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

[greenie1]

Now official Loppy has left.

[Lee Trundle]

You STILL going on about Iraola?

Lopetegui has barely transformed us.  Just look at how many goals we're still leaking.

[southbankbornnbred]

Wayne Rooney seen at Stratford Station.

Taking fares? Busking? Sniffer dog?

[Massive Attack]

a mess under Moyes in that sense last year and to turn that around style, performance and results wise is a big ask.

 

 

You can say that again! And yet here we are demanding for the managers head expected to transform a side instantly within the 1st half of a season. If only the likes of Bournemouth decided to sack Iraola last season on 25 points after 20 games having survived calls to be sacked...

[greenie1]

Wayne Rooney seen at Stratford Station.

[nychammer]

One thing we cannot do is keep shipping 4, 5 goals against top 5. We’ve at least been consistent in that under Loppy. 

I do feel a bit sorry for him because we were a bit of a mess under Moyes in that sense last year and to turn that around style, performance and results wise is a big ask.

[threesixty]

So in answer to my question earlier when people said it's definitely a sackable offence to get 23 points after 20 games regardless in the League, during the 2022/23 Cup winning season we only managed 18 points after 20 games with a -8 GD in 16th place in the League and just 1 point outside the relegation zone in a genuine relegation battle whilst playing the most dogshit mind numbing Football...  

 

 

The problem is the league is relative. It's not just us on our own! There are a lot of big clubs with similar points totals as us for various reasons. So no, it's not a sackable offence in context.

The reasons for sacking him are more about not believing he has what it takes because he has not defined a clear style of play to make everyone think he's actually going somewhere. I maintain, that the job of the any West Ham manager is really to change the style of football so that it is more in line with everyone else i.e. possession based, attacking football 

The reason being it is more sustainable, easier to recruit for and more enjoyable to watch regardless of the league position you end up in (as long as its not the bottom 3).

Ange is getting away with terrible results at Spurs because it's still good to watch and everyone knows what the philosophy is and has bought into it. Loppy is going seemingly because even though the points are similar no one knows what the fuck is going on and it looks a bit shit.

[nychammer]

Has he actually been sacked yet? This is a saga for the ages. Just pull the trigger or don’t but be decisive Sullivan FFS! 

[El Scorchio]

So is answer to my question earlier when people said it's definitely a sackable offence to get 23 points after 20 games regardless in the League, during the 2022/23 Cup winning season we only managed 18 points after 20 games with a -8 GD in 16th place in the League and just 1 point outside the relegation zone in a genuine relegation battle whilst playing the most dogshit mind numbing Football...  

Most people were screaming for Moyes' head then. Just that Sullivan was too much of a pussy or cheapskate to pull the trigger at that time. After we lost to Leicester before the World cup i was amazed he didn't get the sack. He probably should have.

[Massive Attack]

So in answer to my question earlier when people said it's definitely a sackable offence to get 23 points after 20 games regardless in the League, during the 2022/23 Cup winning season we only managed 18 points after 20 games with a -8 GD in 16th place in the League and just 1 point outside the relegation zone in a genuine relegation battle whilst playing the most dogshit mind numbing Football...  

[wils]

Some stats just published on BBC

West Ham had the worst defence outside of the promoted sides last season - and they have the worst defence outside of the promoted sides this season too.The east London side are conceding goals at exactly the same rate as they did last campaign (1.95 per game), so not much has changed in that aspect since the departure of David Moyes. The Hammers still having one of the worst defences in the league is less than favourable, but what has actually been the difference compared with 2023-24 is the finishing.Despite taking more shots (14.6 per game compared to 11.8) and having a slightly higher expected goals (xG) figure at 1.45 per game, they have actually scored fewer goals (1.2 per game compared to 1.58).West Ham deserved to finish ninth last season because they got the results to finish there, but they were not the ninth-best team in the league based on their underlying numbers. That was something disgruntled match-going fans could see in their performances and ultimately led to the change of manager.The greatest trick the Premier League table ever pulled was convincing people it never lies - and it lied about West Ham last campaign (see also Manchester United finishing eight).

