Julen Lopetegui is far from my first choice to replace David Moyes as West Ham manager. My main concerns surround his overly cautious (albeit possession-based) style of play and his reputation for not developing academy players.
Therefore, like most, I become a little worried when I read that he is at an advanced stage in negotiations to take over the helm at The London Stadium.
However, I’m not at all comfortable with news of a petition attempting to stop his appointment at West Ham. Being a football fan has never been a position where one has any influence over a club’s recruitment policy. Football, by its very nature, is a sport with differing opinions, so it would be extremely difficult to appoint managers or players by fan committee.
Obviously, I share many people’s trepidation that the Hammers’ hierarchy might get this appointment glaringly wrong. Nonetheless, it is the board’s decision, and as a fan, I can only hope that the likes of David Sullivan and Karren Brady have delegated that task to Tim Steidten.
Ultimately, if the club decides to appoint Julen Lopetegui, then I’ll support the new manager. It would certainly be unhealthy for a new head coach to arrive at work to a chorus of protests and petitions from fans of his new club.
It would begin the whole appointment and chapter in a toxic atmosphere without giving him a chance. The Spaniard could be good, bad or indifferent, but if appointed he surely deserves the chance to succeed or fail by actual results. Surely we can’t have a situation where a manager is punished because of what we suspect he might do?
I’d love to be able to pick West Ham’s next coach, but I also think I know which winger the club should sign too, and I’ve got some interesting ideas on a switch of formation.
Regardless of what I think I know… I’m just a fan and hold little sway over such matters. It’s incredibly important that West Ham’s next manager is not selected by online vote or petition. The club has hired a specialist to decide upon such things, and if he’s deemed that Lopetegui is the best man for the job, then all I can do is hope he’s right.