West Ham chief David Sullivan made the biggest mistake of any club owner in the Premier League in the summer.
That’s according to one of the top analysts at Sky Sports as it emerges Julen Lopetegui has two games to save his job at West Ham.
The Hammers started the season aiming to get back into Europe.
Co-owners David Sullivan and Daniel Kretinsky signed off on a £155m spend.
Fans were excited about what their nine new signings could deliver and pundits believed West Ham were set to challenge for the top six.
But what has transpired has been nothing short of disastrous.
At half-time against Arsenal next weekend the Premier League season will be a third of the way through.
Likely West Ham defeats at Newcastle and in that game at home to the Gunners could see Lopetegui sacked and the Hammers in the bottom three.
According to a report from journalist Jacob Steinberg, Lopetegui has those daunting fixtures to save his job.
Many believe it is a kiss of death from the owners.
Top Sky Sports analyst slams West Ham chief Sullivan
Sullivan was impressed by Lopetegui when he interviewed candidates in the summer.
It’s safe to say fans – and on the evidence so far players – don’t share that enthusiasm.
Hammers supporters were totally underwhelmed when the 57-year-old was appointed as successor to David Moyes.
But West Ham fans will give anyone a chance.
You’d just better make sure you take it.
Lopetegui hasn’t, though. And he has managed to suck the life out of one of the most exciting transfer windows the club has had.
It was vital the club made the right choice for the next manager. Lopetegui was appointed in a hurry with the decision made all the way back in May.
Many felt the club should have gone in a different direction and waited before making such a big call.
Publicly the owners have backed Lopetegui on multiple occasions.
But it’s been claimed confidence has waned and they’re now unconvinced about the ex Wolves boss.
Now a top Sky Sports analyst has slammed West Ham chief Sullivan over the Premier League’s biggest mistake.
West Ham made Premier League’s big mistake hiring Lopetegui
Lewis Jones is one of Sky’s top football analysts.
In his latest Jones Knows column, he has savaged Sullivan’s decision to appoint Lopetegui, saying it was the biggest mistake anywhere in the top flight during the summer.
He also predicts a chastening 3-1 defeat for the Hammers at Newcastle which, if reports this week are accurate, may result in the axe falling.
Jones says West Ham are so bad they’re playing the same boring football as under Moyes but without the occasional good bits.
“What are West Ham under Julen Lopetegui?” Jones said.
“It looks like David Moyes football without the swashbuckling counter-attack style that led the club to some special places under his watch.
“Lopetegui’s appointment is turning into one of the big mistakes of the summer.
“On the road in 2024, West Ham’s defence have conceded 35 goals in 14 games in the Premier League – that’s an average of 2.5 goals per game and is the worst record of any ever-present Premier League team in that time.
“I’m fully expecting Newcastle to fill their boots here.”
That really is damning.
It comes after the equally embarrassing revelation that Lopetegui hasn’t given a single minute to a West Ham academy player since joining.
He’s one of only four top flight managers who have handed out zero minutes.
At a club that is self-styled the Academy of football, that’s unacceptable.
Throw in the fact Lopetegui says he can’t implement his style with the players he has and it makes you wonder what Sullivan is waiting for.
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