[stubbo]

We need to buy younger players and develop or allow them to be ready in 12-18 months and not keep trying to keep paying big money for “oven ready” players.  

 

100% this. This is my understanding of the Guilherme transfer. Yet there are loads of people complaining he's a waste of money because he's not in the team right now. You can't have it both ways. I agree we need to be looking at more Guilherme types if we believe they will be serious players in a couple of years or net us a huge transfer fee. This is exactly what Brighton have been doing for the last 5-6 years with buying a teenage Caicedo etc. and it's worked magnificently for them.
But we need to commit to this strategy and something tells me Sullivan just won't be able to. I don't think he's capable of looking long term or speculating to accumulate. If it doesn't pay off immediately he shits the bed and reverts to type- happy to overpay for 'proven' PL players.even if they've reached their max value and peak age and we're stuck with them on the downslope where we're paying them for 5 years at peak salary while their productivity declines and we can't move them on unless it's for a big loss.

"Yet there are loads of people complaining he's a waste of money because he's not in the team right now. You can't have it both ways."

I didn't have an issue with the transfer as such. But I do feel it is a case of getting priorities right. Sullivan paid £20m for what has turned out to be a development player but then, previous to that, had bulked at paying £8m compo to Lisbon for Amorim. 

Did we need one of the most respected and sought after young coaches in Europe? Or did we need a £20m development player? I would suggest we needed Amorim. If he then wants to spend £20m on a development player then that's on him. 

Pretty sure its a deal that could rise to 19m, but with a small amount of cash up front (as low as 5m even).

It's an easy thing to throw around, but without knowing the deal structure we can't really know that the issue was we dropped big money on Guilherme so stopped us getting someone else.

Think the bigger issue was the time spent chasing and getting it closed was time when we lost the chance to sign Duran,  as Villa shifted two other players instead.

[Russ of the BML]

We need to buy younger players and develop or allow them to be ready in 12-18 months and not keep trying to keep paying big money for “oven ready” players.  

 

100% this. This is my understanding of the Guilherme transfer. Yet there are loads of people complaining he's a waste of money because he's not in the team right now. You can't have it both ways. I agree we need to be looking at more Guilherme types if we believe they will be serious players in a couple of years or net us a huge transfer fee. This is exactly what Brighton have been doing for the last 5-6 years with buying a teenage Caicedo etc. and it's worked magnificently for them.
But we need to commit to this strategy and something tells me Sullivan just won't be able to. I don't think he's capable of looking long term or speculating to accumulate. If it doesn't pay off immediately he shits the bed and reverts to type- happy to overpay for 'proven' PL players.even if they've reached their max value and peak age and we're stuck with them on the downslope where we're paying them for 5 years at peak salary while their productivity declines and we can't move them on unless it's for a big loss.

"Yet there are loads of people complaining he's a waste of money because he's not in the team right now. You can't have it both ways."

I didn't have an issue with the transfer as such. But I do feel it is a case of getting priorities right. Sullivan paid £20m for what has turned out to be a development player but then, previous to that, had bulked at paying £8m compo to Lisbon for Amorim. 

Did we need one of the most respected and sought after young coaches in Europe? Or did we need a £20m development player? I would suggest we needed Amorim. If he then wants to spend £20m on a development player then that's on him. 

[Jaan Kenbrovin]

Indeed Roots and that is something that we shpuld never forget. The handling of this situation WILL happen again. Sullivan and Brady are not leaders. Potter needs to be successful in spite of these 2 not because of them.

 

Tbf, Lopetegui had meetings about the job before Moyes was announced to be leaving, so he can’t complain too much.

 

Different situation as Moyes had already rejected the contraxct offer last January. They weren't exactly going behind his back. 

 

 

Moyes didn’t reject it, it got taken off the table and delayed until the end of the season. Moyes also banned Steidten from the training ground not long after the leaks of Lopetegui taking over.

