West Ham take on Bournemouth in the Premier League tonight with the manager’s future and the season at a crossroads.
Win and West Ham will go just three points behind their seventh-placed opponents and four off sixth spot.
That would reignite hopes of competing for a European place while keeping Julen Lopetegui in the job.
Lose, especially with another poor performance, and Lopetegui could finally be sacked with Graham Potter waiting to take over until the end of the season.
It’s been said several times already but this really could be Lopetegui’s last West Ham team selection.
So he needs to get it right.
The Spaniard faces one enforced change for the crunch clash.
But he has some crucial decisions to make all over the pitch.
Does Jean-Clair Todibo come back in after his major bust-up with the manager.
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It was reported at the weekend that West Ham’s angry owners have demanded Lopetegui mend relations with Todibo.
Emerson Palmieri is suspended so a decision must be made on who plays left-back.
Edson Alvarez was the worst player on the pitch against Wolves.
Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on November 30, 2024 i...
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Paqueta nears end as Lopetegui makes two West Ham changes
Then he must decide who plays up front with Jarrod Bowen starting there ahead of Danny Ings and Niclas Fullkrug last time out.
Many fans want to see Fullkrug start or Mohammed Kudus play there or in a more central role.
Lucas Paqueta is West Ham’s record signing and highest paid player on £150k per week.
He has been abysmal all year bar one or two performances.
The not so magnifico Brazilian has lost his place of late.
Jeff Stelling believes he saw evidence Lopetegui has fallen out with Paqueta in the win over Wolves.
When Paqueta came on in that game he was lackadaisical and almost cost his side with some selfish play late on.
Since then Paqueta has – yet again – been heavily linked with a return to Brazil in January.
Botafogo and his old side Flamengo are interested. A loan with obligation deal has been mooted based on the outcome of the hearing against Paqueta in March.
A swap loan is also on the cards with Botafogo as West Ham are interested in their striker Igor Jesus.
Now Paqueta nears end as Lopetegui makes two West Ham changes for Bournemouth.
Out of favour Guido Rodriguez is said to be a doubt for the game.
He would be the one to come in for Alvarez if a change were made in midfield after the Mexican’s latest woeful performance.
West Ham United's Jean-Clair Todibo in action during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and West Ham United at St James' Park on Nov...
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Todibo and Coufal in as awful Alvarez gets another chance
So it speaks volumes about where Paqueta is at that Alvarez will continue in the side ahead of him.
There is no way back from here for the 27-year-old. His days are clearly numbered and word is he is desperate to go back to Brazil hence the latest rumours.
We think Todibo will come back in for Konstantinos Mavropanos in defence given reports of pressure from above.
The big Green was regarded to have played well against Wolves.
But he should have given away a penalty, could have done better for Wolves’ goal and was guilty of a clumsy foul which should have seen Jarrod Bowen’s winner ruled out.
Change two will see Vladimir Coufal coming back into the side to replace Emerson.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka will shift across to left-back.
That means Fullkrug will start on the bench again.
Hammers News suggested youngsters Ollie Scarles and Lewis Orford should be given their big chances if Lopetegui wants to get fans back onside.
But it’s clear he won’t do that.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Bournemouth:
Fabianski, Coufal, Todibo, Kilman, Wan-Bissaka, Soucek, Alvarez, Soler, Summerville, Kudus, Bowen.
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