West Ham have explained the controversial decision to stand by beleaguered Julen Lopetegui amid outrage from fans.
When West Ham fans aren’t happy about something, they’re not shy in making their feelings clear.
Hammers supporters get a bad rap from some quarters.
Yes the West Ham faithful can be demanding.
But they’re not hard to please.
All Irons supporters want is a team that plays decent football, gives their all for the badge and strives to compete for the European places.
They don’t expect to win every week or regularly bring home silverware.
They’re also a knowledgeable bunch who aren’t easily fooled.
That’s why there is such discontent at what’s been unfolding under Julen Lopetegui this season.
Supporters were underwhelmed by the appointment in the first place.
But West Ham fans will always give someone a chance.
Those chances ran out for the manager at Leicester on Tuesday night, though.
Chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ rang out from the away end at the King Power as the Hammers went 2-0 and then 3-0 down in the eventual 3-1 defeat.
Lopetegui had twice been given the so-called dreaded vote of confidence by the West Ham board prior to that defeat.
West Ham explain why they’ve stuck by Lopetegui for now
This week saw the Spaniard handed a third, much to the anger of the club’s supporters.
The 58-year-old was expected to be sacked after two shambolic defeats against Arsenal and Leicester in which the team conceded eight goals.
Languishing in 14th with the third worst goals conceded record in the Premier League, West Ham’s season has completely unravelled.
As far as most supporters are concerned, change is needed if the club is to have any hope of salvaging something and getting back to moving in the right direction.
David Sullivan and the Hammers board met to decide the manager’s fate.
But the club has briefed the media that Lopetegui will remain in charge for the Wolves game on Monday night.
Some supporters are threatening to boycott the game as a result.
The general consensus of opinion is that a win at home against the worst team in the league right now will prove nothing about Lopetegui’s credentials to remain manager.
Things are threatening to turn toxic in a throwback to scenes witnessed when fans reached breaking point in that game against Burnley back in 2018.
Now in a Hammers News exclusive, West Ham have explained why they’ve stuck by Lopetegui for now amid fan outrage.
Hammers make it clear Lopetegui needs more than Wolves win
The club is well aware of the strength of feeling among supporters.
The top spokesman close to the club’s owners said he agrees that once away fans turn on a manager, there’s rarely any coming back from it.
But the Hammers hierarchy say they felt ‘morally’ obligated to give Lopetegui at least one more game, if not more.
“I don’t disagree that it becomes very difficult when the away fans turn,” the key senior London Stadium spokesman told Hammers News on Friday.
“The next game, or games, will decide everything.
“Morally we thought he deserved another game.”
This suggests only a complete turnaround in performances and results in the coming matches will save the manager.
Next two just as pivotal even if West Ham beat Wolves
So a one-off win over woeful Wolves won’t suddenly mean Lopetegui will remain in the job for the foreseeable future.
That news will be welcomed by supporters.
Because it would be farcical if a victory at home, against a team who have shipped more goals than any other in the top flight, was used as a barometer to measure whether Lopetegui is the right man to lead the team forward.
With the board making it clear Lopetegui’s job remains very much on the line, it goes without saying work will be taking place behind the scenes to line up a replacement.
Anyone who has watched Bournemouth and Brighton this season knows how difficult those matches will be for West Ham after Wolves.
The Cherries battered Spurs last night and should have won by four or five goals.
Those games will still be pivotal even if Lopetegui manages a win against his old club on Monday evening.
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