Troy Deeney makes bold 10-game claim about Julen Lopetegui at West Ham. Former striker turned pundit Troy Deeney has made a very bold 10-game claim about new West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham will unveil former Spain boss Julen Lopetegui as their new manager next week. The world and its wife have been having their say on the appointment.
But right now it’s probably quicker and easier to list those who think West Ham are making the right decision, so long is the list of doubters. Beyond Lopetegui’s compatriot Guillem Balague, there aren’t many who believe Lopetegui is the man to take the Hammers forward.
Realistically, in terms of approach and style of play, that should not be too difficult a task. The vast majority of West Ham fans had grown sick and tired of David Moyes’ risk averse, defensive tactics.
The Scot has even admitted he understands the fan frustration at his methods.
Lopetegui has plenty of doubters to win over at West Ham
So improving West Ham aesthetically shouldn’t be too difficult. Combining style with substance, though, is Lopetegui’s true challenge.
While many Hammers fans are warming to the idea of the former Sevilla and Wolves boss succeeding Moyes, he continues to struggle to win support from the football media.
Stan Collymore became the latest in a long line to question the decision yesterday. He told West Ham there are far better options out there and labelled Lopetegui a ‘disgrace’.
Now another ex Premier League striker turned pundit has had his say. Troy Deeney has made a bold 10-game claim about Lopetegui at West Ham.
Deeney was never shy in expressing his opinion as a player.
So he’s not about to start now he’s a pundit, despite his own failings in his short-lived managerial career.
Deeney’s bold 10-game claim about Lopetegui
Deeney was asked what team – besides promoted clubs – he expects to seriously struggle next season.
And he did not hesitate to pick out West Ham, questioning whether Lopetegui is up to the task and predicting he could be facing the sack just 10 games into his Hammers career.
“As it stands, I would say West Ham (are the team that will struggle first next season),” Deeney told The Sun.
“They’re expected to bring in Lopetegui and he has got to change so much — philosophy, style — and that is going to take time.
“If the Hammers do not show us something in those first 10 games, the fans will quickly turn. And the man in the hotseat could be in trouble and pay the price.”
One of Lopetegui’s big backers Balague continues to insist West Ham have hired one of the best managers in Europe.
Speaking up in defence of the 57-year-old, Spanish journalist Balague claimed AC Milan will regret letting Lopetegui join the Hammers.
And he believes West Ham will see the benefits of his experience working under the great Johan Cruyff. Lopetegui signed what we are led to believe will be a three-year deal with West Ham last Wednesday night.
Confirmation that Lopetegui will replace Moyes has been held back until Monday or Tuesday out of respect to the departing Scot.
The ex Real Madrid man will inherit the smallest squad in the top flight which will drop from 22 to just 16 senior players at the end of the season.
So Deeney is right to state Lopetegui has a big, multi-faceted job on his hands. But we are reliably informed he has already started working alongside technical director Tim Steidten to plan a major overhaul of his threadbare Hammers squad this summer.
Let’s hope he can hit the ground running and prove everyone wrong. Getting his signings in early in the summer window could be key to doing just that.
