Lopetegui (sacked 8.1.2025)

[maverick180]

I was thoroughly looking forward to the start of this season

Was also prepared that things might take some time and wasn't expecting miracles over night What I didn't expect was a manager who after spending 6 weeks with the total dross he'd been left by Moyes would deem them fit to start in a premier league game And low and behold all of them played absolute shit

We're now 1 game in and none of our new players are any closer to bedding in or learning anything from their new team mates cos they barely spent a second on the pitch, half of them not at all I think it's gonna take somewhere between 6-10 games before we see the team anyone with an ounce of sense would play cos this bloke can't identify shit when he see's it I thought we was handed a miracle at half time when we went in level and low and behold he changed nothing I'm sure people are gonna make excuses for him and say it's too early to judge

But from what I've just seen today, this cսnt is David Moyes in a mission impossible mask

[Sydney_Iron]

In the first half it did? All in my humble of course

[stubbo-admin]

Lope has only looked a bit shit against decent opposition, so 4 out of the 9 games played if you include the Carabao, although against Villa and Man city at times it was a close call until we were ultimately undone, Chelsea and Liverpool though we were shit!!!, although granted we have not been convincing against the teams, we have either draw or won against, even the 4-1 against Ipswich flattered us a bit IMO if im fair? especially how we played in the first half 

I personally hope we are gradually getting there, most seemed resigned that it wasn't going to be a quick turnaround in both how we play and getting results but seems a fair few seemed to forget this when we lost some of these games  myself included if im honest!!! Liverpool in the Carabao after the Chelsea at home defeat had me severely pissed off...............

I remain optimistic he's going to work out but can see why so many are on the fence or even think he's not got what it takes.

Spurs next, let's see what he serves up for that?  

If you look at the data, 4-1 didn't remotely flatter us.   I think sometimes like people think we should have gone from playing how Moyes had us playing, to playing like peak 1970s Brazil..

We're a work in progress, the signs are there and it's going to be a bumpy road of ups and downs. But there are signs of things that should be celebrated.

- Greater desire to press/win the ball higher up the pitch, with greater focus on aggressive ball recovery
- Greater desire to pass the ball and maintain possession 
- Clear attempt to win every game rather than treat 'hard' teams as a write off
- Clear game plan/pattern of play. Sometimes it will be right (Ipswich) and sometimes not (Chelsea) but it is identifiable and we're trying to go into a game with a tailored plan
- Bigger more capable squad being utilised every game to affect the game (more subs, earlier subs) 
- Clear attempt to get back into a game we're behind in early and to win a game we're level in, as opposed to settling for a point or hoping for damage limitation

These are all steps in the right direction, and the opposite of these things were a things I despised about the way Moyes managed the side.  But we're not the finished article, and we can't expect us to look like Man City after 5 years under Guardiola just WEEKS into the new man's reign given we're trying to do so many things that are the opposite of what large elements of the squad have been conditioned to do over the last four years.
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[Sydney_Iron]

Lope has only looked a bit shit against decent opposition, so 4 out of the 9 games played if you include the Carabao, although against Villa and Man city at times it was a close call until we were ultimately undone, Chelsea and Liverpool though we were shit!!!, although granted we have not been convincing against the teams, we have either draw or won against, even the 4-1 against Ipswich flattered us a bit IMO if im fair? especially how we played in the first half 

I personally hope we are gradually getting there, most seemed resigned that it wasn't going to be a quick turnaround in both how we play and getting results but seems a fair few seemed to forget this when we lost some of these games  myself included if im honest!!! Liverpool in the Carabao after the Chelsea at home defeat had me severely pissed off...............

I remain optimistic he's going to work out but can see why so many are on the fence or even think he's not got what it takes.

Spurs next, let's see what he serves up for that?  

[Massive Attack]

Massive - Fair point, most were saying before the game that Ipswich have looked decent and it will be tough, undress them and it's 'only Ipswich'. That said, I will wait until Spurs to see if Lop is beginning to get things going the right way. Hopefully another 2 weeks training will help. The intl break is fucking hideous though, two breaks after only 7 games? Insane and fuck all to look forward to throughout the week.

Yep and whiney quality players like Rodri who wonder why they have to play so much Football these day's, we'll look to the Nations League/some Friendlies and Club World Championships come the end of the season...

Strip out the nonsense puffing up the genuine Football calendar then therre wouldn't be so much debate about over-exhaustion. 

Regards the foreseeable, I'm not honestly expecting wins, I can even accept losses just as long as the intent is still there and trying to do the right things. Going to Spurs and getting a win so soon in his management with us would be dreamland stuff but can't see it just yet. He's good but not that good. 

[Manuel]

Massive - Fair point, most were saying before the game that Ipswich have looked decent and it will be tough, undress them and it's 'only Ipswich'. That said, I will wait until Spurs to see if Lop is beginning to get things going the right way. Hopefully another 2 weeks training will help. The intl break is fucking hideous though, two breaks after only 7 games? Insane and fuck all to look forward to throughout the week.

[Massive Attack]

As for those that say, yes but it was only little old Ipswich, however no one else has managed to make them look like little old Ipswich apart from us and Man City both beating them 4-1. Everyone else Ipswich have played this season, they have given them a proper game, including the likes of Liverpool and Villa. 

It's the attacking intent I continue to want to see.

Defences will not want to face our pace, power and trickery. Any one of Bowen, Kudus, Antonio, Summerville, Soucek, Paqueta, Fullkrug, Ings, Soler will shit any Defender right up in their own particular way (when in form). The Ipswich performance is an indicator of just how dangerous we can be going forward with Bowen, Kudus, Antonio and Paqueta all finally finding their shooting boots. 

