Welcome to West Ham United Julen Lopetegui

[Barty]

Champions league here we come ! ?üòâ

[Fauxstralian]

Maybe Fornals is one of the players on this rumoured list? Bring him back & use him properly RADICAL CONCEPT Who knows if Man City look elsewhere he might even convince Paqueta that he should stay and play in a team that wants the ball

[lowlife]

Massive Attack - Fornals is probably the player I was most gutted that Moyes got rid of. Underused and when he did play was often put out on wing to accommodate Soucek. Destroyer of players. 2 more games. It’s more like 1 game as he’ll do his usual against Manchester City. He could go all out as we have nothing to play for and he has nothing to lose.

[Side of Ham]

"Massive Attack 11:40 Tue May 7 Cheers feller, looks like if he & Steidten gets in the right players within budget we could have his Spanish episode........"

[Massive Attack]

"I tell you who he would have enjoyed working with, Fornals. Definitely a Lopetegui type player he could trust to do the donkey work, whilst also appreciating him on the ball going forward and supporting attacks keeping the ball. Shane we let him go in January."

[stubbo]

"Massive Attack Got a slightly different perspective on our squad with JL. Areola - all good Coufal and Emerson...not remotely quick enough to be up and down overlapping fullbacks which are very key in his setups They'll need replacing. Zouma...not good enough on the ball, and could never play in a high line defence. Mavropanos and Aguerd....could see these working in a high line and both ok on the ball. Alvarez and JWP....agree both could work well. If Paqueta stays too could see that being a 3 capable of keeping the ball, and using it intelligently when the chance presents. Soucek...can't play in a team that looks to retain possession. Binned. Bowen...perfect for a 4-3-3 on the right Cornet...could see him being used at left back as he was at PSG at times but maybe too weak defensively. If not use there, then no good. Kudus...likely to play the false 9 in a Lopetegui team I suspect..strong enough to hold up the ball and good enough finishing to be the man in the box. Antonio...hard to know...he just gives the ball away so much. Cresswell...too old to be useful at fall back. Johnson...is he quick enough tomplay RB as an overlapping fullback....could see a conversion to midfield though Downes...might have a way in as a squad player to challenge JWP Ings....could probably play false 9 ok here hisnpace is not an issue as back up to Kudus Ogbonna...too old and slow If he signs (and I'm not convinced its nailed on yet with us waiting to announce until end of season and Iraola and De Zerbi maybe available by then) then I'd expect to see major investment in both full backs, a central defender (at least 1) and left sided forward, plus a whole load of early 20s players to compete in the squad. We have a nucleus he could work with, and I suspect given his style he'd not go looking for a striker as Kudus and Ings and maybe even Cornet would serve his purposes well in a team with a slower build up and more methodical possession and a central striker that drops in deep, and less focussed on hold up play and runs in behind from a line striker. I think we'd be very much back to a Pellegrini style of play...possession that feels without purpose at times,.a bit 'slow' to get it forward and a focus on technical ball players that circulate it around the middle until space or option opens up. But he's lacking the key elements of fast, excellent fullbacks good in a high line and at offering width in attack. Without major investment there, don't see he could succeed."

[Massive Attack]

"Side of Ham How was the football when he managed Spain? Was there a noticeable drop off in goals He never lost a game. Out of 20 matches he won 14, drew 6. Scored 61, conceded just 13 +48 GD 70% win ratio The Football was quality fluent passing Football, even hammering Aregrntina 6-1 along the way. Once qualified for the World Cup unbeaten having never lost and winning most of his games in charge before a change of manager, they only won once 1-0 against Iran and went out last 16 to Russia."

[stubbo]

Lo-pe-te-gui's Claret & Blue Army...the syllables match up.

[Mike Oxsaw]

"zico 10:23 Tue May 7 J-Lo's Claret & Blue army might work... ...although I seem to remember that a J-Lo was a one-man, single bladed plough, one of which my father owned and we 5 sons would use to help him prepare the vegetable garden with every spring..."

[Mike Oxsaw]

"zico 10:23 Tue May 7 J-Lo's Claret & Blue army might work... ...although I seem to remember that a J-Lo was a one-man, single bladed plough, one of which my father owned and we 5 sons would use to help him prepare the vegetable garden with every spring..."

[Hammer and Pickle]

"Yeah, Benrahma Meadowsweet"

[Massive Attack]

"Yeah, he's still our player on Loan."

[Dwight Van Mann]

"Massive Attack 10:41 Tue May 7 ""Downes, Benrahma, Kehrer,"" Benrahma??"

[Massive Attack]

