Initial reaction when you heard Lopetegui was leaving?
David Meagher: Relief. I am not one for shuffling managers but we have looked lost almost from the start under J-Lo. Everybody understood that we would be in a transitioning mode but this has felt directionless.
Geoff Hillyer: Surprisingly sad. I agree with David around the management merry-go-round but the team has lacked identity, and there didn’t appear to be a clear plan. I wanted it to work out, and it’s sad that it hasn’t.
Paul Brand: Fairly apathetic, to be honest. Given our tradition, I’m always loathed to see managers sacked early but at the same time, we’ve had too many instances of things turning toxic between dugout and stands and it had become obvious he was on borrowed time.
Meirion Williams: Thank goodness the saga was over. The writing was on the wall weeks ago. Mind you, I was a little surprised that Sullivan got rid but I guess he feared he may lose out on his preferred replacement.
Do you think it was the correct decision, or should he have gone sooner, or should he have been given more of a chance?
DM: I think this is the right call. We are going nowhere and slowly sliding into the relegation zone with a series of tough fixtures ahead. Frankly, we have been very lucky to gather as many points as we have with fortunate wins over Man Utd, Wolves and Southampton. A new coach has a free hit for the rest of the season and can embed a more definite process, hopefully with less defensive chaos. We also have plenty of time in January for the new manager to look at incoming players.
GH: The results speak for themselves: of course it was the correct decision. Had there been a suggestion that things might improve, I might have answered slightly differently, but the reality is, nothing was going to change. The last two wallopings told you everything.
PB: My initial reaction shows it was the correct decision. We were going nowhere, and much as I might want every manager to work out and be given time, there was no serious indication that Lopetegui was the right choice and deserved more time.
MW: He should have gone a lot sooner as it was clear he was out of his depth here. I do feel slightly sorry for him as even if Klopp or Pep came to the club, they would struggle under our board’s leadership. Let’s not forget he only won six games while in charge.
Looking back to when Lopetegui first came to us as manager, what were your thoughts?
DM: I had mixed feelings – Moyes was a steadying influence but his style was never going to satisfy Hammers fans. JLo offered the potential for more possession and creativity but we have been constantly having to regroup and never found any rhythm under his leadership.
GH: I always thought that Lopetegui was never going to be the style of manager that West Ham fans craved. I was underwhelmed by the appointment, although obviously prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. I never had particularly high hopes, though.
PB: Like David, feelings were mixed, partly because I was receiving very mixed reports about J-Lo’s style and reputation. I wanted him to be a success but it always had the feel of Pellegrini Mk II.
MW: I wasn’t that impressed in all honesty. His last few appointments had not exactly been glittering successes. I thought there was better out there but of course. I don’t hold the purse strings and an out-of-work manager is a lot cheaper than one where you have to pay compensation.
What did you make about the prolonged saga?
DM: In defence of the board, it was always going to be a messy business as there weren’t heaps of replacements available and after a big investment in the summer, we needed to be sure it was the correct decision.
GH: I think the way that the saga reflected on West Ham was appalling. I think it’s the right decision, but it would have been helpful for the club to either back or sack Lopetegui once things started going rife in the press. Taking training sessions knowing he was going to be sacked reflects badly on everyone.
PB: Why do the board seem incapable of negotiating behind closed doors? Training sessions during all that press speculation must have been farcical. On the other hand, they’ve been criticised in the past for not having replacements lined up so they got that bit right, if not much else in the process.
MW: Typical West Ham and an absolute disgrace. How on earth we do this every time is beyond me, particularly as we have a vice chairman who has a background in media relations. Simply disgraceful.
How will his time at the club be remembered?
DM: There has been precious little to feel positive about as he has been like a boxer on the ropes from day one. I think this phase demonstrated how unforgiving the Premier League is, as there are so few ‘easy’ games and such small margins to experiment and develop ideas. It’s been one of the least memorable periods in recent history.
GH: This has felt to me like it did when Liz Truss was PM – just a vaguely chaotic period, with a desperate call for stability at the end. I suspect it won’t live too long in the memory, but I really do wish him all the best with his future ventures.
PB: Love Geoff’s analogy! I’ve already blanked out much of Pellegrini’s reign and imagine I’ll do the same with Lopetegui’s, although that possibly depends on what follows. If nothing else he goes down in history alongside Macari for the shortest tenure.
MW: As a bad memory and soon forgotten.
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