Jason Cundy has slammed West Ham’s decision to appoint Julen Lopetegui as manager, branding it a “vanity appointment” and suggesting Graham Potter would have been a better fit.
Speaking on talkSPORT (9 November, 5:37pm), Cundy, alongside Jamie O’Hara and a West Ham fan, questioned why the club opted for Lopetegui as David Moyes’ successor in the summer.
Cundy believes Potter remains the ideal choice should West Ham’s hierarchy decide to part ways with Lopetegui in the coming weeks.
“It’s a vanity appointment, that’s what it is. They’ve been seduced again by the fact that he was at Real Madrid,” Cundy said.
“You talk about out-of-work managers – Graham Potter? Graham Potter is a perfect fit for West Ham!”
Lopetegui Appointment Under Scrutiny
Following West Ham’s lacklustre 0-0 draw with Everton at the London Stadium, questions over Lopetegui’s suitability have intensified.
The Hammers looked uninspired in attack and lacked defensive cohesion, raising doubts about their summer managerial choice.
New signing Crysencio Summerville provided a rare bright spark with an energetic performance, but he remains one of the few summer arrivals to have made a tangible impact.
Lopetegui has struggled to get the best out of his squad, with some players barely featuring under his management.
Potter a Missed Opportunity?
Cundy argues that Potter, who endured a difficult spell at Chelsea amid an influx of big-money signings, could thrive at West Ham.
With a more balanced and adaptable squad in East London, the former Brighton boss might have been able to deliver the progressive football Hammers fans crave.
Whether the club’s hierarchy will act on Lopetegui’s precarious position remains to be seen. Should they decide to make a change, supporters will hope for a more pragmatic choice—one that could see Potter finally take the reins.