Sam Allardyce makes ‘unbelievable’ admission in Lopetegui comparison to Moyes at West Ham United
Sam Allardyce said Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham United tenure will be doubted if they do not beat Ipswich Town on Saturday.
The former Hammers boss also lauded David Moyes as one of the “top two managers the club have ever had”, claiming Lopetegui has so far been way off what the “unbelievable” job Moyes delivered.
Speaking from Dubai, the ex-Iron told Alan Brazil and Ray Parlour live on talkSPORT [4 October, 09:44] that the Spaniard is finding it to tricky to find a settled side after a heavy summer recruitment drive.
“[Lopetegui] is talking about change, and the players haven’t taken well to the change. They’ve got [a lot of] new players and sometimes that is a challenge for managers, settling these lads in and making them click,” he said.
“If they don’t get three points [on Saturday], people will ask whether he’s good enough and why he’s here at West Ham.
“He’s certainly not living up to what Moyesy did, that’s for sure – Moyesy is one of the top two managers the club have ever had, you know, when you look at his record. The club have been in the Premier League as long as it has in its history – he did an unbelievable job.”
Julen Lopetegui not up to standard of David Moyes at West Ham
Four-and-a-half years is a long time in football, and that is how long Moyes spent at the London Stadium during his second spell before departing in May.
Hammers fans were predominantly not against Moyes – the respect forever remains after securing a European trophy – but the need for change overpowered it and his tenure ebbed to a slow-burning end.
Tim Steidten brought in Lopetegui as a head coach while himself leading on recruitment, and the signings have certainly gone down well – but the start to the season has not, and it is up to the Spaniard to identify why before it becomes too late in the most ruthless job environment.
While it is too early to compare Lopetegui with Moyes, it is that recognition in Hammers folklore that he is up against at the moment. No matter how well received the change is at a club, any head coach or manager will feel a huge challenge when their predecessor has spent several years in the building.
The Ipswich game could turn out to be a defining one either way for the 58-year-old at the helm who is in dire need of a home win, and consequently a positive reception from the many thousands of supporters in Stratford.
In other West Ham news, the club could go head-to-head with Aston Villa and Newcastle United for a transfer target.
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