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

[Sir Alf]

As Mike says its got to be Sullivan keeping Floppy in his job.  Was hired via Salthouse his fav agent and Sullivan has this virtue signalling stance of telling all and sundry how he likes to be loyal to managers. What that perhaps means is that he is the bloke who hired them so very reluctant to give them the push too early or he will look like the know nothing fvckwit most of us know he is on all matters relating to the professional game known as Association Football.  

Salthouse will be in his lugholes advising that his cluent will come good eventually and the risks of others in the frame. Just like it was Salthouse or Silkman that allegedly advised our “Pint sized Stalin” that Duran was over priced and lacked experience. Ditto with Amourim, too risky, ditto with Alvarez the ex Citeh forward.

Salthouse, Silkman and Mackay are confidents and the trusted advisors he has used for decades. They still have a large say in recruitment which is farcical in this day and age.  “Yesterday’s solutions tomorrow” is Sullivan’s club motto !!!   

[Takashi Miike]

LJC, he's a client of his favourite agent. He (Sullivan) is the reason he got the job, and is still in it. He can spin, lie and pretend it's different via his propaganda team, but everyone bar that dope on kumb knows the midget cսnt makes all the decisions

[onsideman]

Can it just be that the Premier is too brutal for youth? Loppy did come with a reputation for bring in youth and ain't done it. You do see it, but other examples are Doak at Liverpool. I saw him playing for Scotland and he made Gvardiol look average, but Liverpool have him on loan at Middlesbrough.
Still, I'd like Loopy to take the risk.

Don't see why that should be the case, hard for people to "let you know you're there" these days. youth with the right attitude tend to be take things in their stride so should be immune to the pressure too. Wasn't Moyes reluctant to play Rooney till he had to? I know that's an extreme case but still

I also think it's the case that some young players actually excel in the first team where they are surrounded by better players, advanced players making better runs or with better support alongside. For some that's infinitely better than potentially stagnating at youth level

[LJC]

Is Chalks on KUMB ITK? Why would DK be against the sacking?

chalks wrote: ↑The circus is back in town and it ain’t going away

JL has apparently voiced his displeasure over the club approaching other managers whilst he is still in charge. This is the same bloke that whored himself for the job a full 7 months before the last manager left  

Boardroom almost unanimous in wanting a change, but two shareholders with enough clout are going against the grain. Sullivan, you’ll be surprised to hear, isn’t one of them

Some board members now not on talking terms

Also been noted by more senior players that in the past, they have been called upon by the clubs press department to do positive soundbites when the manager is under pressure. Nothing of the kind happening now. He’s pretty much a dead man walking.

If we lose tonight and he DOESNT get the tin tack, then the fall out in the boardroom may well go public

[Mr Anon]

Can it just be that the Premier is too brutal for youth? Loppy did come with a reputation for bring in youth and ain't done it. You do see it, but other examples are Doak at Liverpool. I saw him playing for Scotland and he made Gvardiol look average, but Liverpool have him on loan at Middlesbrough.
Still, I'd like Loopy to take the risk.

Don't see why that should be the case, hard for people to "let you know you're there" these days. youth with the right attitude tend to be take things in their stride so should be immune to the pressure too. Wasn't Moyes reluctant to play Rooney till he had to? I know that's an extreme case but still

[Russ of the BML]

It appears that Lope has the same apathy towards our youth set up as Moyes. 

[Massive Attack]

In the case of Scarles I don't think that leaving it more than 2 years between your debut and your second appearance can ever be considered as rushing.

The fact remains that regardless of the manager, whether it's down to recruitment, structure, coaching or something else we are absolutely woeful at bringing through youth and the problem is that if youngsters cannot see a pathway they are unlikley to join

I think it's a big problem

 

 

100% and I blame Moyes for dragging his heels over Scarles, amongst other youngsters, whilst he did initially give him his debut, to his credit. The lad was something like 16 at the time, seriously impressed on his debut out on the left then fucked him off never to he used again, not even sent out on Loan. It came across as if he didn't really give a fuck about his development at senior level if that was the treatment. Just seemed like lazy management.

That won't excuse Lopetegui if he also continues to ignore Scarles and never gives him a proper chance either. I can understand at this early stage of the season not long being at the Club trying to win matches after a poor start but eventually he has to play them when there is a more suitable time. 

[onsideman]

In the case of Scarles I don't think that leaving it more than 2 years between your debut and your second appearance can ever be considered as rushing.

The fact remains that regardless of the manager, whether it's down to recruitment, structure, coaching or something else we are absolutely woeful at bringing through youth and the problem is that if youngsters cannot see a pathway they are unlikley to join

I think it's a big problem

[Massive Attack]

Can it just be that the Premier is too brutal for youth? Loppy did come with a reputation for bring in youth and ain't done it. You do see it, but other examples are Doak at Liverpool. I saw him playing for Scotland and he made Gvardiol look average, but Liverpool have him on loan at Middlesbrough.
Still, I'd like Loopy to take the risk.

