Contrasting reactions of four West Ham stars towards Julen Lopetegui shows dressing room split. There have been claims of ‘chaos’ behind the scenes at West Ham and a divide in the squad and there was plenty of evidence at Bournemouth.
West Ham threw away an 87th minute lead to draw 1-1 with Bournemouth but the club remains very much divided.
Both in the stands and the dressing room. Hammers fans still don’t really know what to make of this team under Julen Lopetegui.
There were signs of improvement in some areas against Bournemouth.
But the fact West Ham’s 39-year-old goalkeeper – the oldest players in the Premier League – was man of the match as Lopetegui’s side once again gave up shots at their goal like nobody’s business sums things up.
There was another huge slice of luck for the Hammers in the award of a late penalty.
Some fans were happy with what they saw, others more realistic with little to suggest West Ham have the makings of anything more than a midtable side at best.
A high-level Hammers club source recently claimed fans have been lied to about chaos behind the scenes at West Ham.
Contrasting reactions of four West Ham stars towards Lopetegui. The Athletic’s West Ham reporter Roshane Thomas has also claimed “mind-blowing stuff” has been going on in the dressing room and training ground.
Thomas claimed all will be revealed if and when Lopetegui departs, adding “the gloves will be off”.
A mutiny was building at the club after the Leicester defeat, before Michail Antonio’s car crash dampened that noise.
Just a few days later, though, it reignited with claims that Jean-Clair Todibo, Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez, Niclas Fullkrug and Guido Rodriguez are all demanding to leave.
Todibo had a huge bust-up with Lopetegui at half-time against Arsenal.
A punch was allegedly thrown at the manager who confirmed the incident but downplayed it. Kudus was seen aiming dissent at the manager when he was subbed off against Wolves.
That was just the latest in a long line of public displays of anger towards Lopetegui from Hammers stars this season. Now contrasting reactions of four West Ham stars towards Lopetegui shows the dressing room split.
Ahead of the Bournemouth game, Tomas Soucek and Lukasz Fabianski both admitted there are issues in the changing room and with team spirit.
West Ham dressing room split clear to see
Todibo was absent from the squad at the Vitality with the official line being an injured toe.
Days after being linked, once again, with a return to Brazil, Lucas Paqueta put a bizarrely timed and suspiciously worded post on social media just under two hours before kick-off.
The lyrics from a Brazilian gospel song were certainly open to interpretation. Three top Hammers stars showed what little respect they have for Lopetegui on the south coast.
When they were taken off, Alvarez and Kudus showed their utter disdain for the manager.
Alvarez, who has been seen mouthing off at the manager when subbed previously – particularly against Bournemouth in the cup – was muttering under his breath and shaking his head as he sauntered off when his number went up.
The commentators noted the reaction saying “he does not look happy at all” and that he was “cheesed off with the manager”.
Kudus was also seen shaking his head and making his displeasure clear as he was withdrawn again too.
Crysencio Summerville’s face was a picture too.
Is there any future in divided Hammers camp?
One of West Ham’s most exciting players this season, Summerville was harshly dropped yet again by Lopetegui.
That’s despite being one of the only West Ham stars who played well against Wolves.
As Lopetegui was giving Summerville instructions when he came on, the Dutchman looked crestfallen to only be getting 15 minutes.
Summerville is a hugely positive and bubbly character but cut a frustrated figure who didn’t appear to be one bit interested in what the manager was telling him. Then there is Paqueta.
Somehow back in the starting line-up, his performance was average at best once again.
