West Ham’s lack of bravery and refusal to listen to technical director Tim Steidten has cost the club more than many realise.
Julen Lopetegui is on the brink of being sacked by West Ham.
Before being hired by the Hammers in the summer, the Spaniard had been lined up to take over AC Milan.
But when the Italian giant’s ultras got wind of the news they, like West Ham’s fans, were hugely underwhelmed.
So much so they started a major protest they labelled ‘Nopetegui’.
Milan listened to their fans and abandoned the move, leaving the path clear for West Ham.
Hammers fans wanted a young, innovative, attack-minded coach. They wanted something completely fresh and new.
Two defeats could see Lopetegui sacked by West Ham this week
Some West Ham supporters launched their own petition against Lopetegui being Moyes’ successor.
But majority owner David Sullivan was ‘won over’ by Lopetegui during interview. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Well the former Wolves boss could be history this week.
Since arriving in east London ‘Nopetegui’ has become ‘Flopetegui’.
West Ham have just three Premier League wins to their name.
The hopes of improving that record look grim this week with a tough trip to Newcastle away on Monday night followed by Arsenal at home.
The Magpies are bang in form after three straight wins and the Gunners returned to something like their best in an easy 3-0 victory over Forest this weekend.
Forget Iraola, West Ham turned down manager of the year
A journalist close to West Ham’s owners revealed this week that Lopetegui will be sacked if those matches end in defeat. The 57-year-old may even be gone if the Hammers are well beaten at Newcastle.
Many fans feel he should have been sacked going into the international break.
A dozen managers have been linked as potential replacements.
A new name entered the running yesterday.
It was claimed that Sullivan is targeting Andoni Iraola for West Ham.
Iraola is more in line with what Hammers fans had wanted and expected in the summer.
A modern coach who has Bournemouth playing great football and punching above their weight.
A manager who implemented his style and philosophy in a matter of months.
But forget Iraola because cowardly West Ham turned down a manager of the year contender for Lopetegui.
A penny for the thoughts of Hammers technical director Tim Steidten right now.
The German is being heavily criticised over his transfers after being hailed a hero for the way he spent £155m on nine new signings in the summer.
It emerged a couple of months ago that Steidten warned Sullivan not to appoint Lopetegui at West Ham.
Perhaps Steidten’s biggest mistake of the summer was not being more forceful when it came to the most important signing of all – the manager.
Because if Steidten had his way then Brighton’s bright young mind Fabian Hurzeler could be West Ham boss right now.
Top journalist Matt Hughes claimed last month that Steidten put forward a list of candidates to replace Moyes as manager.
West Ham’s Hurzeler howler
That list featured his compatriot Hurzeler – but the reasons for snubbing him will leave Hammers fans feeling sick.
Steidten is said to have really pushed for Hurzeler – who has Brighton one point off second place a third of the way through the season.
The Seagulls are fifth, level on points with third-placed Chelsea, after beating Iraola’s Bournemouth 2-1 away from home with 10 men.
In his report last month, Hughes claimed the West Ham hierarchy felt the Seagulls’ 31-year-old boss was far too young.
He wasn’t wrong about Hurzeler with the top spokesman for the club’s owners confirming as much when speaking exclusively to Hammers News.
Although it was strongly denied that Steidten was unhappy about the German being snubbed for Lopetegui.
“The Brighton manager is a huge gamble, though he did well yesterday!” West Ham told Hammers News after Hurzeler masterminded a 3-2 comeback win against Spurs last month.
“We all decided to play it safe and with experience and particularly experience in the Premier League with Julen.”
Fortune’s always hiding because it favours the bold
Yes hindsight is a wonderful thing. Especially in football.
But how galling it is to read those words now.
West Ham’s lack of bravery in their managerial appointment is being punished.
The Hammers could find themselves just three points off the relegation zone before the Newcastle clash.
And that’s after ‘playing it safe’.
Hurzeler has been an absolute sensation and Brighton are playing electric football.
They not only have the youngest boss, they also have the second youngest side in the entire top flight.
Meanwhile West Ham have the oldest team and the second oldest manager who has given a damning ZERO minutes to Hammers academy stars this season.
That’s despite pledging to champion young players when he got the job.
Hurzeler is undoubtedly the early favourite for Premier League manager of the year.
It’s yet another case of what might have been for West Ham.
Instead, the Hammers will likely already be looking for Lopetegui’s replacement this time next week.
Fortune’s always hiding goes West Ham’s famous anthem. But that’s because fortune favours the bold.
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