West Ham, after due consideration, decided to drop the hammer on David Moyes at the end of last season just a year after he won them the UEFA Europa Conference League, their first trophy in 43 years.
They did it to become more expansive and regain the swagger many fans were originally bought up on when three of England’s World Cup winners – Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters – were blowing bubbles in London’s east end. So in came one-time Spain and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui, pedigree bristling, along with nine shiny new players bought at a considerable cost of £155m.
Outcome? The Hammers have been hammered five times in their 11 PL matches and languish 14th in the table only five points above a relegation place. Supporters are in despair. Lopetegui looks as miserable as Avram Grant once did at the club, the team has absolutely no identity, and those on the terraces reckon their Spanish leader has as much charisma as a wet fish.
They see him as a dead man walking as West Ham heads towards St James’ Park on Monday night and a Newcastle United on a roll. How long can he survive? He appears to be living day to day, lucky to be at a club which doesn’t knee jerk in sacking managers.
One of the many accusations levelled by onlookers is that key players are not playing for him. Certainly they look to be living on reputation. Bruno’s Brazilian mate Lucas Paqueta is a prime example. While he waits for his spot fixing hearing next March which could bring a lengthy ban if found guilty, he looks to be going through the motions.
Hugely popular skipper Jarrod Bowen, a quality player, has suffered and the comparison is startling to what he has achieved in cameo roles with England over this international break when he was able to shrug off club apprehension. Meanwhile the new signings have been drip fed into the side by a cautious manager and when some have made it like central defender Jean-Clair Todibo the wonder on the sidelines is why West Ham made such an effort to see off the competition.
Of course among all this United must be careful not to expect that as a consequence victory is merely an hour and a half away. Going through the motions would be to greatly tempt fate. It is a trait for the doomed and the damned but surely United have learned their lesson this up-and-down campaign and, truth is, if a relentless attitude and drive is adopted West Ham are there to be taken. No point in pussy footing around, it is up to Newcastle. They are in charge of their own destiny on this occasion.
United have a reputation of late that they beat the best but not the rest. In other words they raise their game against the likes of Arsenal but not when faced with Fulham, Everton and Bournemouth. That latter trait has to stop.
The crazy topsy turvy world that is NUFC right now sees Aston Villa, Spurs and Manchester United beneath them but Nottingham Forest, Brighton and Fulham above them. Is the table upside down? Consequently the opposition artillery has to be held off and the intruders over hauled which means three points against the Hammers is imperative. No excuses, no false swagger, no expectation of right but a determination to make up lost ground.
If the international break has temporarily halted momentum then I have been delighted to witness Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon all playing together for England, the first time we have enjoyed such a spectacle since Alan Shearer, Rob Lee and David Batty went out against Georgia in international colours back in 1997.
The debuts of Livramento and Hall mean tomorrow has arrived. They were bought as understudies over a year ago but are now the main act. Fully fledged Premier League and England stars.
It goes to show how quickly things can change in football. Kieran Trippier was perhaps the most influential of United’s signings straight after the takeover but now the baton has been taken on and he is confined to the shadows. Not, I might add, without our grateful thanks for all he did in showing others the way.
Big fight night for Newcastle fan
While he waits like every Geordie football fan for Newcastle United to resume Premier League duties against West Ham on Monday Lee Rogers has a rather special date of his own. Because on Friday night Rogers, a 21-year-old whose family are United season ticket holders, will be having his second pro fight at the Walker Activity Dome.
He is taking on Yin Caicedo at super bantamweight on the undercard of the Harlem Eubank v Nurali Erdogan shindig live on Channel Five. It’s the beginning of a long road in the hardest sport of all where all start out with hopes soaring but many fall by the wayside. The Pocket Rocket, a five-time national champion when with famed amateur club Birtley, believes as he must that he will be an exception.
Keeping Rogers company in the build up will be other locals Cyrus Pattinson, Dan Toward, and Joe Laws. We wish them all well because they are representing us.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-must-shake-worrying-30417877
