Julen Lopetegui is in the building at West Ham United and the club are now about to embark on a new era.
From Real Madrid to the Spain national team, he has worked in bigger pressure jobs than at the London Stadium, but that still won’t make his task any easier.
Say what you want about David Moyes, he still guided West Ham to three European finishes and won them the Europa Conference League.
But from results and performances this season to the overall style of play, he was taking too many verbal hits from the fans to stay on.
That’s why there is going to be huge pressure on Julen Lopetegui because, not only will he be expected to compete in Europe, but also deliver a worthwhile style of play.
The 57-year-old has already made big changes, including getting rid of the existing staff that were at the club.
Managers usually go two ways about this, either personnel stay on board, like Ryan Mason did when Tottenham appointed Ange Postecoglou last summer or there is a clear-out.
Lopetegui’s decision to clear the decks hasn’t gone down well with Michael Brown and he has labelled the call ‘strange’, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
The former midfielder felt individuals, such as Kevin Nolan, could have stayed on board because they know the club and it would then make it easier for him to settle in.
But the amount of staff that Lopetegui is now bringing in has been described as ‘concerning’.
Life after David Moyes for West Ham United
“They have listened to the fans (style of play), that’s one,” said Brown. “The angle they have gone down with Lopetegui.
“Obviously, he will be very demanding and what he wants to bring in. The amount of staff he is allowed to bring is a bit concerning for me.
“Okay, you want the change, you want the manager, but you have got good people still at the football club who know it well and the manager should really tap into that. I know you want fresh eyes on it and you want to go your way. You do leave a little bit of the identity. A little bit of something about West Ham could have stayed there, with Kev (Nolan) and Bill McKinlay etc… But to wipe everyone out, I thought it was strange and it must be the demands. I don’t think it’s the demands of the owners, that’s the demands of Lopetegui isn’t it.”
Julen Lopetegui is right to clear house at West Ham United
You either make the change or you don’t. West Ham and Moyes decided it was time to part ways and now it’s time for a new chapter.
Fans want to see fresh ideas. A new style of play. Attacking play. And the belief that their flair players can express themselves more.
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There is no point in keeping parts of the previous staff on board because you are only making half-hearted changes that way.
This way, there are no excuses for when West Ham begin their new season because some feel they can play better football with this team, but others are warning ‘be careful what you wish for’.
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