West Ham’s self-inflicted purgatory under Julen Lopetegui continues after the extremely fortunate win at Southampton.
Julen Lopetegui went into the game against the Saints knowing West Ham had to win.
It was not the first must-win game the Spaniard has faced in his Hammers tenure thus far.
And if West Ham continue to play the way they have under him, it certainly won’t be the last.
The Hammers are a tough watch and were ridiculously lucky to beat one of the worst teams in Premier League history.
By sticking with Lopetegui when fans called for his head at Leicester, West Ham have found themselves in this bizarre limbo.
Supporters are totally unconvinced and underwhelmed by the manager and his team.
Yet whenever the 58-year-old faces a “must-win” match he invariably faces a poor team and gets the result.
Journalist completely dismantles Lopetegui’s ‘terrible’ West Ham
That was the case again at St Mary’s but once again it was only down to some woeful finishing from the opposition and a large slice of luck.
West Ham’s owners have admitted frustration at another ‘poor’ performance.
But the manager is clearly safe for now after a run of four unbeaten.
The Hammers should have lost to Wolves, could have lost at Bournemouth and somehow survived a battering against Brighton.
Then Southampton had 18 shots against West Ham, the most they’ve managed all season, but failed to punish Lopetegui’s wide open side.
Lopetegui’s team selections and tactics continue to frustrate and there is no clear identity.
There is no discernible style of play.
The manager continues to play star players out of position.
Recruitment over the summer, which Lopetegui had say in alongside Tim Steidten, has failed to address major issues in midfield and up front.
And it’s difficult to argue any of West Ham’s players have improved under Lopetegui.
More identity from Juric in one game than Lopetegui in 20
West Ham’s owners wanted the team to challenge for Europe this season.
But the team has fallen way below those expectations.
West Ham would expect to get at least nine or 10 points from games against Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton.
So an eight-point return is modest at best.
The worst thing for fans, though, is that there’s no sign this team is improving or working towards something.
Now a Mirror journalist has completely dismantles Lopetegui’s ‘terrible’ West Ham after their lucky win over the Saints.
Senior sports reporter Joshua Mbu says it is laughable that West Ham were outplayed by lowly Southampton in their manager’s first game.
“Southampton outplaying West Ham in their manager’s first game (laughable),” Mbu said on X.
“Six months in with Lopetegui, and I still have no idea what West Ham’s identity under him is meant to be.
“The team lacks pace, especially in midfield, lack ideas in the final third
“Terrible.”
Those sentiments are shared by many West Ham fans.
Many believe the board have merely delayed the inevitable by failing to sack Lopetegui.
Supporters think the club’s owners are simply kicking the can down the road.
Especially with Liverpool, Man City, Aston Villa twice, Chelsea and Arsenal to six of West Ham’s next nine games.
If West Ham continue to meekly allow a free-for-all at their goal against those teams, things could get very messy indeed.
Mbu makes a great point about the instant visibly impact Ivan Juric had at Southampton too.
After six months, there are no excuses for the lack of identity at West Ham.
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