Forum | Non-Football Related

Only at West Ham could a club unveil their new manager and then have their 'glory' stolen by the FA on the same day! Any elation felt by the Hammers board about the publication of Julen Lopetegui's role as head coach must have evaporated as the FA finally decided to charge Lucas Paqueta with 'betting irregularities'charges.

It is alleged that the Hammers attacker deliberately got yellow carded on FOUR separate occasions in order to facilitate large scale bets placed in South America. Paqueta has vehemently denied the charges and expressed his disbelief that the FA have decided to press charges despite only possessing 'heresay' evidence.

If found guilty Pauqeta faces a lengthy ban and criminal charges in his home country of Brazil where he technically could face imprisonment! Of course, Paqueta is innocent until proven guilty and you can 'bet your house' that he will be represented by the formidable Henri Brandman among other high profile legal representatives that the club have at their disposal.

The positive that can be drawn from the charges being applied now is that the matter can be resolved ahead of next season, thus freeing Paqueta up for his anticipated £85 Million transfer to Champions Man City.

Only at West Ham! - Ed

West Ham have now officially appointed Julen Lopetegui as their new head coach. The 57 year old Spaniard succeeds David Moyes and joins on a two year deal, with the option for a third.

Lopetegui's first words after the confirmation of his arrival were "I feel very happy, first of all, to be able to be part of the future of this big club. We had other opportunities but I am very happy that West Ham chose me because I chose West Ham too, so we are really happy about this."

"I feel that we have a fantastic platform, my ambition as a coach is always to be better and better, to achieve more and bigger aims and to encourage and improve the players, the team, and to compete because football is about this – to compete."

"Julen lives and breathes football," said West Ham's technical director Tim Steidten. "He thinks deeply about the game, he is tactically astute and he has shown he can adapt to work in different leagues, in different countries, with national teams, and in each situation he has shown his outstanding qualities."

Majority shareholder David Sullivan chipped in with "We believe this appointment will ensure a strong opportunity to build on the positive progress made in recent seasons, helping the club to move forward in the direction that aligns with our ambitions."
So there you have it, one of Hammers' worst kept secrets it out in the public domain, which has come as a relief to many but has generated reservations to many as well. The spiteful and ill founded "be careful what you wish for" campaign of negativity ahead of Lopetegui's arrival, led by armchair pundits can now be laid to rest!

Julen has a massive job ahead of him and has been working with Tim Steidten for weeks regarding what players they need to bring in and who needs to get the heave ho. I you believe all you see and read Hammers are pursuing players across the Globe and probably into outer space!

One huge positive is that Lopetegui seems to get on well with Tim Steidten and that the new coach is in place early enough to spend a lot of time with the players ahead of the new season, also that players earmarked for transfer are being actually targeted now, instead of at the end of the transfer window.

It is definitely the beginning of a new era for Hammers supporters, there will doubtless be setbacks on the journey, but at least there is potential for hope, but then again as many say about supporting West Ham, "it's the hope that kills you". Only time will tell- Ed

Among the raft of coaching staff being shown the door from West Ham yesterday one name does stick out and will have many feeling at least a tinge of sorrow, Kevin Nolan has left the building. Nolan of course, captained the Irons promotion winning team and became part of the fabric of the club.

Nolan served many years as a player and then returned in a coaching role alongside the likes of Irwin and Pearce to form a formidable touch line presence! No shrinking violet he always had the players' backs and was a well loved and respected man even if most didn't understand his Geordie accent!

Some people thought that he would be retained given his close association with the players, but it was probably better for all parties that there was a clearing out of the old ahead of the new Lopetegui era.

Nolan's tunnel antics will be missed, but it is what it is, Good luck Kev, it has been a pleasure. -LN