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

[twoleftfeet]

Fonseca is free after ballsing up his opportunity at Milan. Not for me, but certainly can’t be worse than current.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/arti ... q2wv9o.amp

 

8 clubs in 10 years, not for me.

I want Carrick but we will end up with Potter or Terzic

[goose]

Fonseca is free after ballsing up his opportunity at Milan. Not for me, but certainly can’t be worse than current.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/arti ... q2wv9o.amp

[twoleftfeet]

He needs to either make up with Todibo and give him a go, or buy another centre back to go with the average (but expensive) Kilman.

Mavropanos seems to be gifting a goal to the opposition every game.

Agreed. Todibo and Kilman should be (if coached right) a very decent pair.
Add a better left back and three decent midfielders, and we could se big improvements.
Bowen, Kudus, Summerville up front would be more than enough firepower.

We have a better left back but this dud doesn’t use him.

[Keep dreaming]

I must admit - I liked the cut of the new Wolves managers jib when asked about his first two games and the two victories. He said that its easy - You just have to implement a style and system that suits the players and that they believe in. He said its about giving the players the confidence to believe in what they are doing. 

No bullshit. And there on a plate. I know he was being humble and downplaying his involvement, but it does pretty much sum up where we are going so wrong. Wrong selections, wrong system, no confidence in what our players are doing, no belief in the system or the coach.

Basically we go into each game with a plan that none of the players believe in and so it becomes 'let's see what happens'. At PL level its basically professional suicide. 

Football management is easy. You pick your best players in their best positions, you stroke their egos and you back them when things don’t go well.

Simple. 

LOL 

[Keep dreaming]

He needs to either make up with Todibo and give him a go, or buy another centre back to go with the average (but expensive) Kilman.

Mavropanos seems to be gifting a goal to the opposition every game.

Agreed. Todibo and Kilman should be (if coached right) a very decent pair.
Add a better left back and three decent midfielders, and we could se big improvements.
Bowen, Kudus, Summerville up front would be more than enough firepower.

[Lee Trundle]

He needs to either make up with Todibo and give him a go, or buy another centre back to go with the average (but expensive) Kilman.

Mavropanos seems to be gifting a goal to the opposition every game.

[Sir Alf]

As many of us ( probably all of us if truth be told ) know, nothing that can be sustained will ever happen under Sullivan. Yes a different coach could ( should ) get more out of the squad but does anyone believe we will be like Notts Forest as a result and tbh will they sustain it? Odds heavily stacked against them too.  

No long term plan, no leadership or vision, no proper DOF implementing a strategy and the whole club aligned with it.  

We would take anything better right now and a very good coach should be able to get some success in spite of Sullivan’s meddling and ego.  But we will be back where we started before we know it.  Success for a club like ours, without limitless resources, has to be built with proper planning and leadership. What is leadership? Getting the right people, empowering them, listening to their ideas, getting them the budgets and resources needed, trying to make them successful and above all else “getting the fvck out if the way” !!!

Wont happen under Sullivan. We all know it. The agony will continue.

[twoleftfeet]

I must admit - I liked the cut of the new Wolves managers jib when asked about his first two games and the two victories. He said that its easy - You just have to implement a style and system that suits the players and that they believe in. He said its about giving the players the confidence to believe in what they are doing. 

No bullshit. And there on a plate. I know he was being humble and downplaying his involvement, but it does pretty much sum up where we are going so wrong. Wrong selections, wrong system, no confidence in what our players are doing, no belief in the system or the coach.

Basically we go into each game with a plan that none of the players believe in and so it becomes 'let's see what happens'. At PL level its basically professional suicide. 

Football management is easy. You pick your best players in their best positions, you stroke their egos and you back them when things don’t go well.

Simple. 

[Russ of the BML]

I must admit - I liked the cut of the new Wolves managers jib when asked about his first two games and the two victories. He said that its easy - You just have to implement a style and system that suits the players and that they believe in. He said its about giving the players the confidence to believe in what they are doing. 

No bullshit. And there on a plate. I know he was being humble and downplaying his involvement, but it does pretty much sum up where we are going so wrong. Wrong selections, wrong system, no confidence in what our players are doing, no belief in the system or the coach.

Basically we go into each game with a plan that none of the players believe in and so it becomes 'let's see what happens'. At PL level its basically professional suicide. 

[eusebiovic]

a rightback at leftback who thought he was playing leftwing
a leftback playing leftwing who thought he was playing centre midfield
a rightwinger playing centre forward who thought he was playing ten
a rightwinger who did great in that position for 45 minutes, so of course was switched to the left at half time
a clearly vacant brazilian strolling about without a care in the fucking world and using less effort than a 60 year old walking footballer

And there you have it.

The wrong people in the wrong positions with little or no coaching

And as much as I love Bowen, the wrong captain.

