David Sullivan appointed Tim Steidten as the West Ham United director of football in July 2023.
The Hammers co-owner made the move after a whole host of poor signings made by David Moyes in the summer of 2022.
Tim Steidten was put in charge of bringing players into the London Stadium by David Sullivan – something that Moyes clearly didn’t take too kindly to.
However, Julen Lopetegui has since taken over from the Scot, and has a much closer working relationship with the German.
Steidten has plenty of supporters in East London, but he has his critics as well, including Chris Sutton who went to town with an astonishing attack on the 45-year-old on Friday.
So are there any problems behind the scenes at the London Stadium?
Astonishing Tim Steidten and David Sullivan claim dropped
Tensions at the London Stadium are certainly simmering right now, after an atrocious start to the 2024/25 campaign.
However, surely there aren’t any issues between Steidten, Sullivan and Lopetegui right?
I think that Guillem Balague has made it very clear that there may well be…
It was two days ago when Balague took to his official X account to defender his countryman Lopetegui.
“It is the perfect time to say this, now that the wind (and the pusillanimous that can’t see further than their nose) is going against him Julen Lopetegui is a top top top manager and will show it at West Ham. Message to those that understand football: look beyond the bench to understand the poor start to the season. You don’t get chosen as a Spain national coach AND Real Madrid manager, and win the Europa League unless you are absolutely top. He did an absolutely superb job at Wolves (and then the ownership lied to him three times so couldn’t stay as trust was gone) Bookmark this message for me please.“
“No replies allowed because I don’t really care what those that cannot see it think.“
However, reading between the lines, I think he was actually having a dig at Steidten and Sullivan.
Balague launches attack on figures behind the scenes
This is the line that caught my attention:
‘Message to those that understand football: look beyond the bench to understand the poor start to the season’.
Now, I am purely being speculative, but I believe Balague was taking a clear swipe at Steidten and Sullivan here.
What else could he have meant by ‘beyond the bench’?
Perhaps the Hammers fans? I’m not sure about that though. If Balague was aiming shots at Steidten and Sullivan, he is clearly suggesting that Lopetegui has been given players he didn’t ask for.
The thing is, the modern way of working is to have a director of football who makes the signings and the head coach then works with the players he’s been given..
It was reported in the summer that Steidten had been given the keys to the kingdom at the London Stadium.
Balague’s rant on X was childish and sycophantic if you ask me. Lopetegui has been extremely complimentary when speaking about the director of football, and vice-versa.
I think things are fine behind the scenes at West Ham with Tim Steidten, David Sullivan and Julen Lopetegui. The Spaniard just needs to get things right on the pitch now.
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