Kicking the Julen Lopetegui can down the road three games at a time is damaging for the club, the man himself and also the bigger picture at West Ham United: How can long-term plans for growing the squad be put in place without knowing who is going to be at the helm in three months time?
It will certainly prevent big decisions being taken on recruitment: We read reports now of the club having to entertain loan-only deals for a new striker in January. Financially West Ham are not in a great position having blown so much of the budget last summer.
How will Lopetegui convince Steidten and Sullivan to go and shell out £20 million on a decent, up and coming frontman when he could be out of a job before the transfer window even opens?
Answer- he won’t. Hence reports of temporary fixes like Callum Wilson (for heavens sake) on a six month loan to provide-almost like for like – cover for the stricken Michail Antonio. Even Newcastle Journalist Ben Jacobs alludes to paralysis at West Ham (#NUFCmatters 50 mins) and a deal for Wilson owing to Lopetegui’s uncertain future.
No ambition, no long term strategy, just a short term cheap fix to kick the can down the road another six months. Sadly, it’s no surprise but if that is what we are reduced to – there’s no need to have both the Steidten brothers on the payroll as Technical Director and Head of International Recruitment respectively: Clearly West Ham have zero ambition other than survival in the Premier League this season, if the choice is to take on another old warrior.
That is why the rumours coming out of the club between now and the start of January are pivotal. I’m sincerely hoping that the club bite the bullet and secure a permanent signing like Emmanuel Latte Lath or Yuri Alberto, showing more lofty ambition .
However past form suggests they’ll return to a ‘bodged quick fix’ like Callum Wilson ( or if we are very lucky, Brighton’s Evan Ferguson ) just to bring in a short-term solution whilst ‘crisis mode’ grips the club.
