Julen Lopetegui has been justifiably criticised for many things during his difficult tenure so far but one West Ham star has taken it too far.
Things look bleak for Julen Lopetegui at West Ham.
Journalist Alex Crook recently claimed there is unrest in the camp with several several Hammers players ‘unconvinced’ by Lopetegui.
There’s no getting away from the fact that has showed on the pitch too.
West Ham have just three Premier League wins to their name from 11 matches under Lopetegui.
It is the performances that have been more worrying for Irons fans, though.
And the board too judging by the fact they’ve briefed a host of journalists and us here at Hammers News that the owners expect to see improvement at West Ham.
The club’s hierarchy certainly don’t expect to see two heavy defeats when the action resumes against Newcastle and Arsenal if Lopetegui wants to save his job.
The gauntlet has officially been laid down.
West Ham’s 57-year-old head coach has been roundly criticised by fans, pundits and the press over tactics, team selections and his approach.
A string of players have showed dissent towards the manager.
It has done little to dampen reports of unrest in the ranks.
Mohammed Kudus confronted Lopetegui in the changing room at Brentford after being singled out for criticism. The star boy was hauled off and was seen kicking a seat on his return to the bench.
When he was sent off at Spurs, some felt it was Kudus, who has been visibly frustrated at being played on the left, acting out against the manager.
Edson Alvarez has shown indiscipline as well with two red cards.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Guido Rodriguez and Michail Antonio all showed public dissent towards Lopetegui from during West Ham’s draw with Everton.
One player has gone too far, though.
West Ham star out of order for publicly criticising Lopetegui
An ungrateful West Ham star is bang out of order for publicly criticising Lopetegui.
Many Hammers fans and observers felt it was imperative the club signed a top class right-back with pace in the summer.
West Ham went out and did just that, signing Wan-Bissaka for £15m from Man United.
Fans were instantly impressed.
Although there have been some moans and groans about his lack of effort getting back into position after bombing runs forward.
Many blame Lopetegui tactics for leaving Wan-Bissaka out of position so often.
He was taken off in the draw with Everton.
On came Vladimir Coufal, who is quickly becoming a forgotten man at West Ham.
Coufal has been a tremendous servant – and serious bargain at just £5.5m. But he isn’t getting any younger.
Coufal always gives his absolute all in a West Ham shirt.
As a result the Czech has become a certified Hammers cult hero – deservedly so too.
His passion, professionalism and enthusiasm has – as stated by ex boss David Moyes – been central to West Ham’s rise in recent years.
But time waits for no man and all good things come to an end.
Coufal should be grateful to still be a squad player at a club like West Ham
That’s the case for the 32-year-old as the first choice right-back at the London Stadium.
It had been obvious for some time Coufal needed upgrading.
If West Ham were in Europe then he and Wan-Bissaka would likely be getting a game each every week.
They’re not, though.
So if the club want to build a competitive squad to get back there, some players are going to have to accept their positions as part of the squad.
Footballers are funny creatures. You always hear them saying about wanting competition for places and being part of a strong squad.
But when a club puts those things in place, they’re often the first to moan if it impacts them directly.
Speaking to Czech media outlet Sport, Coufal has criticised Lopetegui for failing to make good on a promise of more game time.
Coufal states he does respects the manager. But speaking out publicly suggests that’s just lip service.
“When I talked to the coach he told me that he was extremely happy with me,” Coufal said.
“That he is convinced that I will get more minutes, more chances and start playing, that I am a great professional. I can’t say a bad word against the coach, or he has against me, it’s just that we don’t have a good time on the pitch yet..”
“If it should continue like this, we have to sit down and see what to do next. I definitely don’t want to sit on the bench, I still feel like I can play in the Premier League.”
Coufal needs to accept new reality and be a leader not dissenter
Come on Vladi.
We all love you.
But you are not going to get into the side ahead of Wan-Bissaka for goodness sake.
Just because Lopetegui told him he will get games, doesn’t mean he meant it as first choice.
West Ham have brought Wan-Bissaka in on a seven-year deal for big money both in terms of transfer fee and wages.
They have not done that for him to share the right-back berth with Coufal.
In the summer it looked like West Ham might have the right idea having clear first choice full-backs in the shape of Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri with experienced back-ups in Coufal and Aaron Cresswell.
What’s clear now, though, is they’ve got it wrong.
West Ham should have young players providing enthusiastic and athletic back-up in those positions.
At 32 and with his best days behind him, you would think Coufal would just be grateful to still be involved with a club the size of West Ham.
Of course professional pride dictates you want to play as much as possible.
But the reality is Wan-Bissaka is here and that’s put an end to Coufal’s days as first choice at the London Stadium.
As one of the senior statesmen in the dressing room, Coufal is needed to keep things in order.
So it’s a shame to see him making comments like this so publicly.
Especially as he knows full well Lopetegui is a man under pressure.
It doesn’t sit right and he should know better, regardless of your stance on whether the manager should stay or go.
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