Julen Lopetegui strikes me as something of a footballing pragmatist.
I have little doubt that upon accepting the top job at West Ham, Lopetegui would have had an idea of what his starting lineup would look like.
The Spaniard would have presumably identified that two new central defenders were required but possibly would have been happy that the likes of Emerson and Lucas Paquetá would be key components of his team on a week-by-week basis.
I think it’s also fair to assume that Lopetegui had a vision to play newly appointed captain Jarrod Bowen on the right wing while allowing Mohammed Kudus to cause havoc on the opposite side.
Unfortunately for the Hammers’ head coach, his imagined XI and what works best are probably two very different things. . . the best laid plans etc.
Following an average start to his Hammers career, Lopetegui doesn’t have the luxury of time to indulge players who are not performing. He may have to make some ruthless decisions, dropping some players who would have been considered key and guaranteed starters in the past.
I’m quite sure that Aaron Wan-Bissaka wasn’t supposed to look like West Ham’s best left-back this season, but he does. Crysencio Summerville has looked to have more threat than Kudus, while Lucas Paquetá seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.
However, an unplanned team appears to be evolving at West Ham, which may provide Lopetegui with the best chance of keeping his job. The Irons’ boss’s team selection for the match against Ipswich will prove fascinating, and if big players get dropped, they can have little complaint.