West Ham majority owner David Sullivan must act to put an end to the torture that is watching this Julen Lopetegui team.
Everton was billed as a must-win game for Julen Lopetegui at West Ham after the 3-0 defeat to Forest.
But the Hammers were absolutely dreadful yet again in a performance which did not say much for what the players think of the Spaniard.
If this was West Ham playing to save their boss, then the owners will surely be concerned.
Bar Jarrod Bowen and maybe Danny Ings, it’s hard to pick out many Hammers players who emerged from the game with any real credit.
Once again there was no clear identity about West Ham.
There were no discernible patterns of play or anything to get the crowd excited.
Everton had six shots at goal in the first 30 minutes.
The Hammers did not have a first effort until the 43rd minute, just like last week.
A mostly deafening silence at the London Stadium was only broken when boos and jeers rang out at half-time and the final whistle.
West Ham leave fans bored and booing
Speculation has been rife West Ham’s owners could sack Lopetegui if they didn’t beat the Toffees.
Six managers have been linked with the job from Edin Terzic to Roger Schmidt.
Ahead of the Everton game, Lopetegui pleaded for time to turn things around.
The former Wolves boss wants the Hammers hierarchy to judge his work in May.
However, West Ham fans are already bored to tears with what’s being served up.
Co-commentator Darren Ambrose said he thinks the Hammers are actually worse this season under Lopetegui.
About 60,000 West Ham fans probably agreed after sitting through another dismal performance bereft of any character, personality or quality.
So David Sullivan must end the West Ham torture and instantly call Roberto De Zerbi as resignation is offered.
Resignation offered now Sullivan must end West Ham torture
Lopetegui has now had 13 games in all competitions to show something at West Ham.
It’s a third of a season all told.
There is nothing fans can point to get excited about.
The team look like a bunch of strangers, the football is awful and seems to be getting worse not better.
Lopetegui was meant to improve the style and approach.
But West Ham are miles off it all over the pitch. And now in the Premier League table too.
The stated aim of challenging for Europe already looks out of reach.
The names who have been linked this week are all interesting in their own right.
None are a patch on ex Brighton boss De Zerbi, though.
And this could be a sliding doors moment for Sullivan and West Ham.
When word got out the Italian coach was leaving Brighton at the end of last season, many Hammers fans wanted the club to go for him.
There were links with a switch to the London Stadium.
But De Zerbi ended up making a rather surprising move to Marseille instead.
Now, with West Ham said to be weighing up axing Lopetegui, Sullivan should have his mind made up by what’s happened in France today.
While West Ham were dropping another uninspiring display at the London Stadium, De Zerbi has sensationally offered to resign at Marseille.
His side are second in Ligue 1 and had been taking French football by storm.
De Zerbi’s rock and roll attacking style instantly recognisable in his new-look side.
What De Zerbi has said should have Sullivan on the phone
But after a dip in form, the passionate 45-year-old tactical master has responded to discontent from some fans and media by offering – or perhaps more accurately threatening – to stand down with no pay-off.
“If I’m the problem, I’m ready to leave,” De Zerbi said after the game as reported by ESPN.
“I’ll leave the money and hand back my contract.
“I came to Marseille for the Velodrome, to play at the Velodrome. And I can’t get the players to give here what I see in training and in away games.
“It’s my fault, it’s my responsibility.
“Playing at the Velodrome is a privilege. I want to be able to pass on to the people who work with me what I think about football. And I can’t do that.”
This is the sort of forthright passion, honesty and high standards West Ham need.
While Lopetegui is pleading for time as he bores fans to tears having seen £155m spent on new players, De Zerbi is offering to stand down with his team second in the table because he wants more.
De Zerbi has managed to get a pretty average Marseille squad overachieving right from the off. They have been excellent away from home and he’s still demanding more from himself and his players.
Marseille have scored 24 goals in 11 games – that’s 11 more than West Ham. They’ve conceded four less than the Hammers too.
De Zerbi was exactly the kind of manager West Ham should have gone for to replace David Moyes.
A complete change to a more modern, innovative boss.
Now Sullivan and co may have a second chance to go and get him.
They can’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
West Ham’s stadium will be half-empty every other week if supporters have to keep watching this Lopetegui team.
It’s a no brainer, pick up the phone Sullivan and test the waters over this international break.
Imagine going into games against Newcastle and Arsenal with De Zerbi at the helm rather than Lopetegui.
West Ham could give Lopetegui more time in the blind hope it might click at some point. But they’d likely have to write off an entire season.
Is it really worth it just to keep the reputation of being owners who stick by managers regardless?
End this failed experiment and breathe new life into the season while there’s still time to save it.
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