Julen Lopetegui has been nothing but complimentary about David Moyes since replacing him at West Ham but has strong views on his transfer arrogance.

West Ham start a new era under Julen Lopetegui as the Premier League season gets underway.

And they do so with a completely revamped first team squad thanks – in the main – to the work of the technical director Tim Steidten.

Eight new signings have arrived at West Ham and more could follow before the window closes.

Many pundits and journalists have remarked that they feel for the man Lopetegui replaced – David Moyes – as they watch the club’s wonderful transfer window unfold.

But in reality West Ham would not have pulled off a window like this with Moyes as manager.

Not least because the Scot admitted himself on multiple occasions he preferred to work with a small squad.

Moyes did not like having unhappy players around as he saw it as detrimental to team spirit.

As a result Lopetegui was left with the smallest squad in the Premier League.

Now it is bursