“Most West Ham Fans Confident” – Darren Bent Shares His Verdict on the Hammers on talkSPORT

West Ham have struggled under new manager Julen Lopetegui, currently sitting 14th in the Premier League with just one win in five matches.

Their recent 5-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup only added to their woes.

Despite this, former striker Darren Bent shared his optimism on talkSPORT (26 September, 5:07 pm), suggesting the club could still achieve a European finish this season.

Bent stated: “I think most West Ham fans believe they can do both – play expansive, attractive football and finish in the top six. It’s not an either-or situation.

With the squad they’ve assembled and the investments made, I think they’re capable of achieving both.”

However, the reality on the pitch has been quite different, with West Ham far from being European contenders.

Attractive football has been hard to come by for the fans in East London under Lopetegui.

The team has faced tough competition from Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Chelsea, yet still suffered a 3-0 loss to Chelsea last weekend, with Nicholas Jackson scoring within the first three minutes at London Stadium.

West Ham now finds themselves five points adrift of Brighton & Hove Albion, who currently occupy seventh place.

Based on early season performances, it seems more likely that Lopetegui’s side will be battling to avoid relegation rather than pushing for a European spot.

The upcoming match against Brentford on 28 September has become crucial for Lopetegui.

Anything less than a win could see him facing the same scrutiny from fans that David Moyes experienced.

Lopetegui was brought in to improve on his predecessor, offering more attractive, attacking football.

Yet, so far, his tenure has seen a team that looks more like relegation candidates than a top-tier side.

A loss to Brentford may force the club to reconsider if Lopetegui was the right choice for the job.