Calm, it would appear, has descended again on London Stadium and at the training ground. The weekend’s flashpoints in the dressing room were apparently ‘over emphasised’ and everyone is working together again for the game against Ipswich Town. West Ham are United again if we believe the responses being sent today after last night’s news of a dressing room spat.
Certainly it seems that the nonsense of last week’s ‘shortlisting’ of three to replace Lopetegui has vanished. Partly, thanks to the draw and the point at Brentford. Partly thanks to the media spotlight falling on the unfortunate Eric Ten Hag. And in part, thanks to reports coming from ‘exclusive’ media sources confirming, most definitely that: ‘David Sullivan Keen to avoid a Knee Jerk Reaction over Lopetegui’s Future‘ (givemesport.com). Good, every Hammers’ player and fan should be happy to see a clear pattern of support ‘from the top’ for the head coach.
The same report does, however, confirm something I laughably claimed were ‘tactics thought up on the bus on the way to the ground‘ for the Chelsea game, such was their chaotic effect on the team who obviously had zero grasp of last-minute changes to the strategy in the 0-3 loss:
“Sources have indicated that the recent decision to line-up with a back three, with Edson Alvarez at the heart of it, also came as a surprise to the players late in the build-up towards the Chelsea clash last month, which they lost 3-0.”
“Lopetegui Shocked Squad with Late Decisions . Eleventh-hour changes have been made to starting line-up”.
Not Good.
We could all see it. I suspect Lopetegui, jumping around the touchline yelling at everyone, knew himself that he’d made an error after 30 minutes when West Ham were three-nil down. At home. Now this report confirms it.
So, whilst it is good, sensible management to come out and support the Hammers head coach, the fact emerging that Lopetegui made these disastrous last-minute changes to team, players and systems should, hopefully, consign any future last-minute changes to the bin!