Sport Nation 2West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui is facing mounting pressure after his team’s humiliating 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on October 19, 2024. The Hammers’ poor start to the season has left them just five points above the Premier League relegation zone after eight games, raising questions about Lopetegui’s future at the club.
Craig Burley, speaking on ESPN FC, did not hold back in his criticism of the Spanish manager, expressing his concerns over the team’s lack of identity and suggesting that Lopetegui could be an early candidate for dismissal. West Ham had replaced long-serving manager David Moyes with Lopetegui in the summer, hoping the former Sevilla and Spain boss would bring a more progressive style of football. However, results and performances have been disappointing, and many now wonder whether the decision to appoint Lopetegui was the right one.
Burley’s Harsh Assessment
Burley criticized Lopetegui’s inability to implement his style of play effectively and said that West Ham currently appear to be stuck between conflicting tactical approaches. “West Ham have a problem,” Burley stated bluntly. “If you want to move away from the David Moyes style of defensive football, you need to at least be more effective going forward. But right now, they’re defensively weaker than they were under Moyes, and they’re not significantly better going forward either.”
Burley continued by questioning the team’s tactical direction. “At the moment, what is it? Is it a defensive side? Is it counter-attacking? Is it possession-based? Nobody knows. Lopetegui, at the moment, is in big trouble,” he added. According to Burley, while a transition period following the departure of Moyes was expected, the current state of West Ham suggests that Lopetegui has not found the right balance between attack and defense, leaving the team vulnerable.
West Ham’s Defensive Struggles
One of the key issues plaguing West Ham this season has been their defensive frailty. The team has conceded 15 goals in their opening eight Premier League matches, a worrying statistic for a club that invested heavily in its defense over the summer. The arrivals of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Max Kilman, and Jean-Clair Todibo were expected to shore up the backline, but the results have been far from satisfactory. In addition to their Premier League struggles, West Ham also suffered a 5-2 defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup, further exposing their defensive weaknesses.
Despite the defensive reinforcements, West Ham’s backline has looked disorganized and prone to individual errors. Lopetegui, known for his tactical discipline during his time at Sevilla, has so far been unable to replicate that defensive solidity in East London.
Offensive Inconsistency
While Burley acknowledged that West Ham has shown some improvement in attack compared to the more conservative approach under Moyes, he argued that this progress has been marginal. “They’re maybe a little better going forward, but not a lot. They’re still largely relying on counter-attacking football, and that’s not enough when your defense is this leaky,” Burley said.
One of the main challenges for West Ham has been the lack of a consistent goalscorer. The team has managed to score in all but one of their 10 matches across all competitions this season, but they lack the cutting edge in front of goal. Summer signing Niclas Fullkrug, brought in to lead the line, has struggled with fitness issues, limiting his contributions on the pitch. Meanwhile, Mohammed Kudus, the team’s second-highest scorer last season, has failed to replicate his previous form, leaving West Ham without a reliable source of goals.
The absence of a prolific striker has only added to Lopetegui’s problems, as West Ham’s attack has lacked cohesion and creativity. Without a consistent focal point in attack, the team has often relied on sporadic moments of individual brilliance rather than a cohesive attacking strategy.
Mounting Pressure on Lopetegui
The defeat to Tottenham has intensified the pressure on Lopetegui, with reports suggesting that West Ham’s hierarchy is already considering potential replacements if the situation does not improve. Gareth Southgate, who recently stepped down as England manager, has been mentioned as a possible successor to Lopetegui, though there is no confirmation that the club has made any formal approach.
Burley hinted that Lopetegui’s position is becoming increasingly precarious, noting that the Spaniard has been unable to deliver the kind of football that was expected of him. “They were battered by [Manchester] City, they were battered by Chelsea, and they were battered again by Tottenham. At some point, you have to ask if this is going to turn around,” Burley said.
Lopetegui was brought in with the hope that he could modernize West Ham’s playing style, moving away from the pragmatic approach that characterized Moyes’ tenure. However, after eight games, there is little evidence to suggest that the Hammers are making progress. Instead, the team appears to be caught in a tactical limbo, uncertain of whether they should be focusing on possession-based football, counter-attacking, or defensive solidity.
What’s Next for West Ham?
With Lopetegui under fire, the next few games could prove crucial in determining his future. West Ham’s upcoming fixtures include challenging matches against top Premier League sides, and the pressure to deliver results will only increase. If the team continues to struggle, the calls for Lopetegui’s dismissal are likely to grow louder.
While some fans and pundits have pointed to Gareth Southgate as a potential replacement, there is no clear consensus on who would be the right candidate to take over if Lopetegui is sacked. Southgate, who guided England to a World Cup semi-final and a European Championship final, has a strong track record at the international level but has not managed a club side since his tenure at Middlesbrough over a decade ago.
In the meantime, Lopetegui remains at the helm, but the clock is ticking. The Spaniard will need to find solutions quickly if he is to salvage West Ham’s season and his own reputation in English football. Otherwise, the club may have no choice but to make a change in the dugout.
Conclusion
West Ham’s poor start to the season under Julen Lopetegui has raised serious concerns about the team’s direction. Defensive issues, offensive inconsistency, and a lack of tactical clarity have left the Hammers struggling near the relegation zone. Craig Burley’s harsh assessment on ESPN FC reflects the growing frustration among fans and pundits alike. If Lopetegui cannot turn things around soon, West Ham may be forced to consider a managerial change, with Gareth Southgate among the names being mentioned as a potential replacement. For now, the pressure is firmly on Lopetegui to deliver results and prove that he is the right man to lead West Ham forward.
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