"We had just secured a victory against Arsenal at The Emirates on December 28, a day when I was offered a new contract," Moyes shared on the Stick to Football podcast, produced by Sky Bet. "At that time, we were on a three-match losing streak, and though I hadn't signed it yet, I was uncertain about my future. The contract initially offered wasn't particularly appealing, but David Sullivan decided to retract it due to our results. We agreed to take our time and evaluate the situation at the season's end."

[El Scorchio]

We need to buy younger players and develop or allow them to be ready in 12-18 months and not keep trying to keep paying big money for “oven ready” players.  

 

100% this. This is my understanding of the Guilherme transfer. Yet there are loads of people complaining he's a waste of money because he's not in the team right now. You can't have it both ways. I agree we need to be looking at more Guilherme types if we believe they will be serious players in a couple of years or net us a huge transfer fee. This is exactly what Brighton have been doing for the last 5-6 years with buying a teenage Caicedo etc. and it's worked magnificently for them.
But we need to commit to this strategy and something tells me Sullivan just won't be able to. I don't think he's capable of looking long term or speculating to accumulate. If it doesn't pay off immediately he shits the bed and reverts to type- happy to overpay for 'proven' PL players.even if they've reached their max value and peak age and we're stuck with them on the downslope where we're paying them for 5 years at peak salary while their productivity declines and we can't move them on unless it's for a big loss.

Re Guilherme. I remember seeing a video interview with the South American football expert Tim Vickery. He was asked about our signing of Guilherme, and stated immediately that the player was nowhere near ready for the Premier League and we had bought him for maybe two seasons down the line. So it’s been no surprise whatsoever to me that Guilherme isn’t featuring. 

Exactly this. Clearly one for the future. Granted he does now have to turn into the player we hope is promised.

[Massive Attack]

Indeed Roots and that is something that we shpuld never forget. The handling of this situation WILL happen again. Sullivan and Brady are not leaders. Potter needs to be successful in spite of these 2 not because of them.

 

Tbf, Lopetegui had meetings about the job before Moyes was announced to be leaving, so he can’t complain too much.

 

Different situation as Moyes had already rejected the contraxct offer last January. They weren't exactly going behind his back. 

It was a badly kept secret in the game that Moyes would be leaving. It's nothing like the same situation.

Steidten had been involved in the search for a new manager and West Ham have held talks with Sporting’s Amorim and the former Bayern Munich manager, Hansi Flick, not just Lopetegui. Amorim, whose contract contained a 15M euro buyout clause which obviously Sullivan was too tight to trigger.

[Ron Eff]

What else can he do but act with dignity when those around him are acting with none?

Not act with dignity and kick up a right stink. He'd be more than entitled too after all this and yet keeps a dignified silence and continues training when lesser classy managers wouldn't.

I'll be very interested to hear what he and GB have to say afterwards. I'm sure the weasel will try and make him sign an NDA as part of any severance package. Let's hope he refuses and is able to speak candidly on the subject. We may get an idea of what it's like behind the scenes. Unlike Moyes (who did sign an NDA didn't he?) I am sure he won't give two shits about pouring a tonne of petrol on the bridges and burning them to high heaven. Not that I think he hasn't contributed rather greatly to his own downfall, but I really want to hear about the machinations and messes inside the club from someone who has been in it and can speak freely.

Even if he does speak freely and candidly we won’t understand it. 

[John Coffey]

We need to buy younger players and develop or allow them to be ready in 12-18 months and not keep trying to keep paying big money for “oven ready” players.  

 

100% this. This is my understanding of the Guilherme transfer. Yet there are loads of people complaining he's a waste of money because he's not in the team right now. You can't have it both ways. I agree we need to be looking at more Guilherme types if we believe they will be serious players in a couple of years or net us a huge transfer fee. This is exactly what Brighton have been doing for the last 5-6 years with buying a teenage Caicedo etc. and it's worked magnificently for them.
But we need to commit to this strategy and something tells me Sullivan just won't be able to. I don't think he's capable of looking long term or speculating to accumulate. If it doesn't pay off immediately he shits the bed and reverts to type- happy to overpay for 'proven' PL players.even if they've reached their max value and peak age and we're stuck with them on the downslope where we're paying them for 5 years at peak salary while their productivity declines and we can't move them on unless it's for a big loss.

