Tom Rennie has criticised Julen Lopetegui, claiming the West Ham manager could have no complaints if the club decide to sack him following their 4-1 loss to Tottenham on Saturday (19 October).
The Hammers returned from the international break hoping to find some form, but despite taking an early lead through Mohammed Kudus, they crumbled in North London. Kudus’ sending-off added to their woes, as Spurs ran riot in the second half.
While it remains unclear if the West Ham hierarchy are considering a managerial change, talkSPORT pundit Rennie suggested that Lopetegui’s position is far from secure. Writing on X (formerly Twitter) on 19 October, Rennie didn’t hold back:
“Tottenham could have won this by 7 or 8 goals. West Ham have no identity, no discipline, no chance. Lopetegui has won no friends in East London, and this has been as bad as it gets. If the club chalked this up as a mistake and sacked him, he’d have no leg to stand on.”
A Manager Under Pressure?
The defeat to Tottenham ranks among West Ham’s worst performances under both Lopetegui and his predecessor, David Moyes. The Hammers collapsed entirely in the second half, raising serious questions about Lopetegui’s ability to steady the ship.
While the players must shoulder some of the responsibility, the manager’s decisions were also called into question.
Ange Postecoglou’s proactive tactical adjustment at halftime highlighted the contrast between the two managers, as Lopetegui stuck with his initial lineup until it was too late.
His triple substitution, made when the game was already beyond reach, only added to the criticism.
West Ham’s recent performances have been alarming, with the team suffering heavy defeats regularly against opponents who haven’t needed to hit top gear.
Lopetegui’s tenure is off to a disastrous start, and unless things improve soon, it could be a long season for the East London side.
While it seems unlikely that the club will make a managerial change this early in the campaign, action will be needed sooner rather than later if they want to avoid further damage and ensure this poor form doesn’t define their Premier League season.