The London Stadium fell silent as Julen Lopetegui was seen raging on the touchline during West Ham United’s draw with Everton, iNews has shared.
Kat Lucas spotted (12 November) that Lopetegui “sprang into life” in the 30th minute of the Irons’ 0-0 stalemate at home, gesturing for his team to push further up the pitch amid a passive display.
Lopetegui’s side were yet to have an attempt on goal at the point of the Spaniard’s outburst, which could be heard easily in the stands due to an incredibly subdued atmosphere at the London Stadium.
Julen Lopetegui the root cause of dismal West Ham atmosphere
Had the Hammers been throwing numbers forward at every opportunity looking to expose a vulnerable Everton side on 9 November, the 60,000-strong crowd would likely have been right behind them.
Instead, however, the Irons’ insipid nature in possession and their haplessness without it so far this season has left the fanbase with an apathetic attitude towards Lopetegui’s style of football.
The Spaniard, who replaced David Moyes on the basis that the Scot’s style of play was too pragmatic, is not proving to be any better than his predecessor when it comes to both performances and results.
Everton could well have been 1-0 up by the time Lopetegui yelled at his side to push forward, with Crysencio Summerville intervening to prevent them, and that is an ominous sign for the Hammers.
Unless Lopetegui can turn things around quickly in East London, he could soon be out of a job, and as things stand, the home crowd don’t have much faith in the 58-year-old to rescue their ailing season.
In other West Ham news, former boss Harry Redknapp has taken aim at the Irons’ recruitment in the summer transfer window.
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Pressure is mounting on the current manager at the London Stadium, with the Hammers only claiming three wins and 12 points from their first 11 matches of the new Premier League campaign.
The likes of Jose Mourinho and Thomas Frank have been tipped as potential successors to the Spaniard, though Graham Potter has now been mooted as the best option for the Hammers.
Speaking live via talkSPORT on Monday (11 November, 5:08pm), Andy Goldstein said: “West Ham are craving a new manager,” to which Bent replied: “I’d rather Graham Potter than Ruud van Nistelrooy…”
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