West Ham United liability slaughtered live on air as players doubt ‘too clever’ Julen Lopetegui
West Ham United have been slaughtered by Perry Groves live on talkSPORT after their hammering by Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Groves, co-hosting Sunday afternoon’s show with Adrian Durham [3 November, 15:10], tore into the Hammers and accused Julen Lopetegui of executing a style of play he doesn’t believe in.
The former Arsenal man also slammed several players including Lucas Paqueta, who he said has been affected by his ongoing legal case.
“Everyone knows that Lopetegui is [Tim] Steidten’s man. Everyone knew he wasn’t getting on with David Moyes, and the players coming in were all his. Lopetegui seems to be caught in between the style of play of West Ham and his own, and I don’t think the players think he believes in it,” Groves said.
“They have no structure whatsoever. They could have been five down against Manchester United in the first half, and obviously Jarrod Bowen got the winner, but Lopetegui seems to be trying to be too clever. Play your players in their best positions.
“Bowen is out of position. Paqueta is a defensive liability and isn’t the same player with his off-field issues. [Edson] Alvarez got sent off for a ridiculous challenge [on Saturday].”
West Ham United heading backwards
Every time West Ham look as if they are making progress or provide themselves a springboard for momentum, they appear to shoot themselves in the foot.
However, fortuitously it came, the Hammers beat a club the size of Man United in front of a rapturous London Stadium crowd last weekend.
To follow it up with a horrendous showing at Forest – outclassed from start to finish and losing Alvarez for their next game – was unacceptable.
Irons supporters will look fondly on Moyes despite his flaws, largely for the Conference League triumph he delivered in 2023, but Lopetegui is in danger of going out with a whimper.
There was so much excitement in store in East London over the summer, a lot of money was invested into the squad, but the club have stagnated, and even regressed.
In other West Ham news, the team’s discipline is called out amid Lopetegui sack talk.
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