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

[Collins Wong - A Free Man]

sack him tonight

[Massive Attack]

I see Arsenal battered the impressive Sporting Lisbon 1-5 in Portugal last night, their 1st loss in all competitions. Yet further evidence to believe we shouldn't expect a great deal from the Team this Saturday, as they too didn't have a full time long term manager now Amorim is at Man Utd. 

Those cunts are going to be licking their lips going in to a 2nd match in a row without a proper manager in charge on the touchline. Hopefully the player's can pull off another great performance without him to guide them but I strongly doubt it.

So what.
Lisbon have just lost Amorim to salford, I'd say that may have had some say in their performance?




​​

So that's my point. Because they lost their proper full time manager, they completely lost their way and we don't have Lopetegui on the touchline either and Arsenal are the next opponents who just battered a Team away in Portugal. 

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

I see Arsenal battered the impressive Sporting Lisbon 1-5 in Portugal last night, their 1st loss in all competitions. Yet further evidence to believe we shouldn't expect a great deal from the Team this Saturday, as they too didn't have a full time long term manager now Amorim is at Man Utd. 

Those cunts are going to be licking their lips going in to a 2nd match in a row without a proper manager in charge on the touchline. Hopefully the player's can pull off another great performance without him to guide them but I strongly doubt it.

the manager on the touchline won't make the slightest difference mate.

ANYWAY
Fuck the south London slags..let's give em a game .
We've nothing to fear .
Their two best players .. Uncle Ben and the nazi youth looking fella are back
all the more tasty...very tasty.
These games  are what we have always thrived on.

LETS PUT IN ON EM


​​

[Massive Attack]

I see Arsenal battered the impressive Sporting Lisbon 1-5 in Portugal last night, their 1st loss in all competitions. Yet further evidence to believe we shouldn't expect a great deal from the Team this Saturday, as they too didn't have a full time long term manager now Amorim is at Man Utd. 

Those cunts are going to be licking their lips going in to a 2nd match in a row without a proper manager in charge on the touchline. Hopefully the player's can pull off another great performance without him to guide them but I strongly doubt it.

[Lee Trundle]

I'm sure we'll look to offload all the strikers. As we did last window, and the window before that, and as we did with Ward Prowse, and Cornet, and Aguerd.

Trouble with offloading the players who can't get in your team is no one wants them. Or those over 30s everyone wants on a free.

If we want to strengthen we need to raise funds, and we're not of the stature to sell unwanted kids for 20m, so it's "which if the stars can we live without".

As of now, Alvarez fits that bill, and Kudus isn't far behind, purely because he's not comfortable playing left wing, we have a first choice right wing who is captain, and a natural left winger who we signed in the Summer.

Plus Kudus is here to raise his profile and get Champions League...he's not here for a long time anyway, so when the right offer comes in, cash in.

Whether recruitment is effective is a different question...but you have to keep trusting them to get it right (as it looks like they have done with Summerville, Todibo, Kilman, Wan Bissaka, quite possibly Soler, and hopefully longer term Guillerme (who cost a very small amount up front with most in 'if they achieve' bonuses).

As of now Rodriguez (at the managers insistence and on a free) and Fullkrug (purely on account of injury, and a late panic buy when we couldn't get Duran) look like the only disaster picks of the last window. 

The jury is still out for a lot of the players we recruited in the summer.  Only Kilman (which I still question the price of) and possibly Summerville and the wayward AWB have shown enough promise for me.  I wouldn't be comfortable losing a good player and giving this mob all that money.

I'd keep him.  I see no problem with having 2 very good players fighting it out for 1 position.

We've had 1 good game all season.  Let's not get too carried away, especially as we have the GOON next.

Well the problem is we don't have the money to strengthen in places we need more vitally. So it's a case of do you stick with what you have or strengthen through trading.

I'm not too sure we're in the position yet to offload any of our better players.  Kudus is one of the better players for us, as well as the whole of the continent of Africa.  He'll keep that value.  If he's not happy next summer, then look to sell then.

