The blame game seems to have begun at West Ham and it usually only ends one way as cracks start to appear.
Julen Lopetegui was under pressure when West Ham faced Everton.
He was reportedly told only a ‘convincing win’ would be enough to save his job.
So the dismal 0-0 draw that ensued against one of the worst teams in the Premier League has turned up the heat on the Spaniard massively.
West Ham have now played 13 games under Lopetegui – effectively a third of a season.
But nobody is any the wiser about what the 57-year-old is trying to achieve, how he is trying to get the team to play or where the Hammers are heading.
West Ham sit 14th in the Premier League table, closer to the bottom than top six.
They crashed out of the Carabao Cup 5-1 at Liverpool.
And clear evidence has been seen to support claims of unrest in the dressing room.
Eight different managers have been linked with replacing Lopetegui in the last week alone, the latest being freshly sacked Roma boss Ivan Juric.
Lopetegui has not been the only one under the microscope at West Ham, though.
Sullivan confidant responds as Lopetegui turns on key man
Journalists and fans have also been highly critical of technical director Tim Steidten.
Majority owner David Sullivan has been taking a lot of flak too.
West Ham’s owners produced a rather ominous 16-word statement on Lopetegui yesterday.
But what has really set the cat amongst the pigeons is the manager appearing to shift the blame on Steidten.
Lopetegui is dicing with danger after claiming he is unable to implement his style with the players he has been given by the German.
The comments have left many shocked.
Not least because Lopetegui knew Steidten would be signing the players when he agreed to become manager.
And because it suggests rumours their relationship has become strained could well be true.
Especially as Steidten has not been seen around the first team for several games.
Now a Sullivan confidant has responded as Lopetegui turns on the key man at West Ham.
When Steidten was linked with Arsenal last week, a report from The Telegraph claimed West Ham wanted to keep him at the club.
If true it pours cold water on reports elsewhere that Steidten’s head could be on the block as well as Lopetegui’s over West Ham’s woeful season so far.
David Moyes took on Steidten at West Ham last season.
Blame game begins at West Ham and it usually only ends one way
And ultimately there was only one winner as Moyes banned him from being around the first team in a messy end to what was always destined to be an uneasy relationship.
Moyes actually spoke out last week to say he does not like or agree with the technical director structure West Ham have implemented.
Lopetegui’s comments about not being able to put his stamp on the team due to the players he has were a clear dig at Steidten.
But Sean Whetstone, who counts Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady among his contacts, has set the record straight.
Hammers insider Whetstone states Lopetegui’s comments are a nonsense because he chose many of the players himself.
“A recent report that claimed Lopetegui was unhappy with some of the summer signings not playing his style of football has been denied by a club source,” Whetstone said on X.
“Some players were hand picked by Steidten, while some were chosen by the head coach and one was suggested by the board.”
It seems the blame game has started at West Ham.
And that usually only ends one way – the manager departing.
There have been reports Steidten and Sullivan will be meeting to discuss Lopetegui’s furture this week.
The comments about transfers from the former Spain boss will undoubtedly be looked at if they do.
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