Replacing David Moyes was always going to be a challenging task for West Ham United. After two spells in east London, the Scot finally called time on his tenure with the Irons, after many fans felt he had taken the side as far as they could go. Despite winning a European trophy and providing the fans with many memorable nights, West Ham’s inconsistency in the league made them too easy to predict when making a bet on Premier League results, and ultimately, both decided to part ways come the end of last season.
The man replacing him was Julen Lopetegui, who has felt a lukewarm reception throughout his first few months in charge at the London Stadium. The Spaniard, who won the Europa League with Sevilla and managed Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, is better known for his stint in English football when he helped guide Wolverhampton Wanderers to safety in 2023.
In Lopetegui, the Irons felt they had a fresh change of scenery ahead of the new season. Wolves managed to put a great run of results together, and coupled with the manager’s experience in cup competitions, it looked like a dream replacement for Moyes. Finally, West Ham had a modern manager who could think on his feet and had the passion to match the atmosphere inside the ground. However, results have been tough to come by.
The appointment of Lopetegui demonstrates the ruthless nature of the Premier League, with a disappointing home run and early dropped points suggesting the new manager could already be under pressure.
Indeed, the Spaniard could become the second sacking of the 2024/25 season, following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal from Manchester United at the start of November. It was West Ham’s win over the Red Devils that proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Ten Hag, but as it stands, the London Stadium could also serve as Lopetegui’s day of reckoning if they fail to win more games at home.
What is most alarming about the Lopetegui era so far is how West Ham have failed to win games against teams below them.
The performances against United and reigning champions Manchester City have been spirited, but the defeat to Nottingham Forest, a side many had tipped for relegation, has led pundits and fans alike to question the new boss and his credentials when it comes to league performances.
Thrashings against Liverpool and Chelsea haven’t helped either, only further exposing the Iron’s fragility at the back and the lack of depth in the squad.
The saving grace for Lopetegui is that there is a severe lack of managers waiting in the wings to replace him in the West Ham dugout. The club spoke to the likes of Ruben Amorim, Paulo Fonseca, and even Hansi Flick over the summer before ultimately deciding to appoint the Spaniard. But now with all of those managers in new roles, a replacement could prove hard to come by. Graham Potter has been out of work since leaving Chelsea, and former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic could represent their best options.
The next few games will prove decisive for the Irons. Currently 14th in the table at the time of writing, results will have to start coming through the door soon, or the club risk dragging themselves into a relegation dogfight. Only time will tell if they have a squad equipped to deal with it, and if Lopetegui is the man to lead them.
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