Tag: West Ham

The 5 best possible Julen Lopetegui replacements for West Ham
14Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Features, Premier League

The 5 best possible Julen Lopetegui replacements for West Ham

It's not a stretch to say that West Ham have been the most disappointing team in the Premier League this season after Manchester United, who already took the big step of firing Erik ten Hag (though they really shouldn't have gone into the season with him as their manager). West Ham are a different case, because even though, like Manchester United, they made significant offseason additions after a poor 2023/24 campaign, they already changed their manager in the summer. The Hammers hoped Julen Lopetegui - formerly of Real Madrid, Sevilla, and Wolves - would be able to turn things around after an uneven second half of the season from David Moyes. Their decision to move on from Moyes, who was wildly successful earlier in his West Ham tenure, wasn't a universal one but largely seemed t...
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West Ham’s saving grace comes into focus after another poor performance vs. Everton
11Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

West Ham’s saving grace comes into focus after another poor performance vs. Everton

With the possible exceptions of Wolves and Crystal Palace, who are both literally in relegation places, there hasn't been a more disappointing team to start the 2024/25 Premier League season than West Ham. Despite an offseason filled with signings, the Hammers are no better than they were last season and may be even worse, as they currently sit in 14th place under new manager Julen Lopetegui. The former Real Madrid coaching flop is already on the hot seat in London, and the only thing keeping him from being canned is a worry internally of starting a revolving door coaching carousel. West Ham suffered another poor result this past weekend, drawing 0-0 to yearly relegation candidates Everton in what can only be described as another lifeless display from this Lopetegui-coached side. ...
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West Ham’s leading candidate to replace Julen Lopetegui starting to come into focus
10Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

West Ham’s leading candidate to replace Julen Lopetegui starting to come into focus

With a 0-0 loss to one of the Premier League's now perennial relegation candidates, West Ham are clearly playing well below their standard under Julen Lopetegui, who was expected to have the Hammers at least somewhat improving initially on the poor second half of the 2023/24 season under David Moyes. Because, for starters, Moyes did have the Hammers looking good in the first half of the season before injuries took their toll, and, secondly, West Ham added so much talent to support Lopetegui this summer, particularly in the attack. While it's true that some of the big name acquisitions like Niclas Fullkrug, Carlos Soler, and Jean-Clair Todibo have yet to make an impact, there is simply no excuse for how poorly this team has performed under Lopetegui. Before the season even started,...
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West Ham reportedly make ridiculously bloated offer for striker prospect
5Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

West Ham reportedly make ridiculously bloated offer for striker prospect

West Ham signed a new No. 9 this past summer in Niclas Fullkrug, but the former Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund man has yet to make an impact for the Hammers due to injury. The club remains hopeful that Fullkrug, who was key in Dortmund reaching the Champions League Final last season, can be an asset this season. In addition to Fullkrug, West Ham also signed young Leeds left winger Crysencio Summerville to give new manager Julen Lopetegui further attacking options. Further, West Ham dipped into the former La Liga well to help Lopetegui, signing former Valencia attacker Carlos Soler from PSG to round out what looked like a deep attack on paper. While Summerville has flashed the potential to start alongside Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen in a fearsome trident, West Ham have had...
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West Ham closer to canning Julen Lopetegui and have a risky replacement in mind
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

West Ham closer to canning Julen Lopetegui and have a risky replacement in mind

David Moyes achieved a great deal at West Ham and, at times, had the Hammers playing beautiful football, so it wasn't necessarily a universally popular move when the club decided to move on from the Premier League veteran at the end of the 2023/24 season. West Ham, in truth, were horrible in the second half of the campaign, so you can understand why many fans grew impatient with the combination of poor results and putrid play on the pitch. Unfortunately for West Ham, they are probably regretting the decision, and even if firing Moyes at the time was the right choice, it's clear that they replaced him with the wrong guy. Julen Lopetegui has taken West Ham several steps back so far in 2024/25, and the Hammers have become completely unwatchable despite having a talented squad after a...
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West Ham have now answered their biggest attacking question with Crysencio Summerville
28Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, Premier League

