JULEN LOPETEGUI has not yet been bold enough to sneak a tour of his new workplace in east London.
Because if West Ham’s new manager did, he might not be all that interested in replacing the man who ended the club’s 43-year wait for a trophy and generally removed the Irons’ weak underbelly.
6
Current boss David Moyes, coming to the end of a remarkable 4½-year reign, is set to receive a rousing send-off in his final home game against Luton on Saturday.
More than 60,000 red and blue Cockneys will, for the first time, channel entirely positive emotions towards a coach who has always struggled to convince purists he is the right man for the job.
Love will fall from the curve of the London Stadium.
Of course, Moyes might not hear because most fans are so far away from the dugout that they need gun-grade binoculars to spot him from a distance.
This has been forgotten for much of the last three seasons, particularly as West Ham enjoyed successive successful European campaigns.
Winning the trophy that allows arrogant fans to sing that we are “champions of Europe”. There was a general feeling that the team would no longer play at home for visits from Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Everything that has been achieved under Moyes has made them forget that they have, by far, the worst ground in the entire Prem.
A stadium completely unsuitable for hosting regular football matches.
BEST UK BOOKMAKER FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERSs
One that could work on big European nights, when fans electrify their voices in the nearby Carpenters Arms before the game kicks off.
But one that drains your soul during routine home games against the likes of Burnley or Everton.
A house where giant trampolines separate fans from the action.
With temporary seats and scaffolding trying to bring players and fans closer together.
When West Ham plays poorly but wins, the problems with the rented stadium are left aside.
If they are playing poorly and losing, the whole festering wound emerges and the frustration will once again be directed at President David Sullivan and Vice President Karren Brady.
It wasn’t long ago that fans invaded the field, that 8,000 protested against the owners, that Sullivan was hit in the eye by a coin thrown by the fans. Moyes has been an effective human shield with his consistent, if not entirely beautiful, success.
This is what the new boss Lopetegui will have to face.
West Ham face a season without the dizzying effect of European football. It’s the second round of the Carabao Cup for the new player next season.
For a former Real Madrid coach, it is a worrying proposition.
Moyes knew what West Ham needed, even if it wasn’t always what the fans wanted. He hasn’t been perfect, but those managers are few and far between.
This season there have been some horrible results.
Last Sunday’s Chelsea comes to mind, as do Arsenal and Crystal Palace.
The Moyes regime has been slowly disintegrating for months.
The signings didn’t happen. He was unable to deal with the striker his team urgently needed to replace Michail Antonio in time. This is contradicted by the acquisitions of Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez.
There were great results too – Spurs and Arsenal away, Manchester United at home.
A crust of reliability was built. Lopetegui needs the new coach to recover. But not on one of those trampolines.
HONORED to avoid taxes, now laying down the law for ordinary Manchester United staff.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent dictates to ordinary club workers come straight from the Tory playbook on how not to manage people.
The first page is to pick those at the bottom of the food chain, not the multi-millionaire manager or the players who really let United down.
Lecturing IT geeks about the clutter in their offices is a dangerous game. Graham from the helpdesk will save everyone’s life at some point.
And there’s a simple solution to complaints that the U18 and U21 changing rooms are in disrepair: give them a dustpan and a brush.
Aside from the fact that United haven’t had a decent libero in years, this will ingrain a sense of humility and cleanliness in the mind and body that could bear fruit in a few years.
6
SHAUN MURPHY was right in a TV debate over whether snooker should abandon its famous Crucible home.
After hearing veiled threats the World Championships will be moved to China or Saudi Arabia if Sheffield does not upgrade its iconic theater or find an alternative venue in the city, former world champion says
The Magician asked a simple question: “So where are these supposed offerings?”
He is right, as snooker bosses should speak out and put any concrete proposals to host the tournament elsewhere to the public.
That is if they really want to be taken seriously.
6
A DETAILED report this week maps out the green credentials of all 20 Premier League teams.
Sport Positive’s exhaustive work has seen clubs reveal what they are doing to reduce the considerable carbon footprint produced by the world’s richest league.
It’s easy to criticize Manchester City, who will no doubt continue to fly to Dubai for pre-season and warm-weather training.
But while everyone could do more, the country’s biggest clubs are slowly starting to understand the idea of climate change.
As you would expect, Brighton on are in the lead, with free travel for fans within a designated zone around the Amex Stadium upon production of a match ticket.
However, seven clubs have sustainable transport policies in place, six have net zero targets – and this has nothing to do with scoring goals.
They all have vegan food options on their menus, which, if the resulting wind energy can be harnessed, could also power the spotlight!
6
ANGE POSTECOGLOU faces ‘Hobson’s choice’ next week.
Spurs really need a win, but beating Manchester City at home could hand hated rivals Arsenal the Prem title.
There is no way the Tottenham manager will want to play away, but his drinking fans may not see it that way.
6
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
