West Ham’s victory against Newcastle United on Monday night introduced me to a whole new feeling under the stewardship of Julen Lopetegui—I’m actually looking forward to watching our next game.
As ridiculous as it sounds, I had been approaching each fixture with a sense of foreboding and dread, so this newfound anticipation feels strange.
In many respects, it’s unfortunate that the Hammers’ next game is a very tough London derby against Arsenal because I can’t wait to see the team play again.
This is in stark contrast to how I felt for the majority of the season, where performances had been so poor they killed any hope of improvement. However, now, for the first time, I believe we’re seeing the glimmers of not only a cohesive strategy but also a team selection capable of implementing Lopetegui’s tactics.
Of course, the recently stubbled and dishevelled Hammers head coach must continue with this team and strategy, but there is hope.
As for Lopetegui, the last few weeks must have been exhausting and have certainly taken their toll. The poor fella looked like he’d walked to Newcastle without food or water, but his players performed for him and executed the tactics to perfection.
So onwards and upwards. Arsenal next is a toughie, but we can at least now hope. It’s amazing what a win can do.