Pretty much. Good managers wait until the right moment to bring youth players in and develop them in the side once they're there and prove they can handle the initial pressure and physicality of it all.

If it can take someone as good as Rice to be 18/19 un his 1st proper season at it, then is it any wonder why it takes others longer with less ability and menality? 

Rush it by chucking them in without much care straight away then they can crash and burn and end up not being able to handle it all.

You have all the answers don't you, surprised you don't work in the game tbf.

Nah course I don't and there's many times I've got it wrong down the years. I'm just a student of the game, genuinely love it and of course West Ham being at the heart of it all. I've also asked myself the same question but other things came first..

[Manuel]

Can it just be that the Premier is too brutal for youth? Loppy did come with a reputation for bring in youth and ain't done it. You do see it, but other examples are Doak at Liverpool. I saw him playing for Scotland and he made Gvardiol look average, but Liverpool have him on loan at Middlesbrough.
Still, I'd like Loopy to take the risk.

Pretty much. Good managers wait until the right moment to bring youth players in and develop them in the side once they're there and prove they can handle the initial pressure and physicality of it all.

If it can take someone as good as Rice to be 18/19 un his 1st proper season at it, then is it any wonder why it takes others longer with less ability and menality? 

Rush it by chucking them in without much care straight away then they can crash and burn and end up not being able to handle it all.

You have all the answers don't you, surprised you don't work in the game tbf.

[Massive Attack]

Can it just be that the Premier is too brutal for youth? Loppy did come with a reputation for bring in youth and ain't done it. You do see it, but other examples are Doak at Liverpool. I saw him playing for Scotland and he made Gvardiol look average, but Liverpool have him on loan at Middlesbrough.
Still, I'd like Loopy to take the risk.

Pretty much. Good managers wait until the right moment to bring youth players in and develop them in the side once they're there and prove they can handle the initial pressure and physicality of it all.

If it can take someone as good as Rice to be 18/19 un his 1st proper season at it, then is it any wonder why it takes others longer with less ability and menality? 

Rush it by chucking them in without much care straight away then they can crash and burn and end up not being able to handle it all.

[Mex Martillo]

Can it just be that the Premier is too brutal for youth? Loppy did come with a reputation for bring in youth and ain't done it. You do see it, but other examples are Doak at Liverpool. I saw him playing for Scotland and he made Gvardiol look average, but Liverpool have him on loan at Middlesbrough.
Still, I'd like Loopy to take the risk.

[Massive Attack]

I couldn't care what he did 10 years ago.

He's the worst manager in the league at giving youth players a chance.

But it's not just 10 years ago, Ruben Neves was just 1 example. 

[Massive Attack]

but there's been 18 occasions he has put youth on the Bench available to be selected. 

That did make me chuckle.  They're there to make up the numbers.  They're not being played... at all.

 

 

11 of those were Guilherme, who's he's played twice. 

Mayers vs Arsenal. 1st time he's ever been on the bench as a 17yo Centre Half, having just watched our Defence concede 5 in the 1st half.

Casey 3 times vs Man City, Forest, Leicester.

Scarles 3 times Everton, Newcastle, Arsenal. 

Not bad considering the Coach has only been with us since the Summer getting to know the entire Club from back to front. 

[Lee Trundle]

I couldn't care what he did 10 years ago.

He's the worst manager in the league at giving youth players a chance.

[Massive Attack]

He could have started by not agreeing to give Cresswell a new contract (who again appears to be there to make up the numbers), giving Scarles a quicker route to the first team?

 

 

Maybe but he might have wanted some senior insurance should Scarles crumble, which can happen. 

End of the day, the manager has a long track record of getting the best out of youth players that are good enough at a high level. If he doesnt think they're ready yet, I'm sure he has good reasons for it as he's not one to not want to work with them.

[Lee Trundle]

but there's been 18 occasions he has put youth on the Bench available to be selected. 

That did make me chuckle.  They're there to make up the numbers.  They're not being played... at all.

[Lee Trundle]

He could have started by not agreeing to give Cresswell a new contract (who again appears to be there to make up the numbers), giving Scarles a quicker route to the first team?

[Massive Attack]

You make it sound like we're giving our youth a chance, there.

They're simply there to make up the numbers with this manager.

Don't forget we've given ZERO minutes to youth team players in the league so far this season, the worst in the league.

We've been the Team that has suffered injuries the least throughout the season. So how is he easily going to turn to untried Academy players when there's other senior Pros waiting patiently as well for their turn of minutes? He'd start having an unhappy Squad with some feeling overlooked which isn't something we want. Having said that, Guillerme as an 18yo new to the Country has played, so he will turn to youth having already done so in 2 different games.

If Lopetegui had not put any kids on the Bench, then I could see an issue refusing to even acknowledge them but there's been 18 occasions he has put youth on the Bench available to be selected. 