[Massive Attack]

Due to the gut punching boredom of enduring yet another pointless International break, I thought I'd have a quick nose at all the games stats so far this season to see if I can see any noticeable change to the old regime other than more possession. And as it happens there has been another trend happening that shows positive signs of improvement and that's how many shots we're forcefully making each game. No more are we seeing just a handful of shots from forwards feeding off scraps from corners per game, instead consistently peppering shots towards the oppositions goal and mostly from open play as well. Best illustrated in Saturdays game. 

Sure, our shooting boots haven't often been on and we have been wasteful when getting in to good shooting opportunities but then it is early in the season and we also have a fair few having to get used to the pace of the game against Premier League opposition - Fullkrug in particular springs immediately to mind. 

What I'm pleased and encouraged about is the intent of the Team though to test Teams regardless of their stature and quality, as we haven't been afraid to shoot at will against even City, Liverpool and Chelsea. The form and further coaching of the players as the season progresses will improve, just as long as the chances keep materialising as they currently have been.

Gone are the days when we might not even have a shot on target, camped in our own half with the attacking quality at our disposal, that's for sure. And definitely what I wanted to see change for the better. 

[BillyJenningsBoots]

You’re a bit special Billy!

and you are a bit thick! Like I said you are a great judge Moyes and Trump as your heroes .... who was your favourite TV presenter Jimmy Saville or Rolf Harris!

[Nutsin]

You’re a bit special Billy!

[BillyJenningsBoots]

Yeah Billy, Trump and Moyes are my hero’s.

Child!

Your the only always banging on about how great they are... dimwit!

[BillyJenningsBoots]

Billy,
I have always found that those who use luck as an excuse are usually the ones with the low IQ and lack of understanding.

What amazing logic that is... if you ever watched one of our games instead of only looking at the results and table you'd know how poor we were... and therefore how lucky we were to get as many points as we did... but I guess I cant comprehend how Moyes made us play crap on purpose and fluke some results as his masterplan...

[Nutsin]

Billy,
I have always found that those who use luck as an excuse are usually the ones with the low IQ and lack of understanding.

[Nutsin]

Yeah Billy, Trump and Moyes are my hero’s.

Child!

[BillyJenningsBoots]

That’s an awful lot of luck don’t you think Billy?
 

 

Yes it was a lot of luck dont you remember ... to the point people started saying they'd rather a lucky manager than a good one... you seem to be whitewashing history nobody on here except you thought we were flying last season at any point... but then we know how crap your football knowledge and judgement in general is... Trump and Moyes what a pair of heros to have!!!

[El Scorchio]

Even an out of form Manchester United side are a top half side. I wouldn’t be shocked if they beat Villa today.

losing to them is hardly a sackable offence.

Yeah they are very Jekyll and Hyde. You just don’t know what you’re going to get from them. They could just as easily lose 3-1 to Everton as beat Liverpool 2-0 on any given day. 

However for comedy value it seems more likely the former these days under that bald Dutch idiot. Everyone aside from their senior management seemed to realise not sacking him in the summer was the wrong move. 

[El Scorchio]

Did he abandon his central midfielder between the defenders nonsense for the second half yesterday? 

[goose]

Even an out of form Manchester United side are a top half side. I wouldn’t be shocked if they beat Villa today.

losing to them is hardly a sackable offence.

[THUNDERCLINT]

The Ipswich performance yesterday was akin to a side on course for relegation in the Championship, it was woeful which in turn has created the illusion of a good performance and result. Tottenham may confirm that in 2 weeks but unless they run up a cricket score a defeat wouldn't be something out of the ordinary even in a good season. This is why the Man Utd game is key and in reality the fixture that yesterday was billed to be, a true chance to see if a corner been turned or if we are actually moving backwards. The state they are in anything less than a home win is a unacceptable and given his start to the season he should go should he lose.

[goose]

“lose to Man Utd at home and he needs to go”

One of those kind of statements that I will never not find weird reading as a West Ham fan 

Probably because it’s a retarded statement.

[moorethanjustananon]

Good result yesterday and much needed. I felt in the ground we flattered to deceive a bit, having watched the highlights back though there were plenty of positive passages of play (albeit against opposition that will probably surrender the most space and possession of any we’ll see this season!)

A step in the right direction, takes some pressure off and builds confidence. Where we are after game 10 or 11 will inform us of whether a result like this is the turning point or just a flash in the pan. 

[moorethanjustananon]

“lose to Man Utd at home and he needs to go”

One of those kind of statements that I will never not find weird reading as a West Ham fan 

[goose]

Oh mr moderator ban this shit 

im so close to the danger zone

what exactly is the danger zone?

is it using offensive language like pillock



fucking faggot 

Whooooosh!!

[THUNDERCLINT]

Well, we'll likely not face a defence that incompetent again this season outside of Rush Green and we still relied on their generosity to score. 4 goals flattered the actual threat we presented and had Ipswich been more clinical in the first half who knows what may have happened. It's important that 8 points from 7 doesn't become 8 from 9 after the break, although I'd guess 30 will keep you up this year that shouldn't be the aim. 55 minimum should be our target and we're well behind that curve. A draw at Tottenham is probably a decent result but lose to Man Utd at home and he needs to go.

[Manuel]

Today was always huge, lose and it's armageddon, win and it's mid table with the likes of O'Neil, Glasner etc, kopping some pressure.

Actually pleased for Lop, the criticism has been a bit OTT considering it's only been six games, but boy did he need this, before the break too.

[Maverick180180]

Oh mr moderator ban this shit 

im so close to the danger zone

what exactly is the danger zone?

is it using offensive language like pillock



fucking faggot