West Ham United

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  1. 'There is not a good pattern forming and the belief is fading'published at 12:20 GMT 5 December 2024

    Nedum Onuoha, BBC Sport columnist banner
     Julen Lopetegui Image source, Getty Images

    I feel sorry for most football managers because they can't legislate for small mistakes in performances.

    As for West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui, you can say he hasn't had a lot of time, but he hasn't really shown much in that time to give people belief that changes will occur in the future.

    From listening to people associated with the club, post-David Moyes they wanted to see a manager who brought something different and as it stands the only difference is probably inconsistency.

    That is not what West Ham were looking for.

    They spent money in the summer bringing in the likes of Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but none of those players have been consistently good for them or helped them to be a better side.

    I would liken West Ham to Jekyll and Hyde at the moment. They won at the weekend but then they went to Leicester and they walked away with a 3-1 defeat.

    There is not a good pattern forming and the belief is fading. I'm not saying that the players are losing faith, but what will it take for fans to believe in Lopetegui now?

    Fans just want consistency. They don't believe they should be winning the league or finishing in the top four but with the talent they have they should be doing better than they are.

    There have been many question marks over Lopetegui's team selections and tactics since he arrived.

    They aren't really scoring enough goals, they are conceding too many and they haven't been competitive in games they should have been in. Quite a few fans are becoming anxious because of this.

    You would have thought he would have found a formula by now that works given his previous experience.

    Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

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  2. Gossip: Potter emerges as candidate to replace Lopeteguipublished at 07:47 GMT 5 December 2024

    Gossip graphic

    Julen Lopetegui's future as West Ham United head coach is hanging in the balance. (Sky Sports), external

    Edin Terzic, Roger Schmidt, Sergio Conceicao and Massimiliano Allegri - all currently without a club - are among the managers being considered by the Hammers. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

    Former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter is also of interest to West Ham. (Times - subscription required), external

    Ex-Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand is another manager the Hammers could turn to, if they part ways with Lopetegui. (Sky Sports Germany), external

    Want more news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

  3. Leicester 3-1 West Ham - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:34 GMT 4 December 2024

    Your views banner
    Jarrod Bowen playing for West HamImage source, Getty Images

    We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Leicester City and West Ham.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Leicester fans

    Andrew: What a difference in less than two days. Leicester played like a team, for the first time in weeks. If Jannik Vestergaard hadn’t been subbed, it would have been 3-0. Wout Faes has to go.

    Dino: So much better. Not perfect by any means, gave the ball away too much, especially in the first half but a good second half performance. Lots of fight, lots of positives. Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumare were both superb. Can only get better!

    Leicester lad: Higher tempo throughout the game was key to winning as it upset the composure of the Hammers at vital times. More commitment, energy and we battled them. We had bit of luck when needed but we earned it by our effort throughout. Come on you blue boys!

    West Ham fans

    Kevin: That was appalling! I had no hope going into the game and I was proved right. We did the same thing over and over again and failed - go wide, cross the ball, it gets blocked, rinse and repeat. Konstantinos Mavropanos shouldn't come near a starting line up again.

    James: You could argue that West Ham were unlucky not to score more, but that ignores the fact that they let in three goals again! The defenders need to defend.

    Barry: The manager has to go. Absolutely exposed time after time and he never changed anything to improve it. Yes the scoreline flattered the Foxes but we still lost and the team look lost. There needs to be a change.

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  4. 'Very frustrated' - Lopetegui unhappy with Leicester defeatpublished at 07:40 GMT 4 December 2024

     Julen LopeteguiImage source, Getty Images

    West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui speaking to BBC Sport following the defeat by Leicester: "It’s not easy, because we deserved much more. We had 31 shots, many, many chances and we didn’t score.

    "We have to do better and avoid this stat. We had to take more risks in the second half and a good team will take advantage of this. We have to be more effective as normally when you are able to create this number of chances you are going to score one.

    "We are very frustrated for the fans and players because they didn’t deserve to lose.

    "But we [lost] and we have to recover. The energy and belief for the next challenge is knowing this is the way to be able to change the situation."

    On whether he fears for his job: "The only thing I am worried about now is to go in on Wednesday for the training session and to prepare for the next challenge.

    "We have one month of a lot of matches and I'm sure with this attitude we will achieve much more points. Today it's hard to say this.

    "There are days when it is easy, today it was not easy. We are very frustrated but because we deserved much more."

  5. There can be 'no excuses' against Leicesterpublished at 12:24 GMT 3 December 2024

    James Jones
    Fan writer

    West Ham fan's voice banner
    Lukasz Fabianski accidentally punches Gabriel Image source, Getty Images

    A few days is a long time in football.

