Robbie Savage reacts to Julen Lopetegui sack developments at West Ham
Robbie Savage has questioned the West Ham United hierarchy amid the latest Julen Lopetegui developments.
Lopetegui is facing an uncertain future at the London Stadium, with the Irons’ next two games against Newcastle and Arsenal deemed as make-or-break for him [The Guardian].
The Spaniard is under increasing pressure as the Hammers sit 14th in the table after 11 games but Savage is unsure if that is long enough to determine his future.
“Julen Lopetegui is thought to be on thin ice at West Ham, but is 11 games long enough to judge him?”, he wrote in The Mirror [23 November, page 61].
“It’s not gone to plan for the Hammers this season but, let’s face it, with or without manager Lopetegui, they are not going to be relegated.
“So it’s down to that old chestnut – are they looking for style or substance?
“If the hierarchy are looking for a more expansive brand of football, the so-called West Ham way, I would simply ask, what is the West Ham way?
“Is it winning the club’s first trophy for 43 years, as they did under former manager David Moyes and his pragmatic, sound approach… or do they want to play fluid, open football, if it just means staying up?”
Robbie Savage quizzes West Ham amid Julen Lopetegui sack developments
The Irons hierarchy hoped Lopetegui would take the club to greater heights when they replaced David Moyes ahead of the 2024-25 season. It was also hoped that he would bring a more attractive brand of football to East London.
However, that has not been the case. The Spaniard failed to deliver results, and the playing style has largely been reminiscent of Moyes’.
Lopetegui, though, cannot be fully blamed for the Hammers’ struggles this season as it was David Sullivan’s decision to hire the 58-year-old over the likes of Ruben Amorim [talkSPORT].
Tim Steidten cannot be exempt from criticism either after spending over £100million on incoming transfers [The Guardian]. Niclas Fullkrug has played just 137 minutes with fitness concerns marring his season so far, while Luis Guilherme is struggling for playing time.
Nevertheless, time is quickly running out for Lopetegui and it remains to be seen if he can do enough in the next two games to buy himself some more time at the club.
In other West Ham news, the key reason why Lopetegui is still at the London Stadium has been revealed.
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