It seems everyone has an opinion on Julen Lopetegui and his tenure at West Ham, but few carry the weight of Kevin Nolan’s.
The former Hammers midfielder and fan favourite, who played a pivotal role in West Ham’s rise under David Moyes, has spoken out about the state of affairs at the London club, and his words are bound to resonate.
Nolan’s connection to West Ham is deep-rooted. A key figure in the backroom team that ended the club’s 43-year wait for a major trophy, he also served the Hammers with distinction as a player and captain.
This summer, after Moyes’ departure, Nolan was keen to stay on and continue his work, offering his expertise to help with the transition. Yet, according to Nolan, his offer was snubbed by new manager Julen Lopetegui.
Speaking candidly, Nolan revealed that, initially, the disappointment was so great that he couldn’t even bring himself to watch his beloved Hammers under their new management.
“I was still raw,” Nolan admitted, explaining that he had to distance himself from the team in the immediate aftermath of his departure. However, with time, those feelings are beginning to fade, though Nolan is still far from convinced by Lopetegui’s decisions.
One decision, in particular, has Nolan scratching his head: the appointment of Jarrod Bowen as West Ham captain.
Nolan believes that handing the armband to the 27-year-old forward was premature and has placed undue pressure on Bowen, affecting his performances in the early stages of the season.
“What has happened is that put maybe too much pressure on Jarrod too early,” Nolan said in an interview with BBC 5 Live Sport.
“He has just come back from the Euros. If you look at a lot of the people who have come back from the Euros as well, they have had quite a slow start to try and get back into this sort of season. A lot of pressure has been placed on Jarrod’s shoulders.”
While Nolan has no doubt about Bowen’s talent and character, he questions whether the captaincy might be too much at this stage.
“Listen, he can take it. He is a big guy. He is a good lad, top man, great professional. When I heard that he got the captaincy, and I know it’s a massive thing for him, I just thought, it is a bit too early for him and would that affect his game? You know what I mean?”
Nolan went on to elaborate:
“Would that take away what Jarrod is? And when I am looking at it now and seeing him after the game, he is probably taking a lot more on whereas he was firmly focused on Jarrod Bowen and being the best he can be for West Ham.”
Nolan’s views are echoed by a growing number of West Ham fans who, while fully appreciating Bowen’s contributions to the club, are concerned that the additional responsibility may be hindering his natural game.
Bowen, a key player for the Hammers, has looked somewhat off his usual pace in recent matches, leading some to speculate that the pressure of leadership is weighing him down.
However, finding an alternative to Bowen as captain is not an easy task, as former West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker pointed out.
Reo-Coker, who recently visited the club’s training ground, expressed concern over what he saw as a lack of leaders within the squad. “I witnessed a worrying lack of characters and leaders,” Reo-Coker said, highlighting a deeper issue that may extend beyond Bowen’s suitability for the armband.
The problems at West Ham have not been confined to the captaincy. Reports have emerged of discord within the dressing room, with several players, including Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta, seemingly at odds with Lopetegui.
Kudus was involved in a heated exchange with the manager during the weekend’s match, while Paqueta was visibly frustrated after being substituted in the second half against Brentford.
All of this suggests that Lopetegui’s tenure at West Ham has been far from smooth, with growing unrest both on and off the pitch.
Whether the Spaniard can steady the ship remains to be seen, but Kevin Nolan’s insights will no doubt add to the mounting scrutiny surrounding his reign. For Nolan, at least, the warning signs are clear.