"He has an empathise on building sides with ball playing, strong and solid Centre Halves, Kounde (at Barcelona now) and Carlos (at Villa now). In the middle of the park he likes the Rakitics of the world to pop the ball about for fun, full backs dynamic experienced cultured players like Navas and Acuna. Up front fox in the box types like En-Nesyri. Bono was also an excellent Keeper he could rely heavily on. He doesn't obsess about youth and isn't afraid to play ageing Footballers if he believes they can still do it (see Navas playing till hes 36yo still producing it). These are the kind of Footballers he will look to bring in. When I look at the current make-up of our Squad, there's actually plenty to work with. Areola could remain after a decent season having to put up with relentless shots at goal doing well Emerson at left back with his vast experience and had a solid, consistent season for us, doing well since he arrived not too old. Zouma depends on fitness but reckon he'd rely on him with a new solid, younger partner with young legs that's good on the ball. Coufal I can see being retained and possibly relied on most of next season. Ben Johnson I see him wanting to keep and develop his game as there's talent there, especially his versatility I'd imagine Lopetegui would really appreciate. Aguerd, depends if he wants to stay, I have my doubts he does. Alvarez I reckon Lopetegui will love to work with, self explanatory. Soucek, he'd appreciate his battling qualities in the Squad and keep. Ward-Prowse, I think he'll be very happy with him and wish to use his ball playing abilities a lot more than he's asked too by Moyes beyond set pieces, which he'll love to utilise as one of the best at it in the League. Kudus, he'll find a dream to work with. Bowen, same as Kudus but back on the right and not so much experimented up top. Will love to work with him. Paqueta, IF he stays which is a big question, I can see them flourishing together tapping in to all that ability on the ball and bringing the absolute best out of Paqueta. He goes, then he'll enjoy spending the extra wonga it'll produce. Antonio/Ings, plenty of experience I think he wouldn't be afraid of continuing with, especially if he finds it hard to get a new Striker in. He'd appreciate both qualities they'd bring and wouldn't overlook Ings like Moyes shamefully did. Cornet, I can see given a new lease of life and belief in him to support either Winger. May want to leave though. Downes, Benrahma, Kehrer, I think Downes could be asked to stay but the other 2 told they can leave now they've found new homes they're both enjoying their football again. Academy players - I see a few of them nurtured along in future, from the likes of Mubama, Earthy, Potts, Scarles, Marshall over the next coming years. Not all will probably make it but I'd be surprised if some didn't and really made a big difference along the line. If they have the natural talent, they will be playing, he's never been afraid to trust young players to produce the goods if they definitely have it. Once going through most of the Squad, the surgery isn't as deep as some think it needs to be. I'm seeing at least 1 new young ball-playing Centre Half, a new younger, faster Right Back, a new top quality ball-playing Midfielder if one is attainable and 1 quality Striker if one is attainable. A new Keeper could also come in if there's 1 he really has his eyes on but don't think it'll be a priority signing. So about 4 or 5 new Summer signings, could be more should the likes of Paqueta or Kudus sadly leave. But the money will be there to spend and with a year or so out of the game, I'm sire he's got plenty in mind of his style of play he'd love to bring here."

[zico]

"Well there certainly won't be a rendition of Julen Lopetegui's claret & blue army,,, quite a tongue twister!"

[Jaan Kenbrovin]

"Before Lopetegui joined Sevilla (regular top 6 side) they were making profits each year. The three successful years under him were with big losses from transfer spending. When they had to balance the books he went to pieces and Sevilla haven’t recovered since, finishing outside the top ten for the first time since promotion in 2001."

[Side of Ham]

How was the football when he managed Spain? Was there a noticeable drop off in goals etc as I’m guessing with the amount of great players at his disposal he got to play his preferred set up at it’s best?

[Leonard Hatred]

"I'm going to come on here whinging and moaning non stop, morning noon and night, every day until he's sacked."

[Keep dreaming]

"What BillyJB said. Let's give JLo a chance. Can't wait for the preseason and player signings to start. Who's coming in, and who's going will be a signal from both club, manager and director. COYI"

[BillyJenningsBoots]

Jeez Give the guy a chance to get through the door... he's still a massive upgrade on Moyesballs low block mullarky... And Id take Andy Brassels view that hes actually far more attack minded than Moyes and will work well with Steidten.. Fingers crossed ?ü§û

[Nagel]

"""In general both Porto and Sevilla fans disliked him for being plan A only, with defensive minded boring football."" Personally I don't really give a toss about the statistics, and how many trophies he's won or didn't win. I am concerned about the quality and style of football though, which is why I always preferred the likes of Amorim or Fonseca over him. I was unimpressed with what I saw of Wolves but some say that the football was a lot better at Sevilla. Others apparently disagree. You would hope it was made clear to him at interview that the fans have certain demands and maybe he can play a more attacking style if needed. Overall though, I don't feel like I can't wait for next season, like I would have done if the board had been a bit more adventurous with who they went for."

[Massive Attack]

"It's good, Iron Duke. I posted the same article a few days ago on here as well."

[Iron Duke]

This is a fairly interesting take on his time at Sevilla: https://theanalyst.com/2022/10/julen-lopetegui-sacked-sevilla-la-liga/

[Massive Attack]

"It is an often trotted out line by Moyes and his cult followers that he achieved 3 consecutive jollies in to Europe and won the Conference Cup, which is all true. But when they doubt the capabilities of Lopetegui, his record boasts trumping that with winning a much better European Cup, the Europa Cup with Sevilla but also became the first coach to take unfashionable Sevilla into the Champions League three seasons running. And in his last season in charge he got Sevilla to 2nd in the League by mid February, only to suffer from bad injuries that curtailed their title charge. That's the difference we're talking about here and why those like myself are sure Lopetegui is a definite upgrade on Moyes. That's before we even get on to the actual style of Football which is also lightyears away from anything Moyes can manage to produce at our Club. All about the 'research' and not relying on lazy clich?©s like being the ""Spanish Moyes'. *chortles*"

[chedylan 2]

"Jaan I would hope it’s his last throw too , but we know it won’t , the curse of sully will go on and on . Also depends on what your definition of not working out is. I’m quite sure Sullivan looked at his cv and forced his appointment through because he has a record of keeping a relegation bound team in the premier league. That and he won’t cost much , that’s the ambition of the man . Finishing 15th is working out so far as he’s concerned ."

[goose]

"I wish we were too, but we’re not and that’s why we’re binning our manager. Their last few games they’ve gone 0-4 down at Newcastle and Liverpool, and 0-3 at home to Arsenal. Teams have worked them out."