Sleuth Hammers fans think West Ham have just let slip who Julen Lopetegui’s new captain is going to be next season.
There has been much speculation about who Julen Lopetegui will name as his West Ham captain next season.
Kurt Zouma came under fire over his style of captaincy last season as the Hammers suffered a number of heavy defeats.
After those defeats Zouma did not face up to the media afterwards, leaving others such as James Ward-Prowse, Vladimir Coufal and Jarrod Bowen to take the heat instead.
Perhaps most damningly, though, Zouma’s captaincy was questioned by David Moyes before he departed.
Lopetegui set to choose a new Hammers skipper?
It has been claimed that Lopetegui wants to see Zouma sold and will therefore name a new captain.
Of course it is only natural that a new manager will want to put his own stamp on things. And it won’t be lost on Lopetegui that Moyes questioned Zouma’s leadership.
There have been reports Bowen is in the running to be West Ham’s new skipper.
After signing Max Kilman – the man Lopetegui made captain at Wolves – talk is he could be handed the armband too.
The likes of Mark Noble, Declan Rice and Kevin Nolan don’t grow on trees – as Zouma proved last season.
The Frenchman was even forced to publicly defend his style of captaincy at one stage.
There’s no doubt choosing a new Hammers skipper is one of the biggest decisions Lopetegui has to make this pre-season.
And it would be less awkward if Zouma is sold before it is announced.
Now sleuth fans think West Ham have just let slip who Lopetegui’s new captain is.
Sleuth fans think West Ham have let slip who new captain is
West Ham have released behind the scenes footage of the club’s new away kit launch.
The video has been posted on West Ham’s YouTube channel and website.
It features the likes of star man Mohammed Kudus, midfield enforcer Edson Alvarez, Bowen and George Earthy.
A few seconds into the video one of the photographers is heard calling fan favourite Alvarez ‘captain’.
“We’re going to take you over to do stills first captain,” the photographer says to Alvarez.
That has sparked speculation across social media that Alvarez has been chosen as West Ham’s new skipper.
In many ways it makes perfect sense. Alvarez was a fundamental player in his debut season for West Ham, showing great passion in central midfield.
Although both he and Lopetegui speak good English, they share Spanish as their native tongue meaning there will be no issues with communication and the understanding of one another.
Alvarez makes perfect sense but fans jumping the gun
Alvarez is a natural leader and is also the captain of Mexico.
The former Ajax ace showed true leadership by declaring he would personally protect Lucas Paqueta on the pitch after he became a target in the midst of the allegations against him.
So it could well be that El Machin becomes El Capitano if Lopetegui does announce Alvarez as his new top dog.
But West Ham fans may be jumping the gun a touch here.
Because this promo video, which you can see below, would have been shot before Lopetegui was officially appointed.
You can tell that just by looking at Kudus’ hair. Hammers supporters will remember their star boy had his hair cut short towards the end of the season.
Alvarez is undoubtedly in the running and may well be the man to take the armband from Zouma.
But it seems this may have just been a turn of phrase from the photographer.
Or perhaps he was a West Ham fan and thinks Alvarez should be the captain.
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