Should West Ham United start looking for Julen Lopetegui's successor?

The Hammers have made the worst possible start in the new season under former Spain coach.

West Ham United’s embarrassing defeat in the EFL Cup game against Liverpool might have been the final nail in the coffin for the newly appointed manager Julen Lopetegui.

The Hammers were hammered 5-1 by Liverpool at Anfield and now it could be the breaking point for the fans and the board who have watched their club get off to a horrible start.

After guiding the team to the UEFA Conference League and frequently challenging the top clubs in the country, David Moyes left a lasting legacy at the club. However, all of this seems meaningless now that the Hammers are having severe difficulties winning games under the Spanish manager.

Their recent defeat has now further intensified the situation at the club and now the former Real Madrid manager’s future is hanging on a thin line.

Why Lopetegui is struggling at West Ham?

The main reason behind the former Sevilla manager failing to eke out results with the Hammers has been a lack of coherent tactical methods. It was revealed that Julen Lopetegui’s system is built on a strong defensive core. But with their recent matches, their defence has looked far from strong, and their attack has failed to make an impact in the final third of the pitch.

In order to create fluid football, Lopetegui is now experimenting with various systems to determine which ones work best for the players he has at his disposal. Under Lopetegui, West Ham have regularly been exposed by their inadequate tactical system against elite teams, and fresh acquisitions have not been able to fit in with the Spanish manager’s methods.

It seems like it might take the first half of the season for Julen Lopetegui to finally find a way where the players can flourish, but the main question is whether the fans and the board will be patient for that long.

Should Hammers give Lopetegui time or start looking for a replacement?

Julen Lopetegui is not new to the league; he knows the demands of the Premier League after working at Wolves, where he spent a season before he left the club. He knows his job was always going to be tough considering he was replacing Moyes, who turned the Hammers into a top competitive side and also led them to a trophy. 

The Spanish manager hasn’t had an ideal start to life at West Ham. They have won only once in the league and are 14th in the table with four points to their name. Moreover, the Hammers boast a quality side with the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, Niclas Fullkrug, Lucas Paqueta, and Danny Ings. But they haven’t been able to deliver the desired performances.

Time is running out and fans are now impatient, and their 5-1 defeat was another signal towards how the club has not been able to scrape out results, and if this continues then Hammers might start looking for his replacement. 

But he still has time as they prepare to square up against Brentford and Ipswich Town in the league. This will be a good chance for him to reverse the situation and alleviate the pressure off himself.

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