Opinion: Lopetegui Should Drop Rodriguez and Give West Ham Talent a Full Debut
West Ham United have had a disappointing start to their 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
The Hammers entered the season with optimism following what appeared to be a strong transfer window, but their form has fallen short of expectations.
Several factors could explain this dip, including poor team cohesion, lack of direction, or simply a lack of motivation.
Their latest Premier League game against Chelsea resulted in a disappointing 3-0 loss.
However, there was a silver lining for West Ham fans: the introduction of midfielder Andy Irving.
After a summer of speculation, the Scotsman chose to stay at West Ham and fight for his place in Julen Lopetegui’s squad, despite interest from other clubs like Celtic.
Irving, who has yet to make his full debut, was substituted into the match in the 72nd minute.
Although he played just 18 minutes, he made a significant impact, topping various performance charts.
According to HammersHubWHUFC on X (23 September), Irving led the team in several key areas during his short time on the pitch, completing 21 passes, winning two tackles, and maintaining a 100% pass completion rate.
While an 18-minute appearance is not enough to fully judge a player’s ability, Irving showed promise, holding his own against a top team like Chelsea.
At just 24 years old, he has plenty of potential for growth, which is further highlighted by the interest shown in him by clubs like Celtic during the transfer window.
There is still time for things to change in Irving’s future, and it’s possible he could be loaned out in January.
However, considering Guido Rodríguez’s current form, giving Irving more opportunities in the team might be a worthwhile decision.
His brief but promising performance suggests that he could offer something valuable to West Ham in the coming months.