We have 3 strikers who, put together, have managed to score the same amount of goals as Kudus has this season, and he's been suspended for 5 games of it.

All of their wages are astronomical as well.  Get rid of the dross.  Get someone like Ferguson in on loan, and try and buy someone else.

[Massive Attack]

I see lot of people are prepared to bin off Kudus.

Given how poor we've been at recruiting, I wouldn't be looking to shift out one of our better players.

Look to offload any, if not all, of the strikers.

100%

Madness to sell 1 of our best player's. I dont even think he's fighting it out for 1 position with Summerville either, as I can see him play anywhere across the front line. We have to bear in mind Paqueta could be off soon too if reports are to be believed he could be sold due to the FA investigation and may miss Leicester game because of it which means we'll need to turn to Kudus quality to pick up the reigns.

This is a Squad game more than it's ever been in the game at the top level, so see no problem with a squad big enough to cope with serious competition and rotation as and when. And that definitely includes Kudus in my thinking. 

[Massive Attack]

I'm concerned for Saturday because he won't be anywhere within 15 miles of the touchline (due in part to the distance from the pitch to the stands) due to being suspended. 

Legohead will have the freedom of the Olympics running track up to his usual wanky antics and I worry our player's will lose their way without Lopetegui's presence and instruction. I can see us performing like headless chickens vs Arsenal because of it.

Now say we actually do perform well, then Lopetegui really is now working wonders with passing on his message and the penny has finally dropped with all the player's of what's expected of them.

Real shame his suspension has come at the worse time after such a fantastic performance Monday night. 

[stubbo-admin]

I see lot of people are prepared to bin off Kudus.

Given how poor we've been at recruiting, I wouldn't be looking to shift out one of our better players.

Look to offload any, if not all, of the strikers.

I'm sure we'll look to offload all the strikers. As we did last window, and the window before that, and as we did with Ward Prowse, and Cornet, and Aguerd.

Trouble with offloading the players who can't get in your team is no one wants them. Or those over 30s everyone wants on a free.

If we want to strengthen we need to raise funds, and we're not of the stature to sell unwanted kids for 20m, so it's "which if the stars can we live without".

As of now, Alvarez fits that bill, and Kudus isn't far behind, purely because he's not comfortable playing left wing, we have a first choice right wing who is captain, and a natural left winger who we signed in the Summer.

Plus Kudus is here to raise his profile and get Champions League...he's not here for a long time anyway, so when the right offer comes in, cash in.

Whether recruitment is effective is a different question...but you have to keep trusting them to get it right (as it looks like they have done with Summerville, Todibo, Kilman, Wan Bissaka, quite possibly Soler, and hopefully longer term Guillerme (who cost a very small amount up front with most in 'if they achieve' bonuses).

As of now Rodriguez (at the managers insistence and on a free) and Fullkrug (purely on account of injury, and a late panic buy when we couldn't get Duran) look like the only disaster picks of the last window. 

The jury is still out for a lot of the players we recruited in the summer.  Only Kilman (which I still question the price of) and possibly Summerville and the wayward AWB have shown enough promise for me.  I wouldn't be comfortable losing a good player and giving this mob all that money.

I'd keep him.  I see no problem with having 2 very good players fighting it out for 1 position.

We've had 1 good game all season.  Let's not get too carried away, especially as we have the GOON next.

Well the problem is we don't have the money to strengthen in places we need more vitally. So it's a case of do you stick with what you have or strengthen through trading.

[Lee Trundle]

I see lot of people are prepared to bin off Kudus.

Given how poor we've been at recruiting, I wouldn't be looking to shift out one of our better players.

Look to offload any, if not all, of the strikers.

I'm sure we'll look to offload all the strikers. As we did last window, and the window before that, and as we did with Ward Prowse, and Cornet, and Aguerd.

Trouble with offloading the players who can't get in your team is no one wants them. Or those over 30s everyone wants on a free.