For an apparently competent and experienced manager, the repeated and obvious mistakes - which are compounded by the German fraud's awful recruitment - suggest he's maybe lost his fucking marbles

More like ego before pragmatism. A good manager works out the best system for the players at his disposal all in their strongest positions on the pitch. Then from that point on you can slowly work on the aesthetics and style of play.

It ain't a fuckin' mystery.

[Percy Dalton]

I see Fonseca got fired at AC Milan when you look at his record he didn't do too bad.
we're just getting punished from all sides now the team is shit the board are shit the stadium is shit the transport system is shit.
Apart from that everything else is rosy.

[onsideman]

a rightback at leftback who thought he was playing leftwing
a leftback playing leftwing who thought he was playing centre midfield
a rightwinger playing centre forward who thought he was playing ten
a rightwinger who did great in that position for 45 minutes, so of course was switched to the left at half time
a clearly vacant brazilian strolling about without a care in the fucking world and using less effort than a 60 year old walking footballer

And there you have it.

The wrong people in the wrong positions with little or no coaching

And as much as I love Bowen, the wrong captain.

For an apparently competent and experienced manager, the repeated and obvious mistakes - which are compounded by the German fraud's awful recruitment - suggest he's maybe lost his fucking marbles

[Hammer and Pickle]

Think the selection errors yesterday were so glaring and the resulting performance so poor that even Sullivan's spin machine will break down sooner rather than later. We face a Manchester City desperate to get their season back on track on Saturday and we are likely to be without Bowen. The blinking clown will tinker and fiddle again as the players hardly summon the energy to get off the bus - there's only so much a spin machine can do to shield your arse and I don't think it'll be enough.

[northbankboy68]

Sullivan will not act and just get his PR machine spinning to blame Steidten for everything. Sure Steidten does appear to have fvcked up in recruitment last summer but to what extent?  And what is his role? Just identifying and recommending or actually given a budget to spend? Well not the later and Sullivan seems to have implemented “recruitment by committee” a classic way to spread or deflect blame for Sullivan.  

Until there is a long term strategy for the club and professional football people with a real DOF appointed and everyone recruited to be aligned with the strategy including head coach, players and execs nothing will improve and / or be sustained.

In short, we will remain in limbo. 14 years will become 20 years or more depending on when Sullivan croaks, or his sons takeover or if the impossible happens and Sullivans no longer have overarching ownership via . Even then it depends on who assumes control and if they understand the model for successful operation of a football club that is not in the rich 5 or 6. 

Don’t expect anything much better anytime soon. We waited 43 years to get a cup and in 14 years of Sullivan that success was in spite of him not because of him.  

The head coach is obviously a problem, the recruitment haphazard and half arsed ( wrong type of players for key areas for a non existent strategy ). Will a different / better head coach tranform things? Its possible but while Sullivan meddles, has no long term plan and indulges his ego its highly unlikely. Even if we did get some improvement it will not be sustained.  It cannot be done without planning and great leadership. Same in any company regardless of industry but definitely a club/ company like West Ham with good but not unlimited resources. 

Well said! Spot on.

[Sir Alf]

Sullivan will not act and just get his PR machine spinning to blame Steidten for everything. Sure Steidten does appear to have fvcked up in recruitment last summer but to what extent?  And what is his role? Just identifying and recommending or actually given a budget to spend? Well not the later and Sullivan seems to have implemented “recruitment by committee” a classic way to spread or deflect blame for Sullivan.  

Until there is a long term strategy for the club and professional football people with a real DOF appointed and everyone recruited to be aligned with the strategy including head coach, players and execs nothing will improve and / or be sustained.

In short, we will remain in limbo. 14 years will become 20 years or more depending on when Sullivan croaks, or his sons takeover or if the impossible happens and Sullivans no longer have overarching ownership via . Even then it depends on who assumes control and if they understand the model for successful operation of a football club that is not in the rich 5 or 6. 

Don’t expect anything much better anytime soon. We waited 43 years to get a cup and in 14 years of Sullivan that success was in spite of him not because of him.  

The head coach is obviously a problem, the recruitment haphazard and half arsed ( wrong type of players for key areas for a non existent strategy ). Will a different / better head coach tranform things? Its possible but while Sullivan meddles, has no long term plan and indulges his ego its highly unlikely. Even if we did get some improvement it will not be sustained.  It cannot be done without planning and great leadership. Same in any company regardless of industry but definitely a club/ company like West Ham with good but not unlimited resources. 

[Russ of the BML]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/602491 ... lopetegui/

Sums it up very well and is basically a much more articulate way of saying what we have all and are saying. 