Re Guilherme. I remember seeing a video interview with the South American football expert Tim Vickery. He was asked about our signing of Guilherme, and stated immediately that the player was nowhere near ready for the Premier League and we had bought him for maybe two seasons down the line. So it’s been no surprise whatsoever to me that Guilherme isn’t featuring. 

[El Scorchio]

Indeed Roots and that is something that we shpuld never forget. The handling of this situation WILL happen again. Sullivan and Brady are not leaders. Potter needs to be successful in spite of these 2 not because of them.

 

Tbf, Lopetegui had meetings about the job before Moyes was announced to be leaving, so he can’t complain too much.

 

 

I'm sure it happens all the time but other clubs at least have the good grace to keep it private and out of the public eye rather than leaking it all over the media, hanging out the dirty laundry for all to see.

Partly it seems it's a pathetic way of trying to 'read the room' and see what the fans reaction is to it, but then again can it be? When they did all this leaking that Lop was in contention for the job the feedback would have been overwhelmingly negative yet they did it anyway.

[Swiss.]

Indeed Roots and that is something that we shpuld never forget. The handling of this situation WILL happen again. Sullivan and Brady are not leaders. Potter needs to be successful in spite of these 2 not because of them.

 

Tbf, Lopetegui had meetings about the job before Moyes was announced to be leaving, so he can’t complain too much.

 

Different situation as Moyes had already rejected the contraxct offer last January. They weren't exactly going behind his back. 

[Massive Attack]

100% el scorchio 

[Jaan Kenbrovin]

Indeed Roots and that is something that we shpuld never forget. The handling of this situation WILL happen again. Sullivan and Brady are not leaders. Potter needs to be successful in spite of these 2 not because of them.

 

 

Tbf, Lopetegui had meetings about the job before Moyes was announced to be leaving, so he can’t complain too much.

[El Scorchio]

 Guillem Balague@GuillemBalague

 

  
Lopetegui went to work as he is supposed to.

And has prepared training which he will take He wanted to do the press conference as he is supposed to

He is preparing the Aston Villa game as he is supposed to

He is acting with the utmost professionalism

As of 10:30 this morning. Wow.

What else can he do but act with dignity when those around him are acting with none?

Not act with dignity and kick up a right stink. He'd be more than entitled too after all this and yet keeps a dignified silence and continues training when lesser classy managers wouldn't.

I'll be very interested to hear what he and GB have to say afterwards. I'm sure the weasel will try and make him sign an NDA as part of any severance package. Let's hope he refuses and is able to speak candidly on the subject. We may get an idea of what it's like behind the scenes. Unlike Moyes (who did sign an NDA didn't he?) I am sure he won't give two shits about pouring a tonne of petrol on the bridges and burning them to high heaven. Not that I think he hasn't contributed rather greatly to his own downfall, but I really want to hear about the machinations and messes inside the club from someone who has been in it and can speak freely.

[Sir Alf]

Indeed Roots and that is something that we shpuld never forget. The handling of this situation WILL happen again. Sullivan and Brady are not leaders. Potter needs to be successful in spite of these 2 not because of them.

[El Scorchio]

We need to buy younger players and develop or allow them to be ready in 12-18 months and not keep trying to keep paying big money for “oven ready” players.  

 

 

100% this. This is my understanding of the Guilherme transfer. Yet there are loads of people complaining he's a waste of money because he's not in the team right now. You can't have it both ways. I agree we need to be looking at more Guilherme types if we believe they will be serious players in a couple of years or net us a huge transfer fee. This is exactly what Brighton have been doing for the last 5-6 years with buying a teenage Caicedo etc. and it's worked magnificently for them.
But we need to commit to this strategy and something tells me Sullivan just won't be able to. I don't think he's capable of looking long term or speculating to accumulate. If it doesn't pay off immediately he shits the bed and reverts to type- happy to overpay for 'proven' PL players.even if they've reached their max value and peak age and we're stuck with them on the downslope where we're paying them for 5 years at peak salary while their productivity declines and we can't move them on unless it's for a big loss.