I’m sure if you conducted a poll amongst West Ham United fans now there’d be about half a percent who wanted Lopetegui to stay on after this most disastrous last five months. The players, too, I feel certain would want this nightmare of “death by one ‘must-win game at a time” to end: There was no passion to fight for the head coach on show last night at the King Power stadium.
Even Jarrod Bowen showed resignation having pretty much run himself into the ground.
Lopetegui has lost the dressing room, he’s lost the fan base and he’s lost his way.
For what comes next and for a faster recovery, West Ham need to dismiss Julen Lopetegui immediately.
However it cannot just be me who has noticed the impending ‘car crash’ irony of the upcoming match – Lopetegui’s previous side Wolverhampton Wanderers come to London Stadium in less than six days.
Lopetegui walked out on Wolves just nine months into his deal. Surely it would be heartless to make his last game for West Ham a very public humiliation against his former employers – who will come with a very personal reason to stick it to Lopetegui and West Ham.
But then, the cynic in me thinks – maybe that’s the plan all along – David Sullivan waiting for his coach to ‘walk’ instead of firing him? (with the resultant compensation package ramifications). I’m sure I speak for tens of thousands of others that would like to see a line drawn under this now for everyone’s benefit. For pity sake, don’t drag it out until the weekend.
There are three very valuable Premier League points up for grabs: Lopetegui has more chance of being trodden on by a dinosaur than taking those points against Wolves.
If for nothing else, for Player morale, for the faster recovery of the team and to escape the threat of a relegation battle, Sullivan needs to put on his big boy pants, admit he was wrong and do the deed today.
