Julen Lopetegui finds himself under intense scrutiny after West Ham United’s 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The Hammers’ performance was abysmal at the City Ground, and while Edson Alvarez’s careless red card didn’t help matters, Lopetegui remains squarely at fault for his team’s collapse.
West Ham are now a club in disarray, and it’s no exaggeration to say that Lopetegui’s tenure is at risk.
The decision to appoint him in the summer appears increasingly misguided, and one wonders if David Sullivan should have pursued Ruben Amorim instead.
However, the focus for now is firmly on Lopetegui, whose missteps are becoming difficult to overlook.
In my view, Lopetegui has failed spectacularly since arriving at West Ham. The way he managed the match against Forest was nothing short of a sackable offence.
Julen Lopetegui’s baffling choices at the City Ground
There was a litany of poor decisions from Lopetegui during the match, but one call in particular stood out as inexcusable.
Opting not to start with a traditional striker was questionable, and his switch to three centre-backs seemed both excessive and unwarranted.
It’s astonishing that after four months, Lopetegui still appears unsure of his best lineup.
But his worst decision came when he chose to take Crysencio Summerville off at half-time. Down to ten men, West Ham needed pace for counter-attacks, yet Lopetegui removed their fastest player. You couldn’t make it up.
Summerville may not have been at his best in the first half, but given his brilliant display against Manchester United last weekend, the decision to bench him sends a baffling message. I feel genuinely sorry for the 23-year-old, who isn’t being given a fair shot under Lopetegui.
For me, Lopetegui’s decision to pull Summerville off at half-time wasn’t just a tactical blunder—it was unforgivable. This, combined with the team’s ongoing disarray, makes a strong case for him to be sacked without delay.