West Ham United travel to West London to take on Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.
Julen Lopetegui is under real pressure right now, and he must guide West Ham to a positive result against Brentford in the Premier League if he is to alleviate some of the stress he’s feeling right now.
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Things are looking rather gloomy at the London Stadium right now, and it has been claimed that this weekend’s clash with the Bees is a ‘must-win’ for Lopetegui.
Whilst I think we can all agree that it’s a little early on in the season to be labelling games as must wins, Lopetegui undoubtedly needs a response from his players.
At the very least, we need to see a clear playing identity from the Hammers. Whether that be a possession-based one, a counter-attacking one, a high-press style or whatever else I don’t really care!
I would just love to see all of the players pulling in the same direction in a clear and well-defined system.
A win against Brentford would significantly change the narrative, but we’ve just been dealt a big blow before the game has even started…
West Ham blow ahead of Brentford after Premier League announcement
The Hammers need a result this weekend, there really are no two ways about that.
The Premier League’s official website has confirmed that Simon Hooper will be the referee for our clash with Brentford on Saturday.
Hammers fans will be well aware of Hooper. He was on VAR duty for our draw away at Southampton in the 2022/23 season when we were hit with an FA charge after the game, having surrounded the referee.
This came after referee Peter Bankes inexplicably blocked Jarrod Bowen from intercepting a Southampton player immediately before they scored, and VAR official Hooper failed to intervene.
David Moyes blasted the 42-year-old after the match, suggesting that he ‘should have gone to specsavers’, and labelled the entire farce as ‘ridiculous’ after the official apparently didn’t even see the incident (The Sun).
Meanwhile, David Coote has been named as the man in charge of VAR.
Coote made a truly appalling decision back in 2020 during our 2-0 defeat to Tottenham, when he allowed an own goal by Tomas Soucek to stand despite the fact that Davinson Sanchez handled the ball before it hit the Czech Republic international (Sky Sports).
He was on VAR duty during our 4-3 defeat to Newcastle in April as well, and made the horrendous decision to award the Toon a penalty in the second-half, after Anthony Gordon had actually kicked Kalvin Phillips.
It seems to me like West Ham have been given a truly awful double appointment for the Brentford game – a match that could have huge consequences for Lopetegui’s future at the London Stadium.
Simon Hooper and David Coote West Ham records
The Hammers actually have a very good record when Hooper has refereed our games.
We have won 8 out of the 12 matches he’s officiated for us so far.
However, the mistakes he has made during our games far outweigh that record in my opinion.
Meanwhile, West Ham have won only two out of 12 games that Coote has officiated for us.
Having those two men in charge of our fate this weekend is a crushing blow if you ask me.
West Ham seem to get handed terrible referee appointments week in, week out by the Premier League, and this weekend’s clash with Brentford is no different.
Hopefully we’re not talking about either Hooper or Coote after the match.
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