Julen Lopetegui facing early pressure to make three big changes at West Ham starting at Fulham. West Ham’s board and fans are well aware the team is a work in progress but Julen Lopetegui is already facing pressure over team selection.
Most managers get a period of grace when they take over at a new club.
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West Ham fans are a knowledgeable bunch and will certainly get behind Julen Lopetegui as he looks to try and implement a new style with his raft of new players.
Initial reaction to the appointment of Lopetegui among Hammers fans was lukewarm.
But many have warmed to the Spaniard and are now excited for what might be possible following one of West Ham’s best ever transfer windows. Supporters are well aware West Ham will be a work in progress.
But it’s fair to say Lopetegui’s start to life in east London has been inauspicious. Make no mistake, though, in the coming months fans – and perhaps more so the media – will be looking to see clear signs of improvement in the style and results from what they saw at the back end of David Moyes’ tenure.
Lopetegui facing pressure to make three big West Ham changes
After all, that is why Lopetegui is at the London Stadium in the first place. Coaches at other clubs have managed to get their philosophy and style across very quickly.
Oliver Glasner at Palace, alleged former West Ham target Arne Slot at Liverpool and young new Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler being evidence of that. Jamie Redknapp insists he’s seen progress at West Ham under Lopetegui.
But many West Ham supporters have been a touch underwhelmed by some of Lopetegui’s team selections so far. Debate is already raging over some of the tactics, line-ups and substitutions after West Ham started the season with two wins and two losses heading into the international break.
Now Lopetegui is facing early pressure to make three big changes at West Ham, starting at Fulham.
1) Time for Lopetegui to drop Antonio
The first is perhaps the most obvious.
Hammers fans are calling for Lopetegui to finally bring new striker signing Niclas Fullkrug into the Premier League starting XI.
When the Irons signed the big German, his compatriot and the club’s technical director Tim Steidten, justified the move for the veteran by insisting the 31-year-old was brought in because he could hit the ground running.
Lopetegui has had Fullkrug sat on the bench for all three Prem games so far, though. That’s despite Michail Antonio doing little to justify keeping the shirt.
Antonio was particularly poor in the defeat to Man City before the international break.
Now there are calls for Lopetegui to make the change. Especially after Fullkrug scored yet again for Germany in a 5-0 Nations League win over Hungary.
2) Fix the Kudus and Paqueta problem
Change two is more complex. Some fans have been calling for Lucas Paqueta to be dropped after he started this season in the same lackadaisical form he ended the last.
Paqueta has been careless in possession at both ends of the pitch and cost West Ham dear in defeat to Man City.
In mitigation the Brazilian has been trying to readjust to playing in a central role again.
And a statistic emerged about Paqueta at West Ham which showed he is trying to be the difference-maker. There is no doubting who is the Hammers’ most dangerous attacking star, though. Mohammed Kudus has been brilliant so far this season and has done everything but score.
It feels like the goals are coming but supporters have been frustrated by Lopetegui starting him off the left. Kudus has made it abundantly clear he prefers to play centrally and that’s where fans want to see him too.
Whether that means simply swapping him and Paqueta at first or dropping the Brazilian for Crysencio Summerville is dividing opinion right now. One thing is for certain, though, the Dutchman has been impressive when coming on.
So if Paqueta does not up his game – whether that’s centrally or on the left if moved back there – he will find his place under threat. Especially now Carlos Soler has arrived from PSG too.
3) Jean-Clair Todibo in for Konstantinos Mavropanos
This may be a touch harsh on Konstantinos Mavropanos – who has been pretty decent overall at the start of the season – many West Ham fans now want to see new signing Jean-Clair Todibo come into the starting XI.
Todibo only needs to make five Premier League starts before his loan is turned into an obligation
