
Exclusives
Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten under serious pressure at West Ham as David Sullivan makes decision
- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
After 10 games played, West Ham are 14th in the Premier League �a far cry from the improvement David Sullivan expected under Julen Lopetegui.
Lopetegui’s much-needed 2-1 win over Manchester United was followed up by West Ham losing convincingly away to Nottingham Forest, a sign of the times.
Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
12 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 19 | 20 | -1 | 13 | |
13 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 12 | |
14 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 11 | |
15 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 18 | -4 | 10 | |
16 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 17 | -7 | 9 |
As a result, TBR Football understands that Lopetegui goes into the weekend against Everton knowing that anything other than a win could cost him his job.
However, Lopetegui is not alone in being under huge pressure at the London Stadium.
Tim Steidten is also under increasing pressure and his West Ham future is far from secure.
Tim Steidten wasn’t behind West Ham’s Julen Lopetegui appointment
Lopetegui was hand-picked by David Sullivan to replace David Moyes after he held face-to-face talks with the Spaniard before last season finished.
Sullivan was criticised by a number of Hammers fans given that Lopetegui’s deal was agreed before it was confirmed that Moyes would be leaving.

READ MORE: Jeff Stelling backs manager with 83 career wins to replace Julen Lopetegui at West Ham
That being said, Steidten was among a number of senior figures at West Ham who were pushing for other options, before Sullivan opted for Lopetegui.
And despite only arriving in the summer, Lopetegui is now under huge pressure after the club’s worst ever start to a Premier League campaign.
They have since recorded wins over Ipswich Town and Man United as mentioned, but West Ham are still way off where they expect themselves to be.
Julen Lopetegui could be sacked if West Ham lose to Everton
TBR can confirm that West Ham’s tie with Everton this weekend is a huge one for Lopetegui.
Defeat would almost certainly see Sullivan pull the plug on his tenure in east London.
Sources say that Sullivan would do so reluctantly, but he acknowledges that the form of the side is way off what is expected �especially after major summer spending which saw in excess of £100m spent.
That sum also explains the pressure that has arrived on Steidten’s doorstep.
The German was forceful in his pursuit of both Niclas Fullkrug and Luis Guilherme, but neither has started a league game since their arrival and the West Ham hierarchy are far from happy.