This season marks the start of a new era for West Ham with a new head coach in Julen Lopetegui nine new players.
After four-and-a-half years under David Moyes, Julen Lopetegui is tasked with getting West Ham competing for Europe while playing better football.
West Ham chose not to disclose the length of the Lopetegui’s contract when he was officially announced as the club’s new boss.
It has since been confirmed Lopetegui – who was set to take over at Milan until a fan protest saw the Italian giants pull the plug – signed a two-year deal with an interesting caveat which triggers a third year.
Reaction to the Hammers parting ways with Moyes and replacing him with Lopetegui was pretty scathing.
Not just in the football media – among whom Moyes has many friends – but some West Ham fans too.
Supporters had dared to dream of “sexier” names such as Ruben Amorim after his very public interview with David Sullivan and Tim Steidten.
Most managers get a period of grace when they take over at a new club.
West Ham will be gobsmacked by Merson claim about Lopetegui
But West Ham fans recognise that Lopetegui will need time to implement a new style with his raft of new players. They appreciate their new-look team may be a work in progress.
A host of journalists, pundits, ex players and even some club legends warned Lopetegui is the wrong appointment for West Ham.
Troy Deeney predicted Lopetegui could be sacked by the Hammers after just 10 games.
And former Premier League club owner Simon Jordan insists the ex Spain boss SHOULD be sacked if West Ham don’t play better football under him given that was one of the reasons for parting ways with Moyes.
The Irons have had a mixed start to the season with two wins – one in the Carabao Cup – and two defeats.
Jamie Redknapp sees clear signs of progress under Lopetegui already.
He also noted that the fixture list has not been particularly kind to West Ham with Villa and Man City at him to start the Lopetegui era.
Other pundits have not been so considered in their assessment, though.
And West Ham will be gobsmacked by a Paul Merson claim about Lopetegui just four games in.
Pundit says Hammers boss is under pressure just four games in
The pundit reckons Lopetegui is already under pressure after an inauspicious start.
And Merson says the Spaniard must start getting his side to gel and perform because ‘he needs results’.
Predicting that West Ham will draw 2-2 draw with Fulham this weekend, Merson says Lopetegui has been put under more pressure by a good transfer window.
“These two teams will be fighting for a top half finish in the Premier League this season,” Merson told Sportskeeda.
“I think this game will end in a draw.
“West Ham have bought well but they need to get results. They have to start clicking together on the pitch soon.
“This will be one of those games where both teams will look like they will win and I expect them both to go for all three points. There are certain games like this in the Premier League for such teams where they must go for it no matter what.”
No surprise given Merson’s Moyes rant
Merson was one of those who said West Ham were ‘crazy’ to part company with Moyes.
He said Moyes was as good as it would get for the Hammers. Even so, to suggest Lopetegui is already under pressure just four games in is absurd.
There have been glimpses of real promise in West Ham’s play so far.
The team is recording higher possession and passing stats than they had become used to under Moyes.
Combining style with substance will ultimately be the yardstick by which Lopetegui is measured of course.
That goes without saying.
But it’s been four games. And only three of those have been in the Premier League – two of which were against the champions and Champions League Villa.
West Ham do not hire and fire managers willy nilly. They never have.
In the summer Sky Sports’s chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol said the Hammers board want fans to give Lopetegui a year before judging him.
So they certainly won’t be doing that after four games. A poor take from Merson.
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