If we want to strengthen we need to raise funds, and we're not of the stature to sell unwanted kids for 20m, so it's "which if the stars can we live without".

As of now, Alvarez fits that bill, and Kudus isn't far behind, purely because he's not comfortable playing left wing, we have a first choice right wing who is captain, and a natural left winger who we signed in the Summer.

Plus Kudus is here to raise his profile and get Champions League...he's not here for a long time anyway, so when the right offer comes in, cash in.

Whether recruitment is effective is a different question...but you have to keep trusting them to get it right (as it looks like they have done with Summerville, Todibo, Kilman, Wan Bissaka, quite possibly Soler, and hopefully longer term Guillerme (who cost a very small amount up front with most in 'if they achieve' bonuses).

As of now Rodriguez (at the managers insistence and on a free) and Fullkrug (purely on account of injury, and a late panic buy when we couldn't get Duran) look like the only disaster picks of the last window. 

The jury is still out for a lot of the players we recruited in the summer.  Only Kilman (which I still question the price of) and possibly Summerville and the wayward AWB have shown enough promise for me.  I wouldn't be comfortable losing a good player and giving this mob all that money.

I'd keep him.  I see no problem with having 2 very good players fighting it out for 1 position.

We've had 1 good game all season.  Let's not get too carried away, especially as we have the GOON next.

[threesixty]

I used to worry about what our 1st 11 is. But in reality there should be no such thing. We HAVE to rotate this squad. It’s the only way to survive this league. Moyes didn’t and we dropped like a stone in the 2nd half of most seasons under him. 

So I think players like Alvarez need to see how we played last night and the boss needs to say, I want you to do what those players did. I don’t want you to play your own game and all that bollocks. 

and if you can’t play to the blueprint then I’m dropping you or subbing you until you do or you leave the club. 

it has to be style of play > position > player in order of importance. Not player first, then try to find a style the makes only your best player look good. Moyes spent a season ruining soucek  game so that rice can shine. Maybe he thought that was worth it but it meant we were fully dependent on rice (luckily he was mostly available but that’s unusual for most players). 

having a style of play that everyone knows how to play in, both senior and junior squads is the utopia. That way we will always have someone to step up or deputise and can be far more flexible as a team. 
 

[nychammer]

As of now Rodriguez (at the managers insistence and on a free) and Fullkrug (purely on account of injury, and a late panic buy when we couldn't get Duran) look like the only disaster picks of the last window. 

This fucks me off no end. The club seems unwilling to pay up for quality and we end up with an expensive last minute disaster. AGAIN. This will continue while Sullivan has this large a say in transfers.

[stubbo-admin]

I see lot of people are prepared to bin off Kudus.

Given how poor we've been at recruiting, I wouldn't be looking to shift out one of our better players.

Look to offload any, if not all, of the strikers.

I'm sure we'll look to offload all the strikers. As we did last window, and the window before that, and as we did with Ward Prowse, and Cornet, and Aguerd.

Trouble with offloading the players who can't get in your team is no one wants them. Or those over 30s everyone wants on a free.

If we want to strengthen we need to raise funds, and we're not of the stature to sell unwanted kids for 20m, so it's "which if the stars can we live without".

As of now, Alvarez fits that bill, and Kudus isn't far behind, purely because he's not comfortable playing left wing, we have a first choice right wing who is captain, and a natural left winger who we signed in the Summer.

Plus Kudus is here to raise his profile and get Champions League...he's not here for a long time anyway, so when the right offer comes in, cash in.

Whether recruitment is effective is a different question...but you have to keep trusting them to get it right (as it looks like they have done with Summerville, Todibo, Kilman, Wan Bissaka, quite possibly Soler, and hopefully longer term Guillerme (who cost a very small amount up front with most in 'if they achieve' bonuses).

As of now Rodriguez (at the managers insistence and on a free) and Fullkrug (purely on account of injury, and a late panic buy when we couldn't get Duran) look like the only disaster picks of the last window. 

