‘It surprised me’: Journalist suggests Lopetegui has mishandled a West Ham player

West Ham officially appointed Julen Lopetegui as the club’s new head coach on July 1st, with the board fully supporting him in the transfer market.

The head coach brought in some impressive players over the summer, but not all of them adapted quickly to the Premier League.

The slower-than-anticipated integration of several of these new signings into the first team led to inconsistent performances and disappointing results early in the season.

Before West Ham’s match against Ipswich, there were even rumors that Lopetegui’s job was under threat, with speculation that he might be sacked if results didn’t improve swiftly.

However, it seems Lopetegui assured the board that he could turn the situation around.

The team’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Ipswich significantly altered the narrative surrounding the Hammers.

While the win was a positive turning point, it still feels as though Lopetegui might have made things more difficult for himself than necessary during the early stages of his tenure.

One of the main criticisms leveled at Lopetegui has been his handling of certain players, particularly regarding their introduction into the squad.

Jean-Clair Todibo, a key summer signing, took longer to find his place at the London Stadium than many fans had anticipated.

Instead of starting the French center-back, Lopetegui opted to field Konstantinos Mavropanos in the first five Premier League matches, a decision that baffled some observers.

Daniel Storey, a journalist from iNews, expressed his surprise at Lopetegui’s reluctance to play Todibo sooner.

In his analysis, Storey noted that pairing Todibo with fellow center-back Max Kilman earlier would have provided crucial match experience, as their ability to progress the ball forward from defense could help West Ham push higher up the pitch.

While Todibo may not have been fully fit when he arrived at West Ham, playing competitive matches is often the quickest way to regain match fitness.

Moreover, many fans and pundits felt that even an 80% fit Todibo would have been more effective than a fully fit Mavropanos.

Now that Todibo has become more integrated into the starting lineup, there is hope that he will establish himself as a key player for the Hammers.

At 6ft 3in, the Frenchman is dominant in the air, has impressive speed, and is a strong tackler.

However, his most remarkable trait is his ability to carry the ball out from the back, helping the team transition smoothly from defense to attack.

When Todibo is in full flow, he is a joy to watch, and his developing partnership with Max Kilman is expected to be a cornerstone of West Ham’s defense.

Although Lopetegui may have taken too long to fully introduce Todibo into the team, the center-back now seems to have cemented his place as a regular starter.

As the season progresses, it’s anticipated that Todibo will continue to grow in confidence and form, contributing significantly to West Ham’s defensive stability and overall success.