A journalist who has been covering West Ham for many years has made a damning claim about under fire boss Julen Lopetegui.
Do damning in fact that it may force David Sullivan’s hand as pressure mounts on West Ham to wield the axe.
Julen Lopetegui was reportedly told the Premier League clash with Everton was a ‘must win’.
In fact top West Ham reporter Roshane Thomas even claimed ahead of the game that only a ‘convincing win’ would be enough to save the Spaniard.
What transpired was another woeful performance from the Hammers in what’s been named the worst game of the Premier League season so far, anywhere.
Once again West Ham were dreadful in the first half and could have found themselves a couple of goals down.
Everton, one of the worst sides in the top flight, managed six shots inside half an hour.
West Ham’s first effort of any kind came in the 43rd minute – for the second week running.
It is not lost on the club’s owners and fans that Lopetegui could have been going into the Everton game off the back of three heavy defeats on the bounce.
What West Ham’s players think of Lopetegui is damning
A lucky win over Man United punctuated that run.
And while West Ham kept a clean sheet against the Toffees, it is of little consolation to fans who sat through a turgid affair.
So bad in fact thousands left long before the final whistle – the sixth time in 13 games under Lopetegui that supporters have departed early in swathes.
There have been consistent claims of unrest in the West Ham dressing room towards the manager.
From multiple well-connected sources too.
They say there’s no smoke without fire.
And while that’s not always the case in football, there was yet more evidence of that unrest when three West Ham players showed their disgust towards the manager against Everton.
Three wins from 11 league games and a 5-1 League Cup exit at Liverpool is hardly the exciting new era fans and the owners had hoped for.
Now a damning claim about Lopetegui’s standing among players may force West Ham’s hand.
West Ham’s 16-word response on Lopetegui feels ominous.
So an observation from Jack Rosser may tip the Hammers hierarchy over the edge.
Sorry situation could force West Ham’s hand
Many West Ham fans have questioned whether these players are really playing for their manager.
Lopetegui’s job was said to be on the line against Everton. But that wasn’t a performance of a team fighting to save their boss.
Now Rosser, who has covered the Hammers for years for The Evening Standard and now The Sun, has questioned whether West Ham’s players are actually even listening to Lopetegui at all.
“Julen Lopetegui always says he wants to be judged in May – but many will have made their minds up alreadym” Rosser said in The Sun.
“This drab and desperate performance only raised more questions over the Spaniard and his side.
“What is Lopetegui’s plan? Does it exist? Is anyone listening? Few answers were offered on a glum afternoon in east London.”
That really is worrying.
Rosser’s six reasons Lopetegui is sliding towards West Ham sack
Most who have watched West Ham this season would have come to the same conclusion.
If the players aren’t listening to Lopetegui it just highlights how little respect he commands.
Last week one of Lopetegui’s former Porto stars, Evandro, described him as an ‘uninspiring manager’ who played ‘boring’ football.
The Brazilian midfielder turned manager also stated Lopetegui was not rated by many at Porto, by whom he was sacked after just 18 months.
In a separate piece, Rosser highlighted several reasons Lopetegui is sliding towards the sack at the London Stadium:
- Defensive issues
- Stodgy midfield
- Poor signings
- Lack of leadership and discipline
- No style or inspiration
“There is a feeling they have not reached the lows of the second half of last season, but get any closer to it and a change will more than likely be made,” Rosser said.
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