Another West Ham game, another dismal performance and another week of speculation over the future of Julen Lopetegui.
When Julen Lopetegui was appointed as David Moyes’ successor, West Ham fans were underwhelmed.
But given the Spaniard inherited the Premier League’s smallest and second oldest squad from Moyes, Hammers supporters were not expecting miracles overnight.
Most sensible fans felt Lopetegui needed at least 10 games to get West Ham playing how he wants.
Especially after a 21-player turnaround in the summer.
Well West Ham reached that 10-game Premier League mark at Nottingham Forest.
And things are not going well.
New Lopetegui claim will leave West Ham fans stunned
The club’s fans are completely disillusioned after just three league wins so far.
It’s also not lost on them that West Ham were extremely fortunate to win at Palace and against Man United.
The Hammers should also have been beaten in the cup at home to Bournemouth until a late deflected goal set up a tie with Liverpool where they were battered 5-1.
Hammers News exclusively revealed first this morning the stance of West Ham’s owners on Lopetegui after the defeat to Forest.
It’s clear results and performances must improve.
Speculation has been rife that West Ham’s game against Everton this weekend is now a must win.
Especially as it is followed by a two-week international break – the last pause in the season until March.
So a new Jacob Steinberg claim about Lopetegui will leave West Ham fans stunned.
The Guardian journalist has strong connections to West Ham majority owner David Sullivan.
Having spoken to his sources at the club, though, a Sunday afternoon update on the situation in east London will leave many in disbelief.
‘Everton not a must-win’ for Hammers boss says Steinberg
Because Steinberg claims, quite incredibly, that the Everton game is not a must win for the 57-year-old, as being speculated.
As Hammers News reported on Sunday morning, the Hammers are standing behind Lopetegui.
And he’s under no immediate pressure despite the awful performances and form at the quarter-way stage of the new season.
“West Ham are sticking by Julen Lopetegui after defeat to Forest,” Steinberg said.
“Everton at home next currently not seen as make or break but pressure on Lopetegui to improve results is getting bigger.”
This is a shocking development given what has gone on at West Ham under Lopetegui.
It should not be forgotten that, by rights, the Hammers should be sat here having lost heavily three games in a row. But somehow they got away with one against Man United last weekend.
Only three players emerged with any credit from geriatric West Ham’s embarrassing performance at the City Ground.
Dark clouds gathering again over the London Stadium
The defeat piled as much pressure on technical director Tim Steidten as it did Lopetegui where many fans are concerned.
Edson Alvarez’s brainless sending off and Lopetegui’s reaction towards the Mexican afterwards did nothing to dampen claims of unrest in the ranks.
Moyes was always going to be a tough act to follow at West Ham.
Even if some of the rot we are witnessing now had long since set in under the Scot.
But improving the style of play should have been an open goal for any half decent coach coming after Moyes.
Except Hammers fans can see no obvious style of play, identity or anything of note they can hang their hat on as an indicator of where Lopetegui is trying to take the team.
Now fans are told the manager will stay in the post even if West Ham lose to Everton.
West Ham sit 14th in the Premier League table and will be leapfrogged by Everton should they lose to the Toffees.
The dark clouds are gathering above the London Stadium.
Especially as things don’t get any easier after international break with daunting fixtures at Newcastle and against Arsenal.
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