Julen Lopetegui and West Ham: Staff choice, techniques, sluggish begins – what is going on flawed for brand new Hammers boss? | Soccer Information

Amid West Ham’s late slide at Anfield on Wednesday, supervisor Julen Lopetegui stamped the bottom in annoyance and damage himself within the course of.

The Spaniard had witnessed his aspect give up a lead and capitulate alarmingly within the final 16 minutes of their Carabao Cup third-round tie at Liverpool.

The competition was over as soon as Edson Alvarez was despatched off moments after Mohamed Salah put the hosts 3-1 forward, and Lopetegui was then compelled to take a seat down for the rest of the sport.

“I have one little injury in my calf,” he admitted after limping into the room for his post-match press convention. He was later noticed leaving the stadium on crutches.

It has been a bruising begin to life at West Ham for the previous Wolves supervisor.

Earlier than the October worldwide break, West Ham face a visit to Brentford earlier than internet hosting Ipswich – and so they have already got the texture of high-pressure video games Lopetegui can’t ill-afford to lose.

Has the model of soccer improved?

Having put collectively a glittering teaching CV over the previous 20 years, main Sevilla to Europa League glory alongside his success with Spain at numerous age ranges, there was loads of pleasure surrounding Lopetegui’s arrival.

David Moyes had led West Ham to their first trophy in 43 years with Europa Convention success however many supporters felt the time had come for a change in the summertime within the curiosity of all events.

One sentiment stood out from Moyes in the direction of the top of his tenure – one which he repeated on the Up Entrance podcast with Simon Jordan.

“I’ve been the manager – and I couldn’t tell you what the West Ham Way is,” he mentioned. “Nobody could define (it), but whatever it was, I apparently didn’t play it.”

Moyes’ pragmatism which pissed off some has not been changed by a thrill-a-minute beneath Lopetegui – however that ought to not have been anticipated given his model. That mentioned, the membership confirmed their ambition within the switch market.

Moyes can replicate on having the perfect points-per-game common of any supervisor with 20-plus video games within the membership’s historical past, nevertheless it was not sufficient to shake off his fame as a coach identified above all for his construction and organisation.

Lopetegui will quickly be confronted with the identical line of questions if outcomes and performances do not enhance.

Tasked with bringing forth the “next step in West Ham United’s new and growing football strategy” when he was unveiled as Moyes’ successor final Might, Lopetegui has overseen 4 defeats in seven video games since taking cost.

The “clear football philosophy, flexible tactical approach, competitive character and man-management skills” which had been highlighted on the time of his appointment haven’t been seen throughout the previous two video games specifically, during which the Hammers have shipped eight targets.

West Ham spiralled to second 5-1 loss towards Liverpool within the Carabao Cup in successive seasons leaving issues over whether or not Lopetegui is the best man to construct on the sturdy foundations put in place by Moyes.

Paul Merson instructed Sky Sports activities: “I feel he wants time, there is no doubt, however they’re in hassle.

“He’s probably got the most talented squad West Ham have had for many a year and so he’s got to get the right team at the right time.

“He is obtained to discover ways to defend. He is in all probability obtained caught up in a state of affairs the place he is are available in and thought he cannot be like David Moyes as a result of the followers removed him for being a bit unfavourable.

“However he’s a bit like that himself. He is a supervisor who for me is a little more ‘be sure you do not lose should you do not win’. They appear like they’ve tried to drive it after which been caught on the again.

“They might have scored a couple against Chelsea, but you can’t be getting beat like that at home to one of your arch enemies and then concede five at Liverpool.

“I see Brentford successful this weekend, and if that’s the case then he’s proper up towards it.

“If David Moyes was under pressure and they were winning a European trophy, this man will be under severe pressure. I know it’s early doors, but this is the Premier League and people don’t mess about.”

Supporter discontent off the pitch

What hasn’t aided Lopetegui is supporter unrest.

