A while ago, West Ham seemed like they were on to something. Consecutive wins and their competitive nature on the field indicated to the fans with West Ham tickets that the club is heading in the right direction.
But come 2024, things haven’t been the same. With five wins, the club sits 14th on the table, which will put them at risk in the relegation zone if things don’t get any better.
David Moyes’s appointment felt like things were heading in the right direction, but the run of form soon disappeared. Julen Lopetegui hasn’t been any better, and the club is now struggling.
Fans of West Ham tickets are demanding a change.
Change of Manager?
West Ham are considering Sérgio Conceição as a replacement for Julen Lopetegui, whose future as manager is under growing pressure after his team’s 5-2 defeat at home against Arsenal last Saturday.
The Guardian revealed last month that the Spaniard’s position hinged on results against Newcastle and Arsenal, with defeats in both outings likely to have resulted in his dismissal. Lopetegui, hired as David Moyes’s replacement last summer, met the challenge by recording an impressive 2-0 win at Newcastle.
Yet West Ham could not build on that performance when they hosted Arsenal, who sailed into a 4-0 lead inside 36 minutes after capitalising on some woeful defending.
The manner of that latest collapse has placed Lopetegui under renewed scrutiny before the trip to Leicester on Tuesday night and the home game against Wolves next Monday.
Although beating Newcastle has bought the 58-year-old time, West Ham has been identifying potential replacements.
There is serious interest in Conceição, who left Porto last summer. The 50-year-old Portuguese, who led Porto to three league titles and twice took them to the Champions League quarter-finals, is thought to be attracted to the job. West Ham are yet to establish contact with Conceição, but he is supported within the club.
Other contenders include the former Juventus manager Max Allegri, who was recently pictured in London. There is a feeling that Graham Potter could come into contention. The former Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier, who is coaching Al-Duhail in Qatar, has been considered in the past.
West Ham, six points above the bottom three, are yet to advance interest in Edin Terzic, the former Borussia Dortmund manager. They have checked on Kasper Hjulmand, Roger Schmidt and Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness.
West Ham has no history of swift sackings and remains reluctant to fire Lopetegui, but there is growing alarm over the team’s form. Moreover, the fans with West Ham tickets question the attacking intent, lacking from the side.
The former Wolves manager has struggled to implement his vision, and there is disquiet over last summer’s transfer business. West Ham spent more than £100m on players, and questions have been asked about Tim Steidten, the technical director.
Lopetegui could be in serious trouble if West Ham loses against Leicester. He has been boosted by the availability of Lucas Paquetá, who had been expected to give evidence in São Paulo on Tuesday to the Brazilian parliament for its inquiry into sports betting. The midfielder’s legal team successfully argued for him to appear via a remote video link.
However, it has emerged that Paquetá, who the Football Association has charged over an alleged breach of its betting regulations, is not obliged to give evidence to the inquiry and has chosen not to do so. The Brazil international denies wrongdoing.
West Ham will also be able to call upon Mohammed Kudus after the forward’s five-match ban. Lopetegui said the defender Jean-Clair Todibo was a doubt.
Mohammed Kudus Backup Secured
West Ham plans to monitor the situation of Atalanta’s young Belgian player, Charles De Ketelaere, over the coming weeks.
At 23 years of age, the player who can play on either the right wing or in midfield would represent a versatile option for Julen Lopetegui, particularly if Mo Kudus ultimately leaves the club.
There is growing interest from Liverpool and Arsenal to sign Kudus, who has been one of the brilliant strikers in the Premier League and is currently a hot transfer target across Europe.
Charles De Ketelaere is valued at around £40m, and CaughtOffside sources note that the Hammers could make a move for the player as early as the January transfer window.
Liverpool is also on the hunt for Ketelaere’s signature, as they are looking for backup for Mo Salah.
Liverpool are known to covet De Ketelaere and are believed to be preparing an offer of their own, which could suggest that Mo Salah won’t be extending his stay at Anfield.
The Reds see the 23-year-old as a player who can adapt quickly and prove himself in the Premier League.
Whilst there’s no confirmed news that Kudus or Lucas Paqueta will leave West Ham in January, Tim Steidten will have to be on his toes and quick to sign a replacement should potential buying clubs move quickly to take advantage of the Hammers’ perilous situation.
West Ham Academy Goalkeeper Dies after Battling with Cancer
An academy goalkeeper from West Ham’s youth academy has died after being diagnosed with cancer – with a club legend calling him a “true Hammer” and a “fantastic young person”.
Oscar Fairs – the Premier League club’s U15s academy goalkeeper – was diagnosed with a rare 7cm ependymoma brain tumour in August last year.
Despite undergoing seven surgeries, one round of chemotherapy and one round of radiotherapy, the teenager from Benfleet, Essex, was told palliative care was the only option.
The Premier League side released a statement on Friday announcing, with “deep and profound sadness”, that the teenager had died.
Mark Noble, a former club captain who rose through the youth ranks and is now the sporting director, said Oscar, who had been at the club since the age of nine, was “adored by everyone at the academy.”
“Not only was he a great goalkeeper, he was a true Hammer and a fantastic young person, who will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him,” Noble said in a statement on the club’s website.
“I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – Lenny and his teammates all loved him.
“He was a friendly, happy, well-mannered and polite young man who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is just so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken from his family and friends at this age.”
Fans with West Ham tickets took to social media to offer their condolences to the family.