    On Monday night there was a glimmer of hope that things might be improving after West Ham went to St. James' Park and deservedly came back with all three points.

    But by Saturday night it felt like we were back to square one and questioning Julen Lopetegui's ability to turn things around.

    I wrote last week that all we wanted to see after the Newcastle win was a similar performance against Arsenal. There was no expectation we would win, but there was an expectation that the performance would continue to show progress.

    Conceding five goals at home suggested there are still so many issues that need to be fixed. The quality of the opposition is irrelevant. For much of the past four years, we were very difficult to beat, even against so-called 'top six' sides.

    But this season we have shipped five goals twice and look so fragile defensively that it is a mystery we have not conceded more.

    The win against Newcastle will have saved Lopetegui's job in the short term. He will have the next few games to prove to everyone that the Arsenal defeat, and the manner of it, was just another blip in his long term vision.

    To earn any trust that he has a future in east London, he simply has to ensure we go to Leicester on Tuesday night and win.

    Saturday was more about the performance and not the result. Tuesday is all about both.

    No excuses.

    Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external

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  6. Sutton's predictions: Leicester v West Hampublished at 08:40 GMT 3 December 2024

    Chris Sutton and The Slow Readers Club

    Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

    For week 14 he takes on James Ryan, bassist with rock band The Slow Readers Club.

    Sutton's prediction: 1-2

    Both teams were beaten heavily at the weekend and this feels like a massive game for West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui, who is back under scrutiny again after such a big defeat at home by Arsenal.

    What might help him here is how bad Leicester are defensively. This is Ruud van Nistelrooy's first game in charge of the Foxes so you would expect King Power Stadium to be rocking, but that will not help them keep the Hammers out.

    I am not convinced by West Ham in any way, shape or form at the moment but they have attacking players who can hurt Leicester, and that will get them the win Lopetegui needs.

    Ryan's prediction: 1-0

    This has got 'new manager bounce' written all over it.

    Read the full predictions and have your say here

  7. Gossip: Porto boss Conceicao a possible Lopetegui replacementpublished at 07:32 GMT 3 December 2024

    Gossip graphic

    West Ham are considering Porto boss Sergio Conceicao as a replacement for Julen Lopetegui, whose future as manager is under increasing pressure. (Guardian), external

    Meanwhile, the Hammers have decided to offer Vladimir Coufal a new contract rather than offload the 32-year-old right-back. (Football Insider), external

    Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

  8. Who have West Ham got in the FA Cup third round?published at 19:31 GMT 2 December 2024

    General view of FA Cup draw bagImage source, Getty Images

    West Ham have been drawn to play Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round at Villa Park.

    The tie will take place between 9-13 January.

    See the full draw here

  9. Lopetegui on Fullkrug, Kudus and facing a new manager at Leicesterpublished at 12:10 GMT 2 December 2024

    West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Leicester City (kick-off 20:15).

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • Centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo is the only injury doubt following the defeat by Arsenal as he is awaiting further assessment.

    • Striker Niclas Fullkrug "is improving and is very close" to a return, but it is unlikely he will be available for Tuesday: "Three months is a long time without matches, but thankfully he is close to recovery."

    • Mohammed Kudus has completed his five-game suspension and is "fit and ready" to return to the matchday squad.

    • On the heavy defeat to Arsenal: "We are focused on the next challenge. I prefer to talk about tomorrow than the last match, because that's the past now. We were disappointed."

    • He said Leicester "will be very tough and demanding" opponents and added "I am sure we need to show our best version to compete there."

    • On facing a new opponent in Ruud van Nistelrooy: "He is a very good manager - he has shown that before and has done well in the Premier League. One of the difficulties when you face a new manager is that you don't really know what he's going to do."

    Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.
  10. West Ham 2-5 Arsenal - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:28 GMT 2 December 2024

    Your views banner
    Arsenal score against West HamImage source, Getty Images

    We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between West Ham and Arsenal.

    Here are some of your comments:

    West Ham fans

    Kevin: The whole team started the game slowly and soon found themselves three goals down. With a poor defence and practically no midfielders, Arsenal had time and space to play the ball around as they wanted. West Ham only livened up when they found themselves four goals down. A better second-half performance, but it was way too late then.

    Andy: They looked like schoolboys. Lazy and silly mistakes giving away those penalties. The Hammers need to wake up. They haven't moulded the best team for this season as yet and it shows, unfortunately. The manager seems to change the team all the time, but time is moving on. It will be about survival this season. The fans have faith but we don't have the talent.

    Anthony: A defensive shambles. The fans wanted open, attractive football but the administrators and players interpreted this as a licence for a non-tackling, minimum effort and lack of discipline approach. They are lucky the bottom four teams are so poor, otherwise they would be relegated.

