West Ham United’s 1-1 draw with Brentford this afternoon will do little to silence the critics circling around manager Julen Lopetegui.
In what has become a crucial period for the Spaniard, the match offered a chance to gain three vital points, but instead, the Hammers settled for a draw in a game that many felt was there for the taking.
Lopetegui, whose appointment was met with cautious optimism, desperately needed a victory to shore up his position. More importantly, he had to ensure West Ham didn’t lose this pivotal Premier League clash.
As rumours swirl around his job security, the pressure is mounting at the London Stadium, and the draw will do little to ease the tension.
Although there’s no concrete suggestion that Lopetegui is in imminent danger of being sacked, he cannot afford to preside over a string of defeats.
A run of three or four losses on the bounce would likely push the situation to a tipping point. Today’s result won’t lift the weight off his shoulders, but a loss would have been disastrous, further darkening the mood around the club.
Lopetegui’s position is precarious. While today’s point halts the downward spiral, it does little to inspire confidence that things are on the up. The fans’ patience is wearing thin, and the result at Brentford won’t change that.
But did Lopetegui want the win badly enough? Or was he more concerned with simply avoiding defeat? The way the match unfolded might provide some insight into the Spaniard’s current mindset.
Lopetegui’s Strange Decision in Injury Time
It’s fair to say that Lopetegui hasn’t exactly won over the West Ham faithful since his arrival. Results have been middling, and there’s a growing feeling that the Spaniard is, well, a little uninspiring.
He doesn’t seem to bring the flair or dynamism that many Hammers fans hoped for after the club finally parted ways with David Moyes.
Moyes, for all his qualities, had delivered an increasingly dour style of football, and many were hoping for a breath of fresh air. But so far, Lopetegui has struggled to shake off his own reputation for being somewhat conservative.
This afternoon’s match in west London was a perfect example. With the game finely poised and there for the taking, Lopetegui made a puzzling decision.
Just before the 92nd minute, with only moments left to push for a winner, Lopetegui took off his captain, Jarrod Bowen – one of the few players capable of producing a moment of magic in the dying minutes.
In Bowen’s place, Lopetegui brought on Andy Irving, a far more defensive option. It felt like a clear signal: he wasn’t going for the win, he was shutting up shop.
It was the sort of substitution that does little to endear a manager to a fanbase craving bold, attacking football. For many, it was reminiscent of Moyes’ cautious approach, and it begged the question: have West Ham simply swapped one conservative manager for another?
Lack of Ambition?
A point away at Brentford, on paper, is not a bad result. Brentford are a solid Premier League side, and a draw at their ground is far from embarrassing.
However, the context matters. West Ham were in control for large parts of the second half and created enough chances to leave with all three points.
The decision to substitute Bowen, who had been one of the livelier players on the pitch, smacked of a lack of ambition. Lopetegui’s reluctance to gamble on attacking substitutions late on left many fans feeling frustrated.
“So, have the Hammers just appointed the Spanish Moyes?” many will be asking after this performance. Lopetegui’s late-game tactics bore a striking resemblance to the safety-first football that had defined Moyes’ latter months at the club. The only discernible difference right now seems to be that Lopetegui is willing to make substitutions before the 70th minute!
It’s frustrating because the match felt there for the taking. Had Lopetegui kept Bowen on and perhaps introduced a player like Luis Guilherme for the final few minutes, West Ham might have been able to push for a late winner. Instead, they settled for a draw, and with it, missed an opportunity to change the narrative surrounding the club.
Tough Fixtures Ahead
To make matters worse, West Ham now face a tricky run of fixtures. Their next three games include Ipswich Town at home, Tottenham Hotspur away, and Manchester United at home. Given the form of those sides, the Hammers will need at least four points from these matches, and six would be preferable.
Had they beaten Brentford, the task ahead would have seemed less daunting. Three points from those upcoming fixtures would have been a passable return, but now, the pressure is on Lopetegui to secure wins against tough opposition.
Moving forward, Lopetegui needs to show more courage in tight matches. Fans want to see their team pushing for wins, not settling for draws. If West Ham continue to play it safe, the goodwill towards the new manager may run out sooner rather than later.