Rather than focusing solely on West Ham’s disastrous Niclas Fullkrug recruitment as the latest in a sorry story of failed striker signings, The Guardian (Friday25th) labels The Hammers’ overall situation at present as ‘ridiculous’ and calls into question the wisdom of most of Tim Steidten’s recruitment, from Lopetegui downward.
In a scathing article, journalist Jacob Steinberg does not hold back and fires salvo after salvo in delivering withering criticism of the debacle unfolding at London Stadium.
After dealing with the striker woes, Steinberg turns to highlighting the woeful midfield: “…It is a ridiculous situation, rivalled only by the state of a cumbersome midfield. Is it news to West Ham that the Premier League is the most intense competition in the world? There were obvious shortcomings last season, with Tomas Soucek increasingly leaden, James Ward-Prowse (a Moyes pick) lacking dynamism and Edson Álvarez a yellow-card magnet after his arrival from Ajax, but nothing was done about it.”
“Guido Rodríguez, a free transfer from Real Betis, had to be taken off during the first half of last month’s 3-0 defeat by Chelsea and was overwhelmed alongside Soucek during last Saturday’s humiliation at Tottenham.”
“Lopetegui’s request for Rodríguez should have gone unheeded. There is plenty of blame to go around. The manager also pushed for Carlos Soler, who was in Paris Saint-Germain’s reserves before arriving on loan, but it is yet to become evident why the Spaniard has been deemed a better fit than Ward-Prowse, who did at least offer goals and dangerous set-pieces before heading to Nottingham Forest.”
A pretty withering attack on the Steidten oversight of West Ham’s revamp. Steinberg doesn’t hold back with pointing the finger of blame:
“Steidten won his battle with Moyes. He has been backed and given power. Excuses run thin. After overseeing a spend of more than £100m, Steidten cannot have any complaints if questions are not only being asked about Lopetegui’s job security.”
Sadly, it is, indeed, a ridiculous situation. It would, however, feel less of a circus with a couple of wins and a few steps up the Premier League. Manchester United are in town on Sunday and they are one of the few teams who are in even greater disarray than West Ham. So, we can but hope.
