There has been much criticism of future West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui.
Much of the concern is based on his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers, while others worry about his record in promoting youth players. Concerns persist over the defensive nature of the Spaniard’s tactics, and, of course, the fact that he’s managed to fall out with the hierarchy at nearly every team he’s managed.
However, I’m convinced that a man of his experience will be well aware of these criticisms, as well as the petitions to block his appointment at both West Ham and AC Milan. Therefore, I expect him to come out fighting and, in some respects, try to prove people wrong, particularly those who he feels have an inaccurate opinion of him.
Personally, I think it will be relatively easy for him to change West Ham fans’ opinions with just a few simple moves:
1. Integrate a youngster into the first team squad: It doesn’t have to be a regular starter, but just someone who regularly appears from the bench and is seen to be given a chance. This will immediately dispel suggestions that he doesn’t care about the academy, giving hope to everyone in the development team.
2. Work with Steidten: Most West Ham fans I speak to were concerned with David Moyes‘ recent record in the transfer market, and Gianluca Scamacca’s recent form hasn’t helped matters. Most of the fanbase supports the idea of a director of football, and there’s a worry that Steidten will be ignored again.
3. Attack: Nobody is expecting an all-out assault, but there are reservations that Lopetegui’s style is overly cautious. If he starts the season playing in a way that excites the 60,000-seat stadium, he’ll be halfway there.
4. Substitutes and favourites: David Moyes had a tendency to select his favourite players regardless of form. If a player isn’t performing well, give someone else a chance to earn the shirt. Substitutions have also been a massive problem this season, both tactically and in terms of fatigued players.
5. Don’t mention the Red Bull model or win ratios at the unveiling: That kind of talk tends to follow one around.
Clearly, there’s far more to it than just these simple points, but these steps, if done quickly, will put many fans’ minds at ease including my own.