West Ham Online

Is Will Still, still willing to take the job?

Someone like say Lopetegui, you mean?

Hummels not a fan, then? 

Taken from Kumb.

This is a myth for me, think he has played about 60 games in the prem......5 non pen goals i think. He isn't half the creative midfielder fans think he is. 

Think Lingard has more non pen goals than him for us, in about a quarter of the games for reference. 

I said mid way through last season snap City's arm off for £85m.....be very very lucky to get half that now. Doesnt score much, doesnt assist. 

Taking out Paqueta has to be a given, but as for replacing him with Soler...? As I've said previously, as fas as I can tell the only thing he has going for him is that he isn't Paqueta

Or state-of-mind doctor even

 

No it wasn't. In fact in his 1st season he was unlucky not to win the League with a points tally of 82 which would normally win a side the League title and a marked improvement on the previous season. They only lost twice, conceded 13 and scored 72. 

As well as reaching one of the domestic Cup Semi-Finals, he also reached the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League losing only once to get there before being beaten by Guardiolas Bayern Munich side, having beaten them 3-1 in the 1st Home Leg tie.

The geezer's overall managerial record more than holds up, not only by winning Trophies, but also qualifying and competing well in the Champions League with less fashionable Clubs like Sevilla and Porto. His Team's also generally score for fun and concede much less when running the rule over his goal differences when he lasts more than 5 minutes. 

That being said, make no bones about it, right now it isn't working for whatever reason. My suspicion all along would be it would take time to establish a more attacking, passing style of play after years of having to play the exact opposite not used to playing with the ball. I do see some encouraging signs like in the 1st half against Spurs, or 2 weeks ago against Ipswich where we do look good in possession at times popping it about but we ain't anywhere consistent enough which is frustrating. The Squads mentality is also weak and we are struggling to shake that mindset off from last season where we would equally fold with ease like vs Fulham, Palace, Chelsea, Arsenal last season. 

I think Lopetegui's tactics have been poor at times and that's on him. I previously stated against lesser opposition like Ipswich it's fine to play this aggressive 4141 formation but against Spurs with only Rodriguez effectively holding, we are asking for trouble sooner or later. You need at least a 2 in the middle against such opposition otherwise we'll get overrun like we was. In one way I was actually happy to see him acknowledge this by lining up 3 Subs soon after the 2nd half started again, but then fucked off when he dithered getting them on in which case it was all too late by then. 

I also think he needs a new Keeper in the January window/Summer window he can fully rely on and trust. Too often Areolas distribution and general Keeping is poor. Yes, he is capable of the sublime reaction save but it seems its then followed up bu a string of ridiculous errors where hes either caught flapping, conceding own goals or getting beat time and again from his near post. I don't mind him as a back-up but as a permanent No.1 I want to see us go after a younger shit hot Keeper who you can rely heavily on. And if we are to transition more in to a slick, passing side from back to front, then a new Keeper is a must. 

Time to get in Alvarez, Soler and Summerville in to the side so to get the Team right up to full speed in energy, body and mind as I reckon that'll make a big difference in the short to medium term. 

Paqueta also needs some time out of the Team, wr cannot continue to carry him in his current state of mind. It does neither him or us any favours as he's simply not the same player with the weight of the world on his mind for obvious reasons.