[Takashi Miike]

a rightback at leftback who thought he was playing leftwing
a leftback playing leftwing who thought he was playing centre midfield
a rightwinger playing centre forward who thought he was playing ten
a rightwinger who did great in that position for 45 minutes, so of course was switched to the left at half time
a clearly vacant brazilian strolling about without a care in the fucking world and using less effort than a 60 year old walking footballer

[northbankboy68]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/602491 ... lopetegui/

[Russ of the BML]

Before the Soton game I stated on here that I was now resigned to the fact that we will go nowhere under Lope. But I did say I had no fear of relegation as we will win enough games to stay mid table. My fear was that of just wasting time. I said that our performances will range from "shambolic" and up to "half decent" and anywhere in between. But no better. 

And how these last two games have shown that. Against Soton, although the 3 points away from home was a fantastic result and much needed and welcomed, the performance itself could be argued as 'half decent' but was probably more just 'ok'. Bowen aside who worked his socks off, not many of our players showed enough endeavour. And although we hit the bar early on, after that Soton carved us open several times through midfield (which is now happening so often it could have its own thread) and, quite frankly, they should have easily scored two, arguably three, before half time. If they could head a ball at the goal then they definitely should have. Second half was more assured and we managed to close ranks and in the end got the winner, albeit not hugely convincingly.

Come to Liverpool and its pretty much a similar performance that just got worse and  as there appeared to be even less fight and commitment. Liverpool are a very good side - But there is no way they should come to us and have such an easy day. People may argue how good they are - But again, it comes down to performance and the manner of the defeat. As Roy Keane says, "You will lose games - But the key thing is how you lose." And we were disgraceful. No fight, no organisation, no gameplan. And when you play Soton you can get away with it. You can't against Liverpool. 

Worryingly, I have not seen a single improvement in the team since Lope has been here. Once we beat Ipswich 4-1 at home early on, Lope must've thought he had cracked it. But they should have gone in at half time 2-1 up. But not just the team, can anyone name one player who looks to have improved under Lope? I can't. The only positive is Soucek who does seem to have massively improved in his general ball play and distribution, but I do believe that stemmed from towards the end of last season. 

So we go onto the next game. What performance will it be? Who knows? But one thing I will tell you it will be anywhere in between shambolic and half decent, nothing more. The result - I will tell you that as well - An easy win for Man City. After their win at the weekend they will have regrouped and gained some confidence. Someone is heading for a hiding and we are on the radar. I guarantee Man City score more than 3 and wouldn't be surprised if they score 6. Our coach and team are inept and simply not cut out to go to Man City and implement a gameplan to win. It will be damage limitation. 

And time ticks by, we move into January, more time spent seemingly wasted on the training pitch where it appears nothing is learnt, taught or coached and the players continue to try to find the answers on the pitch as to what they are and what type of team they should be. With a coach that struggles to speak English and obviously cannot get his message across.... What ever that message is. 

If Sullivan can see no improvement in anything by now, what does he expect to happen in the next six months. Too scared to damage his ego. To worried to be proved wrong. A waste of time and waste of a season.  

[twoleftfeet]

I think like a lot of fans I just feel a real disconnect to the side at the moment, I knew they would lose yesterday and I didn’t even care. There’s not one player on the team that I give a toss about and the manager is just a bumbling fool. I listen to him speaking and I have no idea what he is saying, his English is appalling. I would normally go to 8/10 games a season but I can’t be arsed this time around.

He won’t walk and he won’t be sacked, Villa will knock us out of the cup and that will be that for the season.

The players and owners don’t give a shit so why should I? 

[Lee Trundle]

I'd be surprised if he's gone before the end of the season.

We're just going to limp through to the end and then he'll be gone in the summer.

The previous 4 games before the Liverpool one is as good as it's going to get this season.

[THUNDERCLINT]

He has to go. In order for that to happen Sullivan has to feel threatened. Time to turn the heat up under that little cսnt.

[Nick QQQ2]

This is what you get when you are the most amateur club in the league.  This whole give him another game nonsense.  Fucking ridiculous.
it is clear this bloke is so way out of his depth, he knows it.  He looks absolutely shattered every interview.
we concede so many chances, get away with it against the shit teams but as we saw yesterday we are so easy to play against.  Add to that the constant changes he makes it is clear he has. I idea how to utilise the squad.
Will we go down if he stays, probably not, but if we have any ambition at all it is clear we need someone better.  In saying that if we did get rid of him do I expect us to hire someone ambitious, a decent modern coach.  Absolutely not.  We’ll end up with another unemployed manager who’s been around the block.
The cycle of doom under the current ownership. Time after time.

[northbankboy68]

Let's say we beat Villa in the cup (unlikely I know) then draw Liverpool (very likely) who we still have to play away in the Prem.  They could easily score another 10 against us totalling 20 goals conceded against one team in a single season.  Would this be a record?

[goose]

What’s the point of keep postponing the inevitable? He’s had half a season and we’ve gone nowhere. Why would Sullivan think things are suddenly going to change?

im really fucked off with it all.