The critic I love to hate, Chris Sutton, has been back reading his runes for this weekends Premier League fixtures. He does have something of a knack for stating the obvious and sadly, at the moment, is proving only too correct with suggestions of losses or draws in games past. ( That’s probably why I hate reading his predictions!)
Today he has been pronouncing on West Ham v Everton – dubbed ‘El Sackio 2’ after last time at London Stadium doing for Erik ten Hag’s job: What does Sutton think, I wonder, about West Ham’s chances of doing for Sean Dyche in the same manner (although hopefully no dodgy VAR penalty decisions this weekend).
Says Sutton:
“West Ham are in trouble.. they don’t really have an identity under Julen Lopetegui.“
“He has always been a pragmatic manager in my eyes but they want to be a more expansive side and he is stuck somewhere in between at the moment.“
“There is a lot of uncertainty around them at present, and I am certainly not convinced by them at home. They beat Manchester United there a couple of weeks ago, but they were lucky to win that one.“
“The only team Everton have beaten away this season is Ipswich, so I would not feel confident backing them to bounce back with a win here. I don’t want to pick another draw, but this has got one written all over it.“
2-2 is his final prediction . Will that be enough to save Lopetegui? The biggest fear I have is that it will earn him a stay of execution through the International break. Beyond that lie tougher games against Leicester and Wolves – more ‘six pointer’ games: And a winter staring down the abyss of the relegation zone. With any ‘wiggle room’ to sack the head coach and replace him long gone by then.
