Pundit Paul Merson is pulling no punches after slamming West Ham majority owner David Sullivan as ‘delusional’ over the Julen Lopetegui situation.
West Ham are back in Premier League action after the international break and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The Hammers go to Newcastle on Monday night in what looks a daunting fixture.
Julen Lopetegui is under intense pressure to keep his job.
The Spaniard has overseen just four wins from 13 games so far.
It has also been noted that three of West Ham’s victories – in the cup against Bournemouth and against Palace and Man United – were extremely fortunate.
Lopetegui given two games to save his job by West Ham
West Ham went into the game against Everton before the international break with speculation rife it was a “must win” to keep Lopetegui in the job.
The reality was a 0-0 draw and what’s been dubbed the worst Premier League game of the season, anywhere.
Over 10 managers have been linked as possible replacements for Lopetegui.
Meetings were held between majority owner David Sullivan and technical director Tim Steidten about the manager’s future.
The result was the 57-year-old remains in post for now.
But Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg, who counts Sullivan among his close contacts, has revealed Lopetegui has two games to save his job as Hammers boss.
Brutal Merson slams ‘delusional’ Sullivan over what he’s heard
He claims defeats to Newcastle and then Arsenal will see Lopetegui sacked.
Steinberg even stated the Hammers could axe their head coach if they suffer a heavy defeat at St James’s Park.
Many West Ham fans already feel they have seen enough to know Lopetegui needs to go.
They believe the owners should have acted during the break.
Now one of the top pundits around has had his say.
Brutal Paul Merson has slammed ‘delusional’ Sullivan over what he’s heard out of West Ham about Lopetegui.
Merson has suggested the reported ultimatum from the owners for Lopetegui to avoid defeat to Newcastle and Arsenal is near impossible.
He believes Lopetegui was the wrong hire and won’t be at West Ham long term.
But Merson thinks he knows when Lopetegui will really be sacked by Sullivan.
Lopetegui will be axed by Hammers at Leicester says Merson
Speaking to SportsKeeda, Merson thinks Newcastle could run riot against West Ham.
The real ‘cup final’ for Lopetegui will be against Leicester a week later, though, Merson believes.
“West Ham got absolutely rinsed by Nottingham Forest a couple of weeks back,” Merson said, predicting a 3-0 win for the Magpies.
“I don’t even know how they beat Manchester United! I worry for West Ham, but I still think they will give Julen Lopetegui a lot more time. If they weren’t going to back him, they would have got rid of him after the draw with Everton before the international break.
“If you are counting on Lopetegui to turn it around against Newcastle here and Arsenal next, you are delusional! I don’t think he will be there long-term, but he still has time. West Ham have a clash against Leicester coming up in two games’ time, that’s a cup final and if he does not win, he won’t be in the job.
“I’d be shocked if West Ham get anything out of this game. It has Newcastle written all over it. I’m backing the hosts to slaughter West Ham and become a strong candidate in the race for top four.”
It’s hard to argue with anything Merson has said there.
His claim that Sullivan is more likely to act if West Ham don’t beat Leicester is also spot on.
But a lot could depend on just how heavily the Hammers are beaten if they do lose the next two.
The Hammers have been terrible defensively all year, both before and since Lopetegui’s appointment.
But given £85m has been spent on improving the back four with Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, there should be improvement by now.
Instead West Ham look wide open at the back and that doesn’t bode well against teams of the quality of Newcastle and Arsenal.
What’s clear is Lopetegui is at a fork in the road in the next week or so to save his job.
Related Posts
