Julen Lopetegui should have sold one of his apparent West Ham United favourites in the summer window.
West Ham made a whole host of signings in the summer transfer window, with Julen Lopetegui bringing nine new players to the London Stadium.
12 players left the Hammers as well, so Lopetegui oversaw a massive squad overhaul in East London in the summer.
Things have started very slowly on the pitch for us, and Julen Lopetegui apologised to the West Ham fans after our shambolic defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.
The Spaniard has a lot of work to do, if he is to get his side up to scratch heading into the next vitally important batch of fixtures.
He has made some very clear and obvious mistakes so far this season, especially when it comes to naming his starting XI.
His team selections have been head-scratching at times, and it’s painfully clear to see that his faith in one specific player is completely misplaced.
West Ham made big mistake not selling Julen Lopetegui favourite
Lopetegui is having trouble bedding all of his new signings in right now.
There has been a lack of direction on the pitch from the players, and the most worrying thing is that the Hammers don’t seem to have a clear footballing identity.
That may well come with time, but I think that the trust Lopetegui is putting in one player is not only undeserved, but it’s having a hugely negative impact on the team.
Michail Antonio has started all but one of our opening five Premier League games this season.
And the one that he didn’t start, he came on as a 55th minute substitute.
Let’s face it, the Jamaica international has been awful for the Hammers this season, there really is no point beating around the bush.
According to a report from The Athletic, the Hammers rejected a £500,000 bid from Brazilian side Gremio for the 34-year-old forward at the start of the summer.
And Lopetegui will surely be regretting that decision now. Not only did he make the monumental error of signing Niclas Fullkrug instead of Jhon Duran, but he kept hold of quite possibly the worst striker in the Premier League as well.
Michail Antonio is not Premier League standard anymore
The 34-year-old striker forward shouldn’t be anywhere near the Hammers squad, let alone the starting XI.
Antonio has regressed badly over the past 12-18 months, and his decline has actually been very sad to see.
However, there is no room for sentiment in elite level sport. It has reached a point now whereby the former Nottingham Forest man is holding West Ham back.
Michail Antonio doesn’t possess the blistering pace he once had anymore, and his first touch really is beyond laughable at times.
The runs he makes are not befitting of a Premier League striker, and he gets in the way of his teammates more than actually opening up space for them.
Julen Lopetegui should have sold the West Ham forward in the summer. I think he probably realises that now.
However, his failure to bring an elite young striker to the London Stadium is amplifying that error.
I think the Spaniard should do everything to move on Antonio in January, and bring in a properly exciting, rapid young striker to replace him.
