Former Hammers striker Dean Ashton has sounded a big warning about Julen Lopetegui ahead of the start of a new West Ham era.
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for Julen Lopetegui and West Ham will be hoping they’re feeling good.
The coverage surrounding West Ham’s transfer window and new head coach Lopetegui has been refreshingly positive of late.
Eight signings, many of them hugely impressive, is bound to bring those kind of vibes as the Hammers look to start life under a new boss.
But it hasn’t always been thus.
Wonderful window breeds positivity at West Ham
As far as warm welcomes go for new managers, Lopetegui slipped into a cold bath when it became clear he would replace David Moyes.
There was no red carpet treatment for the former Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla manager.
A large section of West Ham fans were unconvinced by Lopetegui.
In terms of supporters, judgement had been clouded somewhat by a few things.
Firstly the fact the Hammers were linked with a host of “sexier” managers like Ruben Amorim.
Ashton sounds big Lopetegui warning for West Ham
Secondly a very negative press that has followed Lopetegui since he walked out on Wolverhampton Wanderers on the eve of last season.
And thirdly what has been a largely scathing assessment of the new boss in the wider football press.
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague staunchly defended West Ham’s appointment of Lopetegui.
But he was a loan voice at times.
It was so bad at one point Hammers News compiled a list of those who had criticised West Ham’s Lopetegui appointment.
So West Ham are getting a man who – by his own admission – has much to prove.
And he is hungry to do just that, declaring he wants to ‘make a big noise’ with the Hammers.
West Ham fans have been persistently warned, ad nauseum, by all and sundry to ‘be careful what you wish for’.
But the Hammers are in dreamland amid their stunning transfer window.
Lopetegui gets his Irons tenure underway against Aston Villa at the London Stadium on Saturday.
‘I think the jury is out’
But Dean Ashton has sounded a big Lopetegui warning as West Ham start a new era.
The former Hammers striker has been speaking about his old club, lauding their transfer business and the owners for backing their new boss.
However, Ashton has warned that the calibre of signings the club has made has piled the pressure on Lopetegui to be successful.
And he is not sure Lopetegui is necessarily the manager to completely revolutionise West Ham’s style of play.
“They (West Ham fans) are going to be looking at the style (of play), of course they are,” Ashton told talkSPORT.
“That was a big talking point when Moyes was there because clearly David was successful, but it was the style that fans fell out of love with.
“That’s what surprised me with Lopetegui coming in. He’s not necessarily this swash-buckling character or manager in the way that he plays. He wants to keep the ball and play out from the back.
“But ultimately whether he’s going to be that swash-buckling character that supporters want, I’m not too sure. I think the jury will be out until we see it.”
Improving on the style of play should not be a difficult task for Lopetegui.
Most Hammers fans grew completely fed up of Moyes’ style and approach by the end.
But the proof of the pudding, as always, will now be in the eating.
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