West Ham followers expressed their dismay throughout the summer season months after the membership revealed plans to take away junior and Over-66 concessions for brand new season ticket holders all through a lot of the London Stadium.

The scrapping of those value reductions has led to the fee for juniors and aged supporters surging for almost all of seats.

Given these circumstances, it has been the worst attainable time for the first-team to start a league marketing campaign with three consecutive house defeats for the primary time within the membership’s historical past.

Lopetegui should make sure that anger would not begin being directed predominantly in the direction of him.

His substitutions towards Chelsea had been jeered by a few of those that remained within the stands, however 1000’s had already left the bottom 20 minutes earlier than the ultimate whistle.

Gradual begins – and sluggish restarts

West Ham took the lead towards Liverpool in cup motion this week, however within the Premier League it has to this point been their sluggish begins which has led to them enjoying catch-up. The response towards Chelsea solely got here after Nicolas Jackson had scored twice.

This is not a brand new challenge beneath Lopetegui, nevertheless.

The Hammers have conceded 5 targets within the opening 5 minutes of Premier League video games in 2024, at the very least three greater than another aspect.

It’s maybe subsequently not the perfect time to be going through Brentford, who’re recent from breaking a Premier League document for scoring the earliest ever mixture of opening targets in successive matches.

Bryan Mbeumo’s volley towards Tottenham after simply 23 seconds made within the second match operating the Bees had netted inside the primary minute, doing so after 22 seconds at Manchester Metropolis.

What’s going to alarm followers is that Chelsea scored a 3rd simply two minutes after the restart, and Liverpool scored their second within the forty ninth minute which locations much more scrutiny on what directions Lopetegui is giving his gamers simply earlier than leaving the dressing room.

Accidents no excuse – signings have not clicked

This weekend’s opponents Brentford at the moment have eight first-team gamers out injured – greater than another Premier League membership.

West Ham, on the flip aspect, solely have one absentee – striker Niclas Fullkrug, who has been lacking after being injured on worldwide responsibility with Germany.

Lopetegui can’t use the lack of key personnel as an excuse, however the brand new signings are but to gel regardless of West Ham having spent £155m on 9 new gamers.

Former participant and coach Kevin Nolan was crucial of £40m new signing Max Kilman’s defending for Liverpool’s equaliser.

Jean-Clair Todibo hasn’t began a league sport with Jamie Redknapp lower than impressed by the defender’s software and “failure to do the basics” as Liverpool ran riot.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is but to signify an improve on the ageing Vladimir Coufal.

Towards Chelsea, Guido Rodriguez was the fall-guy together with his early withdrawal. Lopetegui did not acknowledge him as he left the pitch, however West Ham seemed outnumbered and overwhelmed in midfield. He later admitted he had made an error in beginning with the Argentina midfielder.

Alvarez will serve a one-game suspension this weekend that means Lopetegui could now want Rodriguez to dig him out of a gap.

Dangerous luck – and fixtures have been troublesome

West Ham may simply have been afforded a route again into the sport towards Chelsea once they had been denied a penalty and there’s no denying they’ve had a troublesome begin to the marketing campaign.

All three of their house defeats have come towards groups enjoying in Europe this season, whereas they continue to be unbeaten on the street having collected 4 factors from journeys throughout the capital to Crystal Palace and Fulham.

A quirk of the fixture pc means Lopetegui has solely simply taken cost of his first sport exterior of the capital, and it will not be till November 2 at Nottingham Forest that supporters will enterprise exterior of London once more.

By that point, the brand new supervisor will hope there’s a very totally different outlook on the inauspicious begin he has made.

West Ham’s subsequent six video games

Saturday – Brentford (A), kick-off 3pm

October 5 – Ipswich City (H), kick-off 3pm

October 19 – Tottenham (A), kick-off 12.30pm

October 27 – Manchester United (H), kick-off 2pm

November 2 – Nottingham Forest (A), kick-off 3pm

November 9 – Everton (H), kick-off 3pm