    Fred: West Ham had no idea how to defend against Arsenal. The two centre-backs were poor and the midfield were static, making no opportunities for the three forwards. Michail Antonio was supposed to be marking Gabriel on corners, but he totally lost him. Max Kilman was poor. Arsenal were a class above and Bukayo Saka was world class. I'm disappointed with how West Ham played.

    Arsenal fans

    Vince: The second set of five goals within five days makes for one heck of an intent. Martin Odegaard and Saka were imperious and hopefully they will stay fit for the rest of the season. Perhaps they shouldn't play at all in domestic cup games. We have waited far too long for a league title!

    Sam: Total dominance by Arsenal in the first half, despite two very good goals by West Ham. You would expect the Arsenal substitutes to come on, prove they should be starting and put some gloss on the scoreline but unfortunately they just aren't at the same level as the first team.

    Olivia: I am a firm supporter of Arsenal and I have watched (and cried) over the last three seasons. This season I have been upset but now I am so happy that Arsenal are making the comeback they deserve! Odegaard is the glue we needed. Saka and him play beautifully! I'm so happy, I'm just waiting for our well-deserved trophy lift!

    Luigi: We are within the grasp of something great, but we need to stay humble and keep working towards our goal. This team has something special and you don't have to be a fan to see it. West Ham couldn't cope but I give it to them, they hung on in there. Mikel Arteta deserves to win something major - he has brought us out of deep water and got us believing again.

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.
  11. Hammers 'struggled with the real basics of football'published at 07:42 GMT 2 December 2024

    West Ham United's Michail Antonio battles with Arsenal's Martin OdegaardImage source, Getty Images

    Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has criticised Julen Lopetegui's side for "not doing the fundamentals well enough" against Arsenal, leading to a 5-2 thumping on home soil.

    "I was really shocked how easy West Ham made it for Arsenal," Murphy said on Match of the Day. "They were basically not doing the fundamentals well enough. They struggled with the real basics of football.

    "[Michail] Antonio, as your centre-forward, was marking their best header of the ball - I found that strange. He left him, he lost him, he didn't seem comfortable doing it. Gabriel is the best header in the Premier League from set-plays.

    "[Max] Kilman, who is arguably West Ham's best header of the ball at centre-back, should have been marking Gabriel.

    "They lacked communication and they were not winning their second balls - the normal basic things. They were letting [Martin] Odegaard - one of Arsenal's best players - just run. The most creative player on the pitch was in oceans [of space].

    "Bukayo Saka - one of the best finishers on his left foot in the Premier League - was left in the 18-yard box with no-one even within 10 yards of him. Unbelievable. Surely they worked on that? You can't do that.

    "These are the fundamentals - winning duels, closing down space, tracking runs, being competitive against a good side.

    Catch up on Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer

  12. When is the FA Cup third-round draw?published at 12:16 GMT 1 December 2024

    FA Cup trophyImage source, Getty Images

    It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

    The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

    BBC iPlayer banner
  13. 'The fans were brilliant, we weren't good enough'published at 20:40 GMT 30 November 2024

    Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United reacts to defea during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on November 30, 2024Image source, Getty Images

    West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen has been speaking to Sky Sports about Arsenal's dominance: "There was a lot down to us - how we were without the ball and making a couple of mistakes as a team. We worked hard at set-pieces, knowing they were a threat. It was two penalties and they are just frustrating goals to concede.

    "We were fighting back and we got to 4-2. I felt that if we got in at half-time at 4-2, then there was an opportunity."

    On the second-half performance: "Then in the second-half we had a go. The fans were brilliant, but ultimately we weren't good enough.

    "The positive is that we play [again] in 72 hours and games are coming up thick and fast. Tomorrow is a new day and it is all focus towards Leicester."

  14. 'We were unlucky in the decisions'published at 20:29 GMT 30 November 2024

    Julen Lopetegui, manager of West Ham United, during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and West Ham United FC at St James' Park on November 25, 2024Image source, Getty Images

    West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the defeat: "Overall, I am frustrated with the first-half. We deserved two goals, but they didn't deserve five.

    "We were unlucky in the decisions, in my opinion. The first goal, I think it was a block."

    On Lukasz Fabianksi fouling Gabriel in the box: "I think it was a bit soft. We were unlucky. We have to do better for sure. We didn't make good decisions in a defensive way - that's why it was a strange match.

    "The team showed character to compete. We were unlucky with the decisions today. We asked before the match, the referee with the block, as a coach we have to know the limit.

    "This week we have to do better in our individual actions, in a defensive way."

    On having to watch on from the stands: "It is always difficult to not stay on the bench because you can't help the team, and I was very frustrated."