Can Julen Lopetegui Save West Ham’s Season After Slow Start? | OneFootball

Discontent Rises as West Ham’s New Era Fails to Impress

Unfulfilled Promises Under Lopetegui’s Stewardship

After an extravagant summer of spending and bold promises, West Ham United fans expected a transformation under Julen Lopetegui’s guidance. His words about making a “big noise” at the club have echoed hollowly as frustration builds in east London. The team’s recent goalless draw with Everton did little to uplift the mood, leaving the Hammers faithful questioning the club’s direction. Rather than a revitalised West Ham, fans see a team that lacks identity and cohesion—a sentiment made clear by their restless departure from the London Stadium on Saturday.

Photo: IMAGO

In the upper tier of the West Stand, the reaction was vocal and unforgiving. Fans are growing increasingly disillusioned with an underperforming side that’s struggling to establish a distinct playing style. By halftime, a noticeable number had already retreated to the concourse, signalling a growing apathy towards watching this disjointed outfit. The question remains: can Lopetegui turn this ship around before patience wears thin?

A Season of Discontent and Frustration

So far, this campaign has seen fans vocalise their dissatisfaction during home fixtures against high-profile teams like Chelsea, Manchester United, and now Everton. After 11 matches, West Ham has only managed 12 points and suffered five defeats, underscoring a season riddled with lacklustre performances. The team appears directionless, devoid of creative spark, and overly cautious in their approach. Saturday’s display was yet another chapter in a season where attacking intent has been rare, and optimism for a turnaround under Lopetegui fades with each passing game

West Ham: Twitter

The Spaniard’s post-match plea for patience rings hollow. Asking supporters to withhold judgment until May may be an effort to buy time, but for a fanbase that has endured false dawns before, the message lacks resonance. Many see it as an excuse for a leader who has, so far, failed to inspire belief in a turnaround. The players look disheartened, and the erosion of confidence is palpable on the pitch.

Lopetegui’s Troubling Body Language and Tactical Confusion

In the aftermath of a lacklustre performance, Lopetegui’s statements on being “happy with the commitment” of the players and club felt more like an attempt to reassure himself than the fans. He acknowledged the team’s poor form, recognising that 12 points from 11 games is far from satisfactory. Yet, he also suggested that their position isn’t much worse than other struggling sides, a claim that feels like a deflection rather than an admission of the need for immediate improvement.

One of the most telling signs of Lopetegui’s struggle to command authority is his body language on the touchline. The Spaniard often appears animated, gesturing to players who seem perplexed rather than empowered. This lack of clarity has led to a fragmented playing style that fails to maximise the squad’s strengths. His tactical adjustments feel reactionary, not proactive, and the team’s structure appears frail, especially down the flanks, where Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri are stretched thin. The match against Everton may have provided a clean sheet, but it did little to dispel concerns about the team’s overall defensive fragility.

Boardroom Decisions and a Fraying Vision

The decision to appoint Lopetegui was championed by majority shareholder David Sullivan and technical director Tim Steidten, who positioned him as the preferred choice to lead West Ham into a new era. Yet, the reality has fallen short of that vision, with the managerial appointment now looking like an expensive miscalculation. When Lopetegui was unveiled in July, he was portrayed as the man to elevate West Ham’s ambitions, his résumé gleaming with experience from stints with Spain and Sevilla. He arrived with a promise to reshape the Hammers into European contenders—a dream that now seems distant.

Lopetegui himself expressed a heartfelt commitment to the club, declaring, “I am here because I want to be here… our commitment is 100 per cent.” However, the grand ideals of his arrival have quickly shifted towards a more modest goal: preserving West Ham’s place in the Premier League. The ambition to challenge Europe has been supplanted by the urgency to stave off relegation concerns. The board, aware of the club’s declining trajectory, will likely face mounting pressure to reassess Lopetegui’s role should results continue to falter. With challenging fixtures against Newcastle United and Arsenal on the horizon, there’s little room for complacency.

The Ticking Clock and an Uncertain Future

Lopetegui’s tenure is only a few months old, yet the scrutiny is intense. The optimism that surrounded his arrival has evaporated since the 3-0 drubbing by Chelsea, and each successive game has done little to restore faith. At this point, there is scant evidence to suggest he is the right man to lead West Ham forward. While the board may hold out hope for a turnaround, the lifeless displays and lack of progress hint at a deeper issue within the squad’s dynamics and the manager’s tactical approach.

With his position hanging by a thread, Lopetegui’s future at West Ham feels more uncertain than ever. The upcoming matches may define his fate, but even a temporary improvement may not be enough to silence the growing discontent among fans. As results continue to disappoint, West Ham’s leadership will need to confront the uncomfortable question of whether their chosen manager has the capability—and the time—to meet the club’s lofty aspirations.