From the brink of sacking, Lopetegui has gone undefeated in his last three games, picking up 5 points.
The home game against Wolves seemingly appeared to be the fitting end of his time in the Premier League, with a replacement in Graham Potter supposedly at the ready, it was thought his sacking was imminent.
However, a lacklustre win with two very generous early Christmas gifts from VAR gave us three points and kept him in his job. Before the Bournemouth game, it was said that the match wouldn't have much impact on the decision to get rid of him due to West Ham being "LONG odds against winning."
One of Lopetegui's lives came through Fabianski's cat-like performance, saving everything in his path, ultimately leading to him winning MOTM while securing us more points on the board, in which we actually had a rather decent performance.
This, unfortunately, couldn't be the same against Brighton, a game in which you just wish you didn't attend simply due to the snoozefest we all watched, not to mention the freezing cold.
If you'd like a stat that would pretty much summarise the match, it would be that out of every West Ham player, the man with the most touches (64) would be Lukasz Fabianski...
The dismal nature of the football we are playing seems like 'Jules' is only doing this to keep his job, playing a very defensive style of football while then occasionally hitting the ball up the field, hoping that someone wins it and we can create a chance from it.
The exclusion of Carlos Soler was missed, a player who has started to find his grooves, this was shown especially throughout the Bournemouth game, he shinned, and upon taking him off, the decline began in the match, which only really led to us getting a point where we perhaps could've had three.
Decisions in Lopetegui's substitutions seem to be raising eyebrows more than being applauded; he has most definitely made it known during this season that he isn't afraid to make substitutions. Decisions against Brentford to take off Mohammed Kudus, or even in the game against Brighton where he took off Mavropanos at halftime for Todibo... which says a lot.
Jules' longest unbeaten record in the Premier League in 3 matches, with our next game being on Boxing Day away to Southampton, he has a chance to extend his record and a win would see us having 8 points in the last four, wherein the current silly season we are in, is rather good.
After the Southampton match, games against Liverpool, Manchester City, and Aston Villa in the FA Cup are to follow, it seems to be only a matter of time before the sacking rumours surface again, but for now, his unbeaten streak has spared him some of his lives, but how many has he used so far?
The site would also like to give its deepest condolences to Julien Lopetegui and the recent loss of his father before the Brighton match. Rest In Peace.
Comments
Good Post Louis
And what can we add.....hearing Saka is now out until feb i can see Arsenal now coming in for Kudus just a good way to start the new year!.
Loppy i am pretty sure will last the rest of the season now which is a ridiculous decision especially with the window opening why would you give anything to a man nobody trusts to do anything in the boardroom but cannot remove him because of Sullivans veto you just have to laugh.
Yes a good post Louis,summed
Yes a good post Louis,summed it all up there,i also think like Mac,Loopy will hobble his way through the season,with the black cloud called the sack hanging over his head,putting us poor supporters through a prolonged headache,we wont get relegated,but we will always see ugly football.
Uninspiring indeed Louis
Whether with my friends or my Father going to the game leaves us uninspired indeed.
And this like it has been mentioned will i fear go on all season long.
Mavropanos HAD to come off
He was on a (dubious) yellow.
This post, to me, pretty much sums up why Allardyce called West Ham fans deluded.We're getting a bit ahead of ourselves thinking we had divine rights to be collecting three points along these games. In case you hadn't noticed, the three B's, Brentford, Bournemouth and Brighton are very good teams, settled, and are everything that we should be striving towards
With the exception of playing Kududs on the left, I am beginning to see some semblance of what Loppy is getting towards and I feel a January window is exactly what he is banking on to finish the jigsaw which was totally broken in a thousand pieces by the previous incumbent of which pretty much all of us wanted out. I'm not a fan of constantly swapping managers and lessons can be taken here, again from the three B's.
At least in my eyes he has seen what I've been saying for a long long time. Areola is NOT a first choice keeper.
I look forward to the finish of the January window, expecting goings as well as incomings. I'll hold judgement until then on Loppys future
Good post Louis, says it all
Good post Louis, says it all at present. I may be in the minority here. But I honestly believe if Southampton beat us convincingly. Bearing in mind they are rock bottom of the table. If as many suspect. Harry Potter is primed and lined up ready to go. Contract in place. Sullivan will indeed pull the plug in time for January's window to watch (Old John Collier fans there)!!..
Lol!!!!! Boogers yes.....John
Lol!!!!! Boogers yes.....John Collier,John Collier the window to watch,great days.
Souchec,Coufal ,Paddy the
Souchec,Coufal ,Paddy the Greek ,Rodriguez and Emerson .just not up to it ,they lack in all deptments ,skill,pace, confidence ,sure Souchec scores the odd goal but come on !!!!, championship at best ,our centre forward would won't to cop himself on as well.