A manager a top pundit thinks is waiting for the West Ham job has gone on a media charm offensive in recent days.
The October and November international breaks are ominous for struggling Premier League managers.
And Julen Lopetegui is certainly among that group after his difficult start to life at West Ham.
The Spaniard was always going to be up against it after succeeding West Ham’s most successful manager for decades in David Moyes.
Fixtures have been pretty tough but results and performances have been poor. Especially for a team with a stated aim of qualifying for Europe.
The Hammers have just one Premier League win from six so far. They were battered 5-1 at Liverpool to crash out of the Carabao Cup too.
Lopetegui’s team selections and tactics have been heavily criticised by fans.
The 57-year-old was even jeered after withdrawing Crysencio Summerville during the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Some fans and observers have labelled Lopetegui ‘a Spanish Moyes’.
Including a top Hammers legend as Tony Cottee heavily criticised the Lopetegui appointment ahead of the clash with Brentford.
There was little sign of any vast improvement in that display as a near full strength West Ham could not beat a Brentford side missing eight players.
Concern over early days of Lopetegui at West Ham
Lopetegui also raised eyebrows by subbing off West Ham’s Holy Trinity Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen.
Kudus had arguably been West Ham’s brightest player in the first half but Lopetegui confirmed his half-time withdrawal was a tactical decision.
Tony Cascarino was at the game and believes there is unrest between Lopetegui and star players in the dressing room.
He also thinks the Irons have regressed under the new manager.
The West Ham board made it clear to Lopetegui ‘the next two are huge and we must improve’ ahead of Brentford and Ipswich.
But a solitary point at the Gtech surely makes the Ipswich clash a must-win already.
There are rumours Lopetegui might be replaced by one of the managers who shared the final West Ham shortlist with him in the summer, should results and performances not improve.
Graham Potter was reportedly chief among the list of West Ham’s candidates to replace Moyes.
Manager ‘waiting for West Ham’ goes on charm offensive
Speculation intensified that the former Brighton man could be in line for West Ham when Potter turned down the Ajax job.
Many believed Potter was waiting for the Hammers gig as it became increasingly clear Moyes would be leaving.
Lopetegui ‘won David Sullivan over’ in interview, though, as revealed to Hammers News by journalist Graeme Bailey at the time.
He was named West Ham’s 18th permanent manager in 129 years. But he has since become the first ever to oversee three home league defeats at the start of a season.
Should that become four this weekend, the pressure will pile on with the Hammers then going into the two-week October international break.
Now the manager a pundit thinks is waiting for West Ham is going on a media charm offensive.
Potter on MNF to double down on desire for new job
And it seems the timing is very deliberate indeed.
Former skipper Nigel Reo-Coker said West Ham missed a trick not giving Potter the job and made the ‘wrong hire’ in Lopetegui.
At the weekend Darren Bent stated he thinks Potter may be waiting for the West Ham job.
The ex Brighton boss is still out of work more than one year since being sacked by Chelsea.
Over the weekend Potter did his first major interview since leaving Stamford Bridge.
In The Telegraph article, Potter declared he is now ready for a new challenge and open to offers.
“I’ve felt ready to return for a little while,” Potter said.
“It still has to be the right thing, but I’m excited for it. I’m excited to hear what the opportunities are and I’ll take each one and judge it on its merits.”
Now Potter is clearly hoping to catch the attention of club owners with a high-profile guest appearance on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
Potter is expected to once again declare his appetite for a new job.
Given the West Ham links, that will pile the pressure on Lopetegui ahead of Ipswich.
Even if Lopetegui does hang on past the October break, he will have to ensure the Hammers pick up some momentum quickly after it. Especially if Potter remains without a club by the time the following one rolls around.
Because there are further tough fixtures for Lopetegui and West Ham before the November break.
All eyes will now be on what Potter has to say on Monday Night Football.
It could make very interesting viewing indeed from a West Ham perspective.
Especially as Potter – like other managerial guests on MNF – will discuss his philosophy and approach in great detail.
Perhaps Tim Steidten and Sullivan will be very interested spectators just in case they do have a big decision to make in the next couple of months.
Related Topics