The pressure is on Julen Lopetegui at West Ham and tensions are clearly running high after a game at Brentford with plenty of subplots.
In normal circumstances a draw away at Brentford is not the worst result in the world for West Ham.
But Julen Lopetegui does not find himself in normal circumstances with the Hammers.
The pressure was already on the Spaniard after succeeding David Moyes at West Ham.
Whatever your opinion of Moyes, he conceded himself it was time for a parting of the ways by the end.
However he was still the club’s most successful manager of modern times.
And in that regard he’ll be a tough act to follow for Lopetegui.
Improving the style of football, though, should have been the easiest bit.
There have been glimpses of progress on that score. West Ham do play out from the back more and have higher possession and passing stats than the average under Moyes.
But in terms of an identity and being an exciting team to watch, Lopetegui has plenty of work to do.
His biggest failing so far is arguably up front where West Ham have a host of attacking talent yet have created the fewest ‘big chances’ in the Premier League so far.
One win in six league games has piled early pressure on Lopetegui. As have some of his bemusing team selections and substitutions.
‘Kudus enraged after being singled out by Lopetegui’
The latest of which came at Brentford on Saturday.
The Hammers were poor again in the first half. But Mohammed Kudus was one of the team’s bright sparks as he looked to try and make things happen.
Yet he was hauled off at half-time, a move Lopetegui confirmed was a ‘tactical decision’.
Lopetegui also suggested the move benefitted the team in the second half.
Lucas Paqueta was also subbed off in the second half – more justifiably – and made his displeasure clear for all to see.
The Brazilian sauntered off shaking his head at the manager.
The last of West Ham’s Holy Trinity, Jarrod Bowen, was also subbed near the end – and not for the first time under Lopetegui.
Tony Cascarino was at the game and believes there is unrest between the West Ham boss and his star names.
Word has now emerged from the club that Kudus and Lopetegui were at loggerheads in the dressing room at half-time.
Claret and Hugh and ExWHUEmployee are reporting that West Ham’s star boy ‘had to be restrained by teammates’ after taking offense to Lopetegui singling him out for criticism at half-time.
Blazing row between Lopetegui and Kudus is great for West Ham
The news has caused a stir among West Ham fans, many of whom have been critical of the manager.
But the blazing row between Lopetegui and Kudus is great for West Ham.
The first thing to say is this kind of thing happens in dressing rooms and on training pitches of every football club.
Just look at the West Ham game against Liverpool at the London Stadium earlier this year.
Jurgen Klopp and Mo Salah had a bust-up on the side of the pitch, let alone the sanctity of the dressing room.
These kind of incidents are not unusual.
While it may make some supporters feel uneasy, it could and should be seen as a good thing for the Hammers.
West Ham have shown an alarming lack of character so far.
It’s not unusual and could light a fire under season
And it is no coincidence because former captain Nigel Reo-Coker said he noticed a lack of characters and team spirit when he visited a West Ham training session in pre-season.
This shows that Lopetegui and Kudus both care.
It also shows Lopetegui is not afraid to challenge and call out his star players – regardless of your opinion on whether he made the right call in this instance.
This sort of thing can often light a fire under a club’s season rather than derail it.
There was even evidence in the second half performance that it got a reaction from the team.
Kudus was seen kicking a chair as he sat on the bench for the second half. He was livid.
So the next time he gets on the pitch, the Hammers will probably see a big reaction from the former Ajax star.
Lopetegui is an experienced manager. This won’t be his first rodeo with a star player.
But it may prove to be his most significant yet if it helps get this West Ham team fighting to improve.
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