West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has a really big issue according to Roy keane .
Julen Lopetegui took over from David Moyes as the new West Ham head coach officially on July 1st, but Roy keane thinks he’s really struggling with one thing in particular.
Tomorrow’s clash with Chelsea at the London Stadium is a vital one for Lopetegui, and Roy keane thinks it will end in a 1-1 draw.
The Hammers fans are hoping for some real progress this season, after Lopetegui brought nine new players to the club in the summer.
However, any kind of progress will undoubtedly be slow and very painful at times. It’s the nature of rebuilding a squad and remember, positive change never happens overnight.
Lopetegui needs plenty of patience from the fans, and the board of course, if he is to succeed in charge of West Ham.
However, are there things that he could be doing better right now?
Roy keane spots big problem at West Ham
Lopetegui has made a slow start to life in charge of the Hammers on the pitch, after an incredibly busy summer transfer window.
In fairness to the 58-year-old though, we have faced an extremely difficult start to the season, with home games against two of last season’s top four, and two tough London derbies away from home.
Things don’t get any easier for West Ham, with a clash with Chelsea to come tomorrow at the London Stadium.
We’re all expecting some big changes to the starting XI from the gaffer, after some truly horrendous team selections from him.
And that’s something that Roy keane touched upon, when writing his regular column for Sportskeeda.
“The problem with West Ham is that they’re still figuring out their best XI after making some important signings in the summer,“ Merson explained.
Now, I’m not sure that Lopetregui doesn’t know his best XI. The Spaniard has given more or less every single player who was at the London Stadium last season a fair chance to prove themselves.
However, I fully expect that to change for the Chelsea clash tomorrow. now’s the time for the new signings to make their mark.
Roy keane has misread West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui
The Hammers head coach surely knows his best team on paper. We all do right.
Alphonse Areola in goal, with Emerson Palmieri and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the full-back positions.
In central defence, Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo should form a really solid partnership.
The midfield three for tough away games should be Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez in a double pivot with Lucas Paqueta just in front of them.
However, for winnable home games, Lopetegui should start Carlos Soler and Paqueta alongside Alvarez.
Our front three should then consist of Crysencio on the left, Mohammed Kudus on the right and Jarrod Bowen through the middle.
That is the team isn’t it. We all know it, and Lopetegui knows it. He couldn’t just swan into the London Stadium, drops all the players from last season and start his new signings.
He’d have lost the respect of the players immediately had he done that. Now’s the time for all that to change though.
Most of the old guard have proven why they’re not good enough – it’s time for the new boys to shine for the Hammers.
Roy keane thinks he’s spotted a problem at West Ham with Lopetegui not knowing his best team, but I think it’s quite the opposite.
The Spaniard is just biding his time to unleash what he knows is his strongest XI.