[nychammer]

I see lot of people are prepared to bin off Kudus.

Given how poor we've been at recruiting, I wouldn't be looking to shift out one of our better players.

Look to offload any, if not all, of the strikers.

that would be nuts, but he's been a diamond in the rough here so far, and if our form as a side continues to be indifferent then id expect he will be the one dictating his exit, much like Paqueta would have done if he could have. 

[Lee Trundle]

I see lot of people are prepared to bin off Kudus.

Given how poor we've been at recruiting, I wouldn't be looking to shift out one of our better players.

Look to offload any, if not all, of the strikers.

[gpike]

Agreed , don't think Alvarez is quick enough to play under this system. Would sell in Jan. And if Kudus thinks he can play at a higher level then sell him too . With those two sold 100 M will go along way for improving the squad

[Hammer and Pickle]

Let’s see how Alvarez goes about his duties as holding CM in a side where everyone is pulling their weight and in their best position. If he still gets carded for a reckless foul, I’ll pass judgement on him then. Let’s not forget that the other week we’d pretty much written Paqueta off.

[stubbo-admin]

Gotta be honest I don't think Alvarez gets into this side, and will likely get sold. 

He's not disciplined enough or quick enough to cover the ground to play the role Soucek did the other night. He's not composed enough to play the role Soler did. 

I expect us to sell him as one of our more saleable assets in the search for the proper no. 8 we need (of the Fofana ilk).

[Mex Martillo]

IMO Alvarez will in time, assuming he can get disciplined and focused enough, take over from Soucek in a lot of games but as much as I slagged off Soucek for the last 2 years ( esp under Moyes )  I can see he has adapted his game and now contributing to the improved passing.  Never thought he could but proved wrong ( yet again ).  But we should remember its a squad game these days, you need different players depending on the opposition, and I'm guessing we will see different pairings from Soler, Alvarez, Soucek and even Irvine ( cups ?) to start games with Paqueta ( who Loppy will always pick in his starting 11 I would think ?).  

Away game like last night, Soucek was very effective.  Scored and worked very hard all game to contribute to the win. He even got a flick on in midfield and gave Joe Linton plenty to think about just before the 2nd goal.  Commentators were making the point that Linton was grabbing Soucek and so focused on him that he switched off from AWB who galloped up past him and was not tracked before scoring.    

But there will still be games when Tommy "Potatoe Salad " is anonymous I'm sure and we would then see Alvarez replacing him as a sub and probably as a starter too.  Well I think that is what will happen especially home games where teams will sit back and the onus is on us to break them down.  A different problem to last night and against Arsenal this weekend.    

Good to see you are being even hanfed about Soucek after all you've said in the past, Sir Alf.  I also think he is beginning to adapt.  The fact is, that like his compatriot, he always gives 100%

 

 

And yet we were very good without Alvarez on Monday. I think Lopetegui is on to a good track changing the midfield from defensive to more offensive. I hope we do not go back to 2 DM types and stay with Paqueta and Soler with 1 or even no DM type. Paqueta and Soler are also good at breaking up an attack, but much better going forward and passing. I wouldn’t be surprised or disappointed if Alvarez does not go straight back in the starting 11.

[threesixty]

I think we are seeing more of the Czech international captain Soucek than the one under Moyes. He looked a lot better to me in the Euro’s. 

Like I’ve been saying for a few days now, I think it’s the DNA of “Moyes ball” where he’s deliberately told players to not want the ball and not play through the middle in order to fulfil his counter attacking plans. 

I don’t think Moyes started like that with us but I think when Irvine left he had no one to challenge his backward footballing ideas. And it just got worse and worse over time. Some just didn’t notice because of our European exploits. 

 

[Tomshardware]

Good old Lop, keep the faith, seems like he might know what he's doing after all.

