It is difficult to know how much longer West Ham can go on like this.
We have conceded nine goals in the last two games and while they have been against Liverpool and Manchester City, it is the manner of the defeats that continue to ring alarm bells.
The way in which we crumbled in both games highlights serious issues within Julen Lopetegui’s system which have needed to be addressed for months now.
The performance against City on Saturday was good in parts, but you have to wonder whether that was only because Pep Guardiola’s side are struggling for form and, as their manager said afterwards, still not their usual selves. I dread to think what the scoreline would have been had City been at their very best.
So what happens next? I cannot see any positive scenario that involves Lopetegui. I wrote a few months ago that there is evidence from other clubs that being patient, not panicking at the first sign of trouble and giving managers time to work with their players can have huge benefits.
Since then I have seen absolutely no reason to suggest Lopetegui is going to finally get things clicking with this West Ham squad. Yes, we are having loads of shots and enjoying more of the ball compared to previous seasons, but we are not scoring enough goals and we are conceding too many at the other end.
As I have said so many times before, this is just not sustainable.
So it is time for change. It has to be made immediately before it is too late for a new manager to come in and identify what players he wants from the transfer market to get this team operating properly. We cannot wait any longer.
We have a squad full of top-class players – some world-class. It makes absolutely no sense to wait any longer to make the change everyone knows needs to be made.
Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham
