Tony Cascarino raises Julen Lopetegui question at West Ham United amid £150m verdict
Tony Cascarino believes the “chance” West Ham United took hiring Julen Lopetegui needs to be questioned after a poor start to the season.
The Hammers face Ipswich Town at the London Stadium on Saturday [5 October] after a run of only one win from six Premier League fixtures leaves the side fourteenth and only two points above the drop zone.
Lopetegui has been the subject of intense criticism for his side’s form, and Cascarino said live on talkSPORT [5 October, 7:56am] that he believes the questions are justified after David Sullivan sanctioned a summer spending spree in East London.
He said: “When a club and a fanbase feel like they need to head in a new direction, they chance their arm, and they go for a guy that’s been there and has managed very big clubs and has a brand of football that they obviously want at their football club.
“But when it doesn’t quite work out, then questions get raised immediately – that’s just football. And it hasn’t worked out so far because they’ve spent, what, £150 million? Yeah, that’s a lot of money for West Ham to spend.”
Julen Lopetegui needs to utilise summer signings at West Ham United
For now, Lopetegui is safe at West Ham [TBR Football] but the board’s stance could change quickly should his side fail to win against newly-promoted opposition.
The Hammers entered the new Premier League season with aspirations of a European finish. However, the side is closer to a relegation battle than a top-seven push and must start winning matches now to bridge the six-point gap to Newcastle United in seventh place.
If there was an award for winning the transfer window, West Ham would have blown the rest of the Premier League out of the water as Tim Steidten provided the new boss with ammunition in abundance, in the aim of mounting a serious challenge to the sides seeking European qualification this season.
Niclas Fullkrug reached the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund last season and Crysencio Summerville was named Championship Player of the Year. The Hammers also won the race for Jean-Clair Todibo, previously pursued by Manchester United and Juventus, the recruitment was unmatched in East London.
While the recruits have endured mixed fortunes, Lopetegui has opted to trust the crop of players remaining from the David Moyes era and their inability to adapt to his style of play is costing West Ham tremendously.
He must get his team selection on the nose against Ipswich with his job well and truly on the line.
In other West Ham news, Kalvin Phillips makes new admission after Hammers controversy.
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