Julen Lopetegui looks to be in a whole world of trouble at West Ham and David Sullivan is the man who will ultimately decide his fate.
West Ham are in the doldrums right now and dark clouds are gathering over the London Stadium again.
The Hammers have been here before but not for some time after four-and-a-half years of success and serenity in east London.
It’s not quite reached the stage West Ham’s situation can be described as a ‘rot’.
But there is a definite malaise around the club and it set in long before Julen Lopetegui’s arrival.
West Ham have won just nine of their 38 games in all competitions in 2024.
Since the turn of the year, the Hammers have been dreadful.
That number, 38, gives quiet a nice barometer to highlight what has happened to the club as it represents a full Premier League season.
Moyes very much has a hand in the problems Lopetegui is experiencing.
Cottee: Sullivan isn’t Lopetegui’s biggest problem at West Ham
He had control over transfers by way of power of veto on deals. And he wasn’t shy in using it.
As a result Lopetegui inherited the smallest and second oldest squad in the Premier League.
Who is to blame for that squad now somehow being the oldest in the top flight divides opinion.
Majority owner David Sullivan and technical director Tim Steidten have come in for criticism.
But it is Lopetegui who is fighting to save his job when West Ham face Everton this weekend.
Sullivan may have taken a step back from the football operation since Steidten’s arrival.
Make no mistake, though, he is still very much the main man at West Ham.
And while all major decisions are put to a board vote, it will ultimately be Sullivan who decides whether his pick Lopetegui is given time to turn things around.
Now one of the club’s best ever players has voiced his opinion on the situation.
Tony Cottee says Sullivan isn’t Lopetegui’s biggest problem at West Ham.
West Ham’s legendary goalscorer has been discussing Lopetegui and the issues at his old club.
Cottee feels two key areas have piled the pressure on West Ham’s head coach.
He did offer the 57-year-old hope, though, from what he knows about Sullivan.
Two key areas have left Lopetegui fighting for his job says hero
“One thing you can say about David Sullivan, over the course of his, what is it, 14-year reign, he has always been very loyal to his managers,” Cottee said on talkSPORT.
“And I don’t know that David Sullivan would want to sack Lopetegui.
“The biggest problem for me, I think, is the midfield.
“There are no legs in the midfield. There is no pace whatsoever in that midfield. At the weekend, you had (Guido) Rodriguez, you have got (Carlos) Soler, you have (Edson) Alvarez, there is no pace.
“As a result, that midfield is getting overrun and you are getting stretched at the back and you are conceding goals.”
The other big area of concern for Cottee is up front where Niclas Fullkrug has been out for two months with no timeframe on his return.
Speaking from a position of great credibility given his 309 career goals, Cottee says West Ham simply should not still be relying on soon-to-be 35-year-old Michail Antonio.
Even if fans were perplexed by Lopetegui dropping the forward and using Lucas Paqueta as a false nine instead in the 3-0 defeat at Forest.
“Antonio is now at the stage of his career where you get inconsistent performances because of his age,” Cottee added.
Another talkSPORT pundit speaking from a position of strength is former Premier League and England striker Darren Bent.
Bent says Lopetegui has completely insulted a Hammers star with his actions.
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