Top pundits Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have piled on under fire Julen Lopetegui for killing the excitement surrounding West Ham.
The unbridled joy, excitement and hype that surrounded West Ham’s summer window seems a long time ago now.
Bar one worryingly quiet spell, the Hammers signed player after player, raising eyebrows and whetting appetites.
West Ham dropped out of European contention in the second half of last season, finishing ninth.
They had been well placed to secure a fourth season of European football at the turn of the year.
After splashing out £155m on nine new players and with a new manager in post, getting back there was the big target.
West Ham were tipped by many to challenge for a European spot again.
Jamie Carragher made the Hammers his outsiders to challenge the top six.
Fast forward three months, though, Julen Lopetegui is on the ropes, clinging to his job.
And 14th placed West Ham are closer to the bottom of the table than the top six.
Shearer and Lineker tear into Lopetegui for killing West Ham excitement
Lopetegui’s job was said to be on the line when the Hammers welcomed Everton to the London Stadium.
West Ham were bad and it was reflected in the stands with the worst atmosphere for several years.
The loudest it got was when jeers rang out at half-time and then full-time.
What’s been labelled the worst Premier League game anywhere this season fittingly ended 0-0.
Hammers fans once again left early, summing up the apathy that has enveloped the club.
Debate has raged about Lopetegui and whether he should be given more time.
His team selections, tactics and man management have been called into question.
But the biggest problem according to two top Match of the Day pundits is that the 57-year-old has completely failed to take the good feeling around the club and run with it.
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker tear into Lopetegui for killing the West Ham excitement.
Hammers fans were dreaming of big things when they brought in the likes of Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Jean-Clair Todibo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Niclas Fullkrug.
There was also much excitement about the potential of Brazilian “teen sensation” Luis Guilherme.
Not to mention that West Ham brought in experienced Argentine World Cup winner Guido Rodriguez – who was supposed to join Barcelona until Xavi’s departure.
Bringing in former Spain star Carlos Soler from PSG was also supposed to sprinkle some star dust on West Ham’s midfield.
They added to a team containing Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez and Alphonse Areola.
Instead West Ham are boring and Lopetegui bang in trouble as a result, say Shearer and Lineker.
The duo came across almost embarrassed to run the highlights from West Ham’s draw with Everton.
Their verdict on what Lopetegui has done after a big summer spend was damning.
Hammers so boring after summer of excitement say duo
“We certainly didn’t save the best game until last,” Lineker said to Shearer on MOTD.
“It was a tough watch Alan.”
Shearer even said he hoped football fans hadn’t stayed up to watch the drab Hammers.
“I hope not many people have stayed up to watch this because I’ve had to watch that again after watching it this afternoon and it wasn’t pleasant,” Shearer said.
“It was an awful game.”
Lineker then highlighted footage of several West Ham fans yawning in the crowd.
“It was summed up (by shots of the crowd yawning),” Lineker added.
“Yes he (yawning fan) summed it up really, I was doing that as well to be honest, it was that bad.
“It was a much better point for Everton than it is for West Ham.
“They were so sloppy I thought. Trying little backheels, getting nowhere. So many times I’m thinking this is so poor.
“There was probably two moments of quality in the game from West Ham – the pass from (Lucas) Paqueta and the (Danny) Ings effort late on.”
Lineker brought up a list of West Ham’s summer signings and both he and Shearer remarked how much money had been spent.
“There was quite a lot of excitement around them in the summer with all the signings and a new manager,” Lineker said.
“It’s not quite clicked yet.”
You can say that again.
The problem is there is no sign, in any way whatsoever, that it’s going to either.
Do West Ham persist with something that clearly isn’t working and waste an entire season?
Especially now Lopetegui has made an astonishing admission about not being able to implement his style.
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