[Massive Attack]

IMO Alvarez will in time, assuming he can get disciplined and focused enough, take over from Soucek in a lot of games but as much as I slagged off Soucek for the last 2 years ( esp under Moyes )  I can see he has adapted his game and now contributing to the improved passing.  Never thought he could but proved wrong ( yet again ).  But we should remember its a squad game these days, you need different players depending on the opposition, and I'm guessing we will see different pairings from Soler, Alvarez, Soucek and even Irvine ( cups ?) to start games with Paqueta ( who Loppy will always pick in his starting 11 I would think ?).  

Away game like last night, Soucek was very effective.  Scored and worked very hard all game to contribute to the win. He even got a flick on in midfield and gave Joe Linton plenty to think about just before the 2nd goal.  Commentators were making the point that Linton was grabbing Soucek and so focused on him that he switched off from AWB who galloped up past him and was not tracked before scoring.    

But there will still be games when Tommy "Potatoe Salad " is anonymous I'm sure and we would then see Alvarez replacing him as a sub and probably as a starter too.  Well I think that is what will happen especially home games where teams will sit back and the onus is on us to break them down.  A different problem to last night and against Arsenal this weekend.    

In my humble opinion, Soucek has been our most consistent player from the back end of last season and into this season. Looks a much more composed player. 

 

 

One of the 1st names on the Team sheet, he's that important to us.

Fans also said he couldn't play in a passing based Team and wouldn't be selected, indeed actively sold in the Summer, well that hasn't and he's absolutely thriving in Lopetegui's side with 3 goals to his name already in the League. 

By far the most underappreciated West Ham player who's done so much for us since arriving when we were in a relegation battle. Only to then also help us get in to Europe 3 times, help us win our 1st Trophy in decades and now playing out of his skin last night, after a great start to the season contributing to all 4 of our clean sheets we have this season, as well as crucial goals. When he doesn't play, we miss him badly at both ends of the pitch, he's that important.

[northbankboy68]

IMO Alvarez will in time, assuming he can get disciplined and focused enough, take over from Soucek in a lot of games but as much as I slagged off Soucek for the last 2 years ( esp under Moyes )  I can see he has adapted his game and now contributing to the improved passing.  Never thought he could but proved wrong ( yet again ).  But we should remember its a squad game these days, you need different players depending on the opposition, and I'm guessing we will see different pairings from Soler, Alvarez, Soucek and even Irvine ( cups ?) to start games with Paqueta ( who Loppy will always pick in his starting 11 I would think ?).  

Away game like last night, Soucek was very effective.  Scored and worked very hard all game to contribute to the win. He even got a flick on in midfield and gave Joe Linton plenty to think about just before the 2nd goal.  Commentators were making the point that Linton was grabbing Soucek and so focused on him that he switched off from AWB who galloped up past him and was not tracked before scoring.    

But there will still be games when Tommy "Potatoe Salad " is anonymous I'm sure and we would then see Alvarez replacing him as a sub and probably as a starter too.  Well I think that is what will happen especially home games where teams will sit back and the onus is on us to break them down.  A different problem to last night and against Arsenal this weekend.    

Good to see you are being even hanfed about Soucek after all you've said in the past, Sir Alf.  I also think he is beginning to adapt.  The fact is, that like his compatriot, he always gives 100%

[Hammer and Pickle]

Prior to yesterday’s game, the main concern, which I still feel is justified, is that he has made too many tactical mistakes to have the players fully on board. Maybe we can put that one to rest after the derby this weekend.

[nychammer]

It was always going to take time and patience. It’s not easy to keep the faith when we see the team struggle but last night was reward and payback for that at least. 

Under Moyes it would have been dogged defending with a smash and grab counter here and there, yesterday we did it in style, we played them off the park. Let’s hope we’re finally on to something and things are starting to click a bit. The signs are there that  at least that we may be turning a corner in how we play and who our staring 11 should be. 

[Keep dreaming]

Well done Soucek for stepping up, but then again the whole team stepped up and collectively we looked much better.

I suppose JLo should should be credited some of this, so we'll done.

Keep this up!