The pressure is mounting once again on Julen Lopetegui at West Ham and a top reporter on club affairs has doubts over his future.
The excitement which surrounded West Ham going into the new season seems like a distant memory.
David Moyes had West Ham in the top six, within striking distance of the top four on December 28th last year.
But the Hammers have fallen off a cliff ever since.
There have been just eight wins from 35 games in all competitions in 2024.
A malaise set in under Moyes which is proving very difficult for Julen Lopetegui to shake off.
That’s despite West Ham shipping out 12 and signing nine new players to the tune of £155m.
Realists knew it would more likely be evolution than revolution when Lopetegui was chosen to succeed Moyes.
Thomas raises serious doubts over Lopetegui future at West Ham
Rebuilds take time but there are grave concerns among some West Ham fans and observers that the club has appointed the wrong man.
Lopetegui was not West Ham’s first choice in the summer. Nor them his.
The 57-year-old had been in talks with AC Milan for months to take over at the San Siro.
But when it came closer to being announced, protests from Milan’s Ultras saw the Italians withdraw the ofer.
After a year out of the game, Lopetegui’s tactics and team selections have – at times – looked suspect.
After beating Ipswich 4-1, many felt the penny may finally have dropped for the team under the new head coach.
An embarrassing defeat by the same score at bitter rivals Spurs suggests it hasn’t.
West Ham fans left Tottenham in their droves 15 minutes before the final whistle.
That’s the fourth time supporters have walked out early in 10 games under Lopetegui so far.
Top Hammers reporter ‘not optimistic’ boss can turn it around
With Man United up next things don’t necessarily get much easier.
The atmosphere around the club is threatening to turn a touch toxic unless things drastically improve.
Especially now the rumour mill has already started about the manager potentially being replaced.
It’s not just fans who aren’t convinced, though.
A top Hammers reporter who speaks to Lopetegui on a weekly basis has had his say.
Roshane Thomas has raised serious doubts over the future of Lopetegui at West Ham.
The Athletic reporter may get a frosty reception from the Spaniard when he speaks to him ahead of the Man United match.
Because Thomas says he is not optimistic Lopetegui can turn things around.
‘Lopetegui’s West Ham has no identity’
And he feels the biggest problem is a complete lack of identity.
“Can Lopetegui turn it around?” Thomas said on X in the wake of the defeat to Tottenham.
“Not optimistic in all honesty.
“Supporters are losing patience and yet to see any major improvement.
“This team has no identity, which is the biggest issue.”
It’s very difficult to argue with anything Thomas has said.
Lopetegui does need time to get West Ham playing how he wants them to. There’s no debating that.
You can’t have a turnover of nine or 10 staff and 21 players and hit if off with no teething problems.
And it’s not like the Spaniard took over a team that were flying. West Ham had won just five games in 25 matches in all competitions under Moyes in 2024.
Not to mention the fact the Hammers set a new club Premier League record of 74 goals conceded last term too.
There should be signs of progress by now
That being said, there should, by now, be some semblance of style or identity under Lopetegui.
Some clear patterns of play. A clear philosophy.
Anything.
Everything feels a bit chaotic. West Ham have the kind of squad – bar the lack of striker options – which would have stood them in good stead had they been in Europe again.
Everyone getting regular games, everyone happy, plenty of chances to play and get momentum.
Now Lopetegui has so many options but only one game per week. And some top quality players are being left out as a result.
West Ham are reportedly keen to give Lopetegui more time.
The top spokesman close to the owners told Hammers News that the Spurs shambles was ‘a very bad day at the office’.
That will only wash with fans for so long.
Managers at other clubs have made an instant impact in similar circumstances.
Lopetegui has to start proving he was the right choice.
The fact one of the top reporters covering West Ham affairs has serious doubts after 10 games speaks volumes.
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