Richard Keys launches latest bizarre West Ham United rant, gets it totally wrong
Richard Keys has made a habit of criticising West Ham United – or more specifically the club’s hierarchy – and this new season does not look like being any different.
The beIN SPORTS presenter gave the Irons a specific mention in his preview piece for the upcoming Premier League campaign on his personal blog [12 August].
Keys said he is interested in seeing how United get on in 2024-25 after spending big, while also taking another apparent swipe at Karren Brady and David Sullivan.
Richard Keys questions West Ham United summer signing
“I don’t see any surprises [in the Premier League], but West Ham will be interesting,” he wrote. “I believe they’ll miss David Moyes badly.
“Julen Lopetegui is a huge gamble. This is a man who doesn’t hang about if things aren’t going his way – and he won’t have much his own way working with Messrs Brady and Sullivan.
“He’s doing the right things at the moment mind you. Getting the club to spend £27m on a 32-year-old centre forward isn’t smart financial business, but I like Niclas Fullkrug and I think he’s perfect for the English game. There’s no way Moyes could’ve spent like that though.”
As he so often does, Keys seems to contradict himself in the space of a few words. From saying West Ham have overspent on a player, to then saying it is a “perfect” fit.
While it is true Lopetegui left Wolves in the lurch when departing on the eve of last season, the Spaniard made clear the reasons why – and there is no such risk of that happening at the London Stadium.
Lopetegui cannot really be considered a “huge gamble”. This is a man who has experience of managing in the Premier League, while also having notable success with Sevilla.
Julen Lopetegui can be West Ham success
Any head coach with Real Madrid and Spain on their CV is not a risk. As for missing Moyes “badly”, well the truth will be in the pudding, so to speak.
Moyes had many critics at West Ham but he left with the full respect of everyone. Nobody will forget what the Scotsman did in winning the Europa Conference League.
Lopetegui has big boots to fill, of that there is no doubt, but he is a solid choice and now has one of the best squads in the division to select from.
The pressure is now on the Spaniard in his first season in charge, but there is no reason why this cannot be a match made in heaven.
Even if the Irons do get off to a fast start, do not be surprised if Keys finds another perceived ‘problem’ to focus on.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are in talks with multiple clubs to offload a first-team player.
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