[Lee Trundle]

You make it sound like we're giving our youth a chance, there.

They're simply there to make up the numbers with this manager.

Don't forget we've given ZERO minutes to youth team players in the league so far this season, the worst in the league.

[Massive Attack]

Our squad isn't terrible but a little unbalanced - mainly on the left hand side.

We need a left sided centre back to cover/compete with Kilman

We need a left back to do the same with Emerson perhaps even with the ability to surpass him.

A left sided or footed defensive midfielder who has a bit of zip and mobility to counterbalance our lack of pace in that area.

Allegedly, the highly thought of Olly Scarles can play as a left back and defensive midfielder so he must be given a chance to get a few minutes considering he's been the next big thing for 3 years now.

Finally, we need a shit hot number 9 with pace. Jhon Duran looked like he was that man but as usual our owner wasn't bold enough when it mattered. I refuse to believe there aren't others out there but if you play a high line with one striker then explosive pace is non-negotiable.

So 4 positions to fill...with the right recruitment things could begin to look better much sooner than we think. These are the positions we need to prioritise IMHO.

Oh, and a swap deal for Mavropanos if they have time and money left over. Apparently Real Madrid are seriously considering Nayef Aguerd. Imagine that!

It's not 4 positions to fill though as you quite rightly name Scarles, as well as Casey (he comfortably plays on the left side as Centre Half) being earmarked to step in to any of those positions defensively.

We can't on one hand complain we never give Academy players a chance when people then want to clog the Squad up further in the positions some of our highly promising Academy player's can play in. Which is it? And for me, I'm totally at ease with the thought of playing the highly rated kids and take a calculated gamble, otherwise they'll never get a chance. So in that regard, the places are adequately covered. 

As for up front, yes that's the position we're most screaming out for attention, other than Goalkeeper for me. As we have far too many sicknotes or old codgers clogging those positions.

Not confident we can suitably get those player's in January as prices are typically sky high at this time of the season and Sullivan usually does a runner in fear of having to spend any money. So fuck knows what the Club has in mind but it don't look good.

Ideally sell Areola for decent money and get hus hefty wages off the wage bill, keep Fabianski as back then get in a quality Keeper - I've suggested Bono before and think it could be done if Lopetegui wants to go for him having worked well with him before. 

Striker could be someone like Watkins if Villa were serious to sell but that may be reliant on Ings getting a move which may be unlikely. Or if Fullkrug does want to bugger off, then that may be an option too. If he wants to stay, then he'll have to start proving his fitness and getting regularly on the scorehsheet, but not holding my breath..

Lastly get rid of that donkey Rodriguez, stealing a Premier League living. Replace with a traffic cone, not fussed as it'll still be an improvement. 

[Mex Martillo]

Yes there is some promise on possession and attacking play, but it's the inconsistency and absolutely crap defending that kills me. I don't think I can stand to see another easy counter attack goal conceded.
I'd love to see Guilherme get more time. I'd be even a bit more forgiving if Loppey did that.

[BillyJenningsBoots]

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As I said, there's improvements, but2 not drastic ones (yet).  The b0 qottom STAT annoys me considering we've spent £150m.

 

 

So a definite improvement in general stats however small and possession wise only 1 game below 40% so far compared to 7 in the first 15 games last season but that doesnt tell the whole story either, where those passes and possession is taking place is not clear but from watching the games we are playing further up the pitch with a much higher defensive line we are not sitting back on the 18 yard box waiting for teams to lose the ball. Anyone with half a brain can see that has improved but again it needs to be more consistent, so lets see where we are after xmas.

[eusebiovic]

Our squad isn't terrible but a little unbalanced - mainly on the left hand side.

We need a left sided centre back to cover/compete with Kilman

We need a left back to do the same with Emerson perhaps even with the ability to surpass him.

A left sided or footed defensive midfielder who has a bit of zip and mobility to counterbalance our lack of pace in that area.

Allegedly, the highly thought of Olly Scarles can play as a left back and defensive midfielder so he must be given a chance to get a few minutes considering he's been the next big thing for 3 years now.

Finally, we need a shit hot number 9 with pace. Jhon Duran looked like he was that man but as usual our owner wasn't bold enough when it mattered. I refuse to believe there aren't others out there but if you play a high line with one striker then explosive pace is non-negotiable.

So 4 positions to fill...with the right recruitment things could begin to look better much sooner than we think. These are the positions we need to prioritise IMHO.

Oh, and a swap deal for Mavropanos if they have time and money left over. Apparently Real Madrid are seriously considering Nayef Aguerd. Imagine that!

[Hammer and Pickle]

Guilherme is young, fast, technically strong and has a shot. In our squad, he could either replace Kudus on the right or, preferably it would be good to see them together in a midfield four with Paqueta and Alvarez. Of course, I have no evidence to prove it but I suspect there may be people in the club who will agree with me but don’t select the match XI.