The West Ham starting XI we need to see from Julen Lopetegui, even if it’s to prove it doesn’t work. West Ham United head coach Julen Lopetegui needs to make some big changes to his starting XI next weekend as far as I’m concerned.
Julen Lopetegui showed far too much trust in some of our worst performers from last season, and more new signings need to start for West Ham United next week against Crystal Palace, it really is as simple as that.
It was a poor performance on the whole from the Hammers, and we looked extremely open in the middle of the park, especially when defending in the transition. Big improvements will be needed over our next few games, if we are to rack up some much-needed wins.
I want to see more attacking intent from the gaffer, and players who are better suited to playing in a Lopetegui system. The West Ham chief has the tools, now it’s time for him to start using them correctly.
The West Ham starting XI we need to see from Julen Lopetegui. I think we can all agree that Lopetegui got his team selection wrong yesterday.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Niclas Fullkrug should have started the game, and I actually think Jean-Clair Todibo should have as well, despite his lack of preparation. Vladimir Coufal was terrible whilst Tomas Soucek flattered to deceive as well – shock horror. Michail Antonio was atrocious and Konstantinos Mavropanos was sloppy at the back. It was a clunky performance devoid of any kind of cohesion, but that’s understandable given the fact that Lopetegui has only been in charge of the club for six weeks.
That said, I don’t feel like the 57-year-old Hammers head coach helped himself at all with his team selection against Villa. Lopetegui surely saw the flaws on display yesterday, and he needs to mix things up for our clash with Palace next weekend.
It’s definitely time for more of our new signings to come into the team, and for Lopetegui to drop the players who’ve consistently let us down over the past 12 months. I would love to see a really attacking team from the off, with pretty much all of our best players starting together.
Here’s the West Ham stating XI I think could actually work, if Lopetegui is brave enough to try it. Listen, I totally get the argument that Edson Alvarez may struggle playing in a single pivot, especially against the better teams.
And there’s no guarantee that he’ll be fit to start the game next weekend anyway, so Guido Rodriguez would be the defensive midfielder if that’s the case. I also understand that Lucas Paqueta lacks the disciple required to play in a deeper role, although he does play as an eight for Brazil.
I just need to see this team at least once, if for nothing else but to prove that it in fact, doesn’t work. Here’s the thing though, I think it could work – certainly when we face bottom half teams at home.
I’m fully aware that the above West Ham starting XI is an incredibly attacking one, but Julen Lopetegui has the talent at his disposal to make it work. Hopefully we see the Spaniard set up like that above at least once, then we can put to bed the argument regarding whether it will work or not.
