Julen Lopetegui’s tenure at West Ham has been anything but smooth, with a poor start leaving fans frustrated and questioning the Spaniard’s future.
After losing his first three home matches—a club record no manager would want—there are already murmurs that his stint in East London “won’t end well” due to the growing impatience among the Hammers faithful.
Christmas Deadline Looms:
West Ham currently sit in 15th place following a humbling 4-1 defeat at Tottenham, a result that has further soured the mood among supporters.
Given the investment made by technical director Tim Steidten during the summer, expectations were high.
However, the new signings have struggled to deliver, leaving Lopetegui battling to integrate fresh faces into his system.
The Guardian reports that Lopetegui will be given time to turn things around, but it seems clear that Christmas will be a critical juncture. If there is no noticeable improvement by then, fans can expect the club to part ways with the former Sevilla boss.
A Disjointed Start:
While it was always going to take time for Lopetegui to bed in new players, the lack of cohesion in the team has been striking.
With only two wins from their opening eight Premier League fixtures, West Ham have managed just six points, along with two additional draws against Brentford and Fulham.
Though those results have kept them just above the relegation zone, performances have been far from convincing.
Avoiding the Drop:
One silver lining for West Ham is that, much like last season, there are several weaker sides in the division.
Unless the Hammers experience a complete collapse, they should avoid being dragged into a serious relegation battle, even if their season continues to underwhelm.
Eight Weeks to Improve:
For now, Lopetegui has been granted a stay of execution. Whether the team turns a corner or not, clarity will arrive by Christmas.
Either Lopetegui steadies the ship and begins to meet expectations, or West Ham will be forced to act, giving fans hope for a fresh start as the club seeks to avoid another underwhelming campaign.