West Ham have now answered their biggest attacking question with Crysencio Summerville

West Ham have come away arguably the biggest winners of the Premier League weekend by taking down Manchester United 2-1 in a highly-anticipated matchup that was jokingly referred to as "El Sackico" because of the increasing pressures on Julen Lopetegui and Erik ten Hag. And in the end, it was the former Sevilla and Real Madrid manager's side who came away with the three points, doing enough to hold a sagging Manchester United attack at bay while finding finishes from talented wingers Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen. Coming into the 2024/25 season, West Ham had some attacking question marks as far as their regular starters go, because only Bowen's position on the right wing was locked in as an every game starter, with Mohammed Kudus also set as a starter, albeit the role itself...
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Insider offers transfer update on West Ham’s struggling striker Niclas Fullkrug
26Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Premier League

Insider offers transfer update on West Ham’s struggling striker Niclas Fullkrug

West Ham spent 27 million pounds to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug this summer after the German international was unwilling to compete with new BVB signing Serhou Guirassy, who had scored 28 goals in the previous season to lead Stuttgart to an unlikely Champions League berth. The Fullkrug transfer wasn't without its criticisms due to the hefty transfer fee for a 31-year-old player, but he showed up well for the Champions League Finalists last season and proved to be Germany's best option at the 9 this summer at Euro 2024. Unfortunately for West Ham, the club has been unable to benefit from its best out-and-out No. 9 this season, as the experienced big man has been out injured since making just three substitute appearances in the Premier League (for a total of 63 minut...
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West Ham might fire Julen Lopetegui earlier than they should
26Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Premier League

West Ham might fire Julen Lopetegui earlier than they should

West Ham were one of the most active players in Europe during the past summer transfer window, as they legitimately did what they could to support new manager Julen Lopetegui with the pieces he needed to improve the Hammers from last season's sputtering finish under David Moyes. Though some felt Moyes should have been given more time on the grounds of his past accomplishments at West Ham, the writing was on the wall for the manager after several listless attacking displays to end the season. Lopetegui, however, hasn't materially improved West Ham to this point, as after eight matchdays, the Hammers sat in lowly 15th, tied on points with now perennial relegation fighters Everton. Although it seems far too early to begin discussing canning the former Wolves, Sevilla, and Real Madrid...
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EPL Predictions: Tottenham take care of West Ham, Brighton threaten Newcastle, Liverpool dominate Chelsea
19Oct By Cody AcevedaNo Comments
Features, Premier League

EPL Predictions: Tottenham take care of West Ham, Brighton threaten Newcastle, Liverpool dominate Chelsea

Tottenham vs. West Ham Tottenham’s devastating 3-2 loss to Brighton was the worst result for any Premier League team on Matchday 7 before the international break. The North London club blew a 2-0 lead to the Seagulls in the second half.  Manager Ange Postecoglou looked despondent after the match, and stressed that what he saw from his side was unacceptable. Admittedly, it’s a bit silly to say, but I can’t see this Tottenham side losing again after such an embarrassing loss. I don’t think ‘Big Ange’ will let them. It’s not just that though.  Son Heung-min is back from injury. Having their club captain back makes Spurs a totally different team on both sides of the ball. Tottenham’s opponents are another reason I’m confident about the Lilywhites’ chances this weekend.  West Ham have...
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Struggling West Ham defender surprisingly shines in international duty
14Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Premier League

Struggling West Ham defender surprisingly shines in international duty

West Ham made a bevy of offseason investments to upgrade their defense, midfield, and attack in order to set up incoming manager Julen Lopetegui for success after replacing David Moyes. But instead of coming out of the gates firing on all cylinders, West Ham have predictably been experiencing an adjustment period with tough results, amounting to a 12th-placed finish so far at the October international fixtures. The Hammers have shown recent signs of life with a 4-1 blowout win over newly-promoted Ipswich, and they are at least ahead of fellow European football competitors Manchester United, who made even more significant summer signings. Funnily enough, West Ham's most successful summer transfer to this point came from Manchester United, as right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has looked ...
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