the playing squad during the summer and Lopetegui was well-backed in the market, so the pressure is on the former Wolves boss to starting getting a proper tune out of his side.
In other West Ham news, scouts were in attendance to watch one attacking target in midweek.
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