West Ham chief David Sullivan has been savaged by a journalist with close links to the club over the appointment of Julen Lopetegui.
Pressure is already mounting on Julen Lopetegui after yet another underwhelming West Ham display in a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.
The Hammers were fortunate not to lose by more and have now conceded – by some distance – more shots than any other team in the Premier League so far this season.
When West Ham parted company with David Moyes, the club were warned by all and sundry to ‘be careful what you wish for’.
But what fans wished for was quite simple – to play a more entertaining, exciting, attacking brand of football.
Especially as they watch the likes of Spurs, Brighton, Villa, Palace and even Bournemouth managing it.
So far, though, there has been very little indication of progress.
In fact West Ham fans are frustrated at the lack of any obvious playing style, philosophy, identity or cohesion.
Many have noted it already feels like the dark days of Manuel Pellegrini.
Steinberg turns on ‘unimaginative’ Sullivan over Lopetegui
West Ham’s supporters had grown fed up of Moyes’ style of play and there had to be a change.
But when Lopetegui emerged as the frontrunner for the job, it did not get the juices flowing among the Hammers faithful.
Especially after high profile talks with the likes of Ruben Amorim.
While it is still early days in Lopetegui’s tenure, the knives are well and truly out for the Spaniard already.
And one journalist who has close contacts at the club has savaged them over the head coach.
Jacob Steinberg has turned on ‘unimaginative’ West Ham chief David Sullivan for the Lopetegui appointment.
Guardian journalist Steinberg says West Ham needed to be ‘bold and imaginative’ with their appointment after Moyes.
But instead Sullivan and co are reaping what they sow for ‘playing it safe’.
“The complaint about Moyes was negativity,” Steinberg said.
“Fine. It wasn’t working in the end. But West Ham then needed to be bold and imaginative.
“Look at how Brighton and Bournemouth play – West Ham would not dream of hiring those type of managers though. Too “risky”.”
Too soon to write Lopetegui off but things must improve
West Ham’s performances this season have been completely uninspiring.
It’s true that after such a major overhaul – which was needed because of the state Moyes left the squad in it must be remembered – Lopetegui needs time.
Steinberg’s reaction may be a touch over the top and knee jerk. Time will tell.
West Ham have lost their first three home games of a season for the first time in their 129-year history.
But the fixtures have not been kind with Champions League Villa, champions Man City and too four contenders Chelsea.
With this kind of pressure from the supposedly “West Ham-friendly” football press already, Lopetegui will have to start getting a tune out of this team sooner rather than later.
Hammers fans made their feelings perfectly clear against Chelsea as they walked out en masse with 20 minutes to go.
Sullivan has never been one to pull the trigger early on a manager. That is not necessarily always a good trait as Avram Grant proved.
More performances and results like this, though, and Sullivan may have to use his imagination to choose another boss sooner than anyone thought.
Lopetegui looks like a manager who has had a year out of the game. If he doesn’t get this West Ham team ticking it could be spending another year out of it too.
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