Julen Lopetegui’s tenure at West Ham is rapidly descending into crisis, with his confusing tactics and sideline gestures leaving both players and fans confused.
After just 12 points from the first 11 Premier League games, the Spaniard’s position appears increasingly weak.
According to The Times, a showdown between club owners David Sullivan and director of football Tim Steidten is scheduled for this week, although insiders have since denied these claims. Regardless, the current state of the team surely warrants concern at the top.
One image from Saturday’s goalless draw with Everton, however, will particularly trouble West Ham supporters.
The game was a must-win, but the Hammers failed to claim all three points, with a dull performance that can only be described as passive and uninspired.
While it’s easy to point the finger at the players, Lopetegui’s tactical approach was at fault. The formation, which saw the team sit deep against a mid-table side like Everton, was puzzling.
As @BabblingIrons highlighted with a damning photo on X, it appeared as though West Ham were defending like a League Two outfit against a team like Manchester City.
With the attacking players at his disposal, West Ham should have been pressing high from the outset. Instead, the display was meek, and Lopetegui’s outdated setup is fast making him a dead man walking at the London Stadium.