West Ham fans told Julen Lopetegui he would be getting sacked this morning during the 3-1 defeat at Leicester as pressure grows on the owners to act.
HAMMERS NEWS EXCLUSIVE
West Ham’s latest defeat may just be their worst of a bad bunch this season.
Based on the manager’s precarious situation and the level of the opposition, it is certainly up there.
There have been a string of unacceptable shambolic defensive displays under Julen Lopetegui.
But losing 3-1 to Man City, 3-0 to Chelsea, 5-1 at Liverpool, 4-1 at Spurs, 3-0 at Forest and 5-2 to Arsenal is very different to falling 3-0 behind to one of the very worst teams in the Premier League.
That’s what Leicester are.
And that’s why West Ham’s owners – and fans – fully expected the team to win comfortably at the King Power.
However, more rank awful defending coupled with woeful finishing from all bar one of West Ham’s 97-year-old strike force ensured that wouldn’t be the case.
Ahead of the game, a journalist close to Hammers majority owner David Sullivan declared defeat at Leicester could see West Ham sack Lopetegui after 14 league games.
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During the loss West Ham’s travelling faithful lost their faith.
The Hammers away end repeatedly chanted “You’re getting sacked in the morning” at the manager.
Now Lopetegui, with just five wins from 16 games in all competitions, has given Sullivan and co a decision to make.
Julen Lopetegui, Manager of West Ham United, acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and West Ham United FC ...
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
West Ham respond to Leicester defeat
When the away fans turn, things are in danger of becoming toxic.
They are very much the lifeblood of the club – the most dedicated and loyal of all the club’s following.
If they’re not having you, then you are in trouble.
So will West Ham act or continue to persist with their 58-year-old boss?
West Ham have responded to the Leicester defeat and radio silence on the big question about Lopetegui being sacked feels ominous.
It was put to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners that Lopetegui’s tenure is starting to resemble that of Manuel Pellegrini.
The Chilean was another manager with a decent CV on paper who was backed heavily with transfer funds by West Ham.
It was also put to West Ham that the defending is like nothing fans have seen.
Crucially we also asked the club whether any announcements over the manager were imminent.
General view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Ipswich Town FC. Inset, David Sullivan, Daniel Kretinsky, Tim Steidten, and Julen Lopetegui.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Radio silence on Lopetegui sack feels ominous
The short, sharp response to one part of the correspondence was as telling as the radio silence on the big question.
“Defending appalling,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News.
After the Arsenal shambles, the West Ham spokesman told us they were baffled by the contrast in performance between the win at Newcastle and defeat to Arsenal.
The key London Stadium contact also said Leicester and Wolves were “massive”.
But nobody expected defeat at the King Power.
So now we might be about to find out just how massive the board saw that game.
‘Lopetegui 99% gone’ journalist claims
Journalist Graeme Bailey has told Hammers News this morning that Lopetegui is indeed on the brink.
The reporter was the first to call West Ham’s interest in Sergio Conceicao back in October in an exclusive with Hammers News.
Now he says the end is near as soon as the Hammers identify the replacement.
“Told that he is 99 per cent gone,” Bailey told Hammers News.
“As long as they can get someone who is right.”
Sergio Conceicao is reportedly keen on the Hammers job after being lined up by Sullivan and co.
So it seems the West Ham corner flag picture may well be imminent.
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