Jeff Stelling Expresses Confusion Over Julen Lopetegui’s Decisions, Believes He Deserves More Criticism at West Ham

Heading into their recent match against Manchester United, few were under more pressure than West Ham’s head coach Julen Lopetegui. Yet, after a somewhat fortunate 2-1 victory, the attention shifted to Erik ten Hag, who, after the defeat, was dismissed from his role as United’s manager.

Replacing David Moyes, one of West Ham’s most successful managers in recent history, was always going to be challenging for Lopetegui. Since taking the reins, the Spaniard’s performance has been met with criticism. Many fans have voiced frustration over his tactics, team selections, and overall approach, feeling that the team lacks a clear identity and coherent style of play.

One notable aspect of Lopetegui’s management has been his willingness to make early substitutions. However, supporters argue this necessity often stems from his initial choice of line-up and strategy.

A particular point of contention is the gradual integration of new players into the squad and the decision to play West Ham’s standout talent, Mohammed Kudus, out of his preferred position.

Kudus has often been positioned on the left wing, a role where many feel he’s less effective.

His apparent frustration with this situation, along with a well-publicized disagreement with Lopetegui, may have contributed to his recent misconduct during a match against Spurs, an incident that could now lead to a five or six-game suspension.

What has perhaps frustrated fans most is Lopetegui’s reluctance to start Crysencio Summerville.

Every time the young Dutchman takes the field, he impresses, yet he’s primarily been limited to substitute appearances.

With Kudus unavailable due to suspension, many expected Summerville to start against Manchester United. Instead, Lopetegui once again left him on the bench, a move that angered supporters.

Summerville’s performance after coming on at halftime, which included a crucial goal and a man-of-the-match display, only underscored the questionable decision to sideline him at the outset.

While Lopetegui has been under scrutiny, top pundit Jeff Stelling believes the criticism hasn’t gone far enough.

Expressing his views on talkSPORT, Stelling shared his bafflement at the treatment of Summerville and admitted he’s unconvinced by Lopetegui’s approach.

“Let’s not be too fair to Lopetegui, because, frankly, I was staggered when I saw that West Ham team,” Stelling commented.

“With Kudus out of the side, he still chose not to start Crysencio Summerville. It was absolutely beyond belief.”

Stelling went on to note that West Ham could have been severely punished for their poor first-half performance against United, where they could have easily been trailing by four goals.

Had that been the case, Stelling believes the conversation would have shifted from Ten Hag’s future to serious questions about Lopetegui’s tenure at West Ham.

The veteran pundit, who has consistently questioned West Ham’s decision to move on from Moyes, sees Summerville’s exclusion as a glaring oversight.

According to Stelling, starting Summerville should be an obvious choice.

Summerville reportedly chose West Ham over top clubs like Liverpool and Chelsea with the expectation of more game time, yet this hasn’t fully materialized under Lopetegui.

To turn things around, Stelling insists that Lopetegui needs to start Summerville in West Ham’s upcoming fixture against Nottingham Forest.

West Ham can’t afford a situation where their most exciting talent is left out, especially given how eager fans are to see him in action.

The continued benching of Summerville risks alienating both the player and the fanbase, who may grow increasingly frustrated with the current approach.

If things don’t change, there’s a possibility Summerville could consider a move elsewhere, an outcome that would disappoint West Ham’s supporters and reflect poorly on Lopetegui’s management.

Even Stelling, a lifelong Hartlepool fan, admits he’s growing frustrated by the situation unfolding at West Ham.

For Lopetegui, the path forward is clear: aligning his strategies more closely with fan sentiment and making the best use of talents like Summerville may be essential if he wants to secure his position and build trust with West Ham’s supporters.