The behaviour of technical director Tim Steidten could be an issue for Julen Lopetegui at West Ham it has been suggested.
It is fair to say that West Ham’s recruitment chief Tim Steidten has had a topsy turvy first 15 months at the club.
From hero to villain and back again, Steidten is facing fresh criticism as dark clouds gather over the London Stadium.
Steidten is probably one of the only technical directors in football for whom fans have their own dedicated chant.
‘Timmy Steidten’s magic’ can often be heard ringing out on concourses during Hammers matchdays.
It is sung in appreciation of the German’s work getting Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez to West Ham when he first arrived and the likes of Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Guido Rodriguez and Crysencio Summerville this summer.
The terrace ditty has not had many airings on the terraces and concourses this season, though.
Julen Lopetegui has started his tenure with just two wins from eight Premier League games.
Steidten antics a problem for Lopetegui at West Ham?
The Hammers were also thrashed 5-1 by Liverpool to be dumped out of the Carabao Cup.
The latest defeat, 4-1 at Spurs, has piled the pressure on the Spaniard.
But West Ham’s German technical director is not getting off lightly either.
Steidten described his ‘euphoria’ at having full control after the departure of David Moyes.
The pair ended their relationship as it had started, fraught with tension.
Moyes banned Steidten from being around the first team as West Ham’s search for a new manager became very public.
Although he was essentially just doing his job by assessing potential replacements for the Scot, the manner in which it was handled angered many fans.
Now a West Ham board confidant says Steidten’s antics are a problem for Lopetegui after what he saw.
Board source says Steidten behaviour an issue
The man largely responsible for building the brilliant Bayer Leverkusen side taking Germany and Europe by storm has faced criticism from some Hammers fans of late.
Firstly over his decisions regarding the striker department at West Ham.
Signing his ageing and injury-prone compatriot Niclas Fullkrug has backfired so far.
Fullkrug has missed six games and could be sidelined until next year according to claims at the weekend.
Some supporters also take exception to Steidten being pitchside on matchdays and conducting interviews.
Now Sean Whetstone, who counts majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady among his close contacts, has suggested what he witnessed Steidten doing at Spurs could be a problem for the manager.
The technical director was seen emerging from the dressing room area with the first team.
He then went along each West Ham player as they lined up in the tunnel to go out for kick off against their fierce rivals.
Steidten spoke to each player as they got in the zone before going out to battle.
Whetstone believes it doesn’t sit right and isn’t helping the head coach.
“Not sure this is helping Julen Lopetegui’s cause,” Whetstone said alongside a picture of Steidten speaking to the players moments before kick-off in the Tottenham tunnel.
Lopetegui has far bigger issues than Steidten at West Ham
You can see what Whetstone is saying here. And judging by posts on social media many Hammers fans agree it doesn’t sit right.
It’s not something you necessarily see at other clubs.
Some fans use Villa as an example where Monchi is not as high profile in and around the first team.
But would Steidten being there really have an adverse affect on the players or the atmosphere and chemistry?
He is head of the entire football operation at West Ham.
If he was nowhere to be seen some might accuse him of hiding. Especially when times are tough – as they are right now.
There is no suggestion players are getting mixed messages between director and manager.
Or any messages beyond well-wishing from Steidten for that matter.
It’s clearly a matter for debate among fans as opinions are very much divided.
But Lopetegui has bigger issues to address first – like getting his team to stop conceding goals and players to show some resilience and pride.
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