West Ham United Crisis: Tony Cottee Identifies Key Problems Beyond David Sullivan
West Ham United’s dismal form has heaped pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui, but club legend Tony Cottee believes the issues run deeper than the Spanish coach.
Cottee, who scored 309 goals in his career, pinpointed two critical areas contributing to West Ham’s struggles: midfield and attacking options.
“The biggest problem for me, I think, is the midfield,” Cottee said on talkSPORT. “There are no legs in the midfield. There is no pace whatsoever in that midfield. At the weekend, you had (Guido) Rodriguez, you have got (Carlos) Soler, you have (Edson) Alvarez, there is no pace.”
Cottee also highlighted the lack of reliable strikers, with Niclas Fullkrug sidelined for two months and Michail Antonio, soon to be 35, inconsistent due to his age.
“Antonio is now at the stage of his career where you get inconsistent performances because of his age,” Cottee added.
While majority owner David Sullivan’s influence looms large, Cottee noted Sullivan’s historical loyalty to his managers.
“One thing you can say about David Sullivan, over the course of his, what is it, 14-year reign, he has always been very loyal to his managers,” Cottee said.
Lopetegui’s fate hangs in the balance, but Cottee’s assessment suggests systemic problems predating the manager’s arrival.
West Ham’s statistics since the turn of the year are alarming: nine wins from 38 games in all competitions.
Former manager David Moyes’ transfer legacy and technical director Tim Steidten’s recent dealings have contributed to the club’s smallest and oldest squad in the Premier League.
As West Ham prepares to face Everton, Lopetegui’s immediate future remains uncertain. However, Cottee’s analysis underscores the need for structural changes beyond managerial decisions.
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