West Ham’s hierarchy find themselves in the firing line after finally sacking Julen Lopetegui following two days of limbo.
In many ways David Sullivan has made a rod for his own back at West Ham when it comes to Julen Lopetegui.
Alarm bells were ringing just a few games in when West Ham lost their first three home games of a season for the the first time in their 130-year history.
Things did not get any better for the Hammers of Lopetegui in the five months since.
At almost any other Premier League club, Lopetegui would have been sacked by November.
That is when Sullivan and the Hammers board should have held their hands up and conceded they had made the wrong call replacing David Moyes with a man many have branded the Scot’s Spanish equivalent.
Sullivan does not hire and fire easily, though.
And West Ham have only had 18 – soon to be 19 – permanent managers in their entire history.
So he gave Lopetegui chance after chance when others would not have.
If West Ham chose to stick by the Spaniard before the November break, he certainly should have gone 10 days after it.
Shambolic 5-2 and 3-1 defeats to Arsenal and Leicester saw West Ham’s away following turn on Lopetegui at the King Power.
That’s when Sullivan should have pulled the trigger.
Specsavers troll West Ham as Lopetegui sacked
Players were revolting behind the scenes and an emergency board meeting was held.
But Lopetegui was given yet another chance.
Four very fortunate results followed.
They included extremely lucky wins over Wolves and Southampton which sandwiched equally fortunate draws against Bournemouth and Brighton.
Liverpool and Man City were not as charitable as those sides, though.
West Ham shipped another nine goals in two games and it proved the straw which broke the camel’s back.
It emerged on Monday that Sullivan had decided to sack Lopetegui.
But while West Ham negotiated with Graham Potter, things dragged on for 48 unsavoury hours.
Laughably the media outlets getting on their high horses and criticising West Ham’s conduct were the same ones tripping over one another to be first with every spit and cough they could glean from behind the scenes.
As Lopetegui’s sack was finally confirmed on Wednesday, though, it has left the Hammers open to criticism.
And some haven’t held back.
Balague and Redknapp savage Hammers owners
Specsavers have trolled West Ham as Guillem Balague and Harry Redknapp savage the owners over Lopetegui.
Commenting on West Ham’s official announcement of Lopetegui’s sacking, the optical retain chain saw an opportunity to mock the fact it was the worst kept secret in football.
“Didn’t see that coming,” Specsavers said under West Ham’s post.
Spanish journalist Balague has often been a lone voice sticking up for his compatriot Lopetegui.
Although some have accused Balague of being a shameless patriot at times, he feels those inside West Ham undermined the 58-year-old.
Balague said Lopetegui went to work this morning despite the impending sack and has ‘acted with the utmost professionalism’.
“There is always another side to every story…” Balague said.
“Surprisingly inside the camp petrol has been thrown into the fire feeding doubts of fans instead of everyone being on the same boat and supporting the leadership I insist on the idea that Lopetegui, a top European manager, has been treated very harshly.
“But that is football today. Everyone knows more and nobody wants to be wrong Let’s imagine a couple of wins next for West Ham. It could take them to top 10.”
Lopetegui went to work as he is supposed to. And has prepared training which he will take
He wanted to do the press conference as he is supposed to
He is preparing the Aston Villa game as he is supposed to
He is acting with the utmost professionalism
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) January 8, 2025
Former Hammers boss Redknapp feels Lopetegui has been treated ‘disrespectfully’.
He added that managing West Ham and keeping their fans happy ‘is not easy’.
“No doubt about that (Lopetegui was treated disrespectfully),” Redknapp told the BBC.
“If you want to get rid of him then you call him and say I’m sorry it’s not worked out, but obviously talks have been going on with Graham Potter.”
“Potter seems to be the number-one target,” added Redknapp.
“But it’s not an easy place to manage West Ham. The expectation there is very high.
“Whoever goes there, not only do they have to produce a winning team, they’ve got to produce a team that plays what West Ham fans see as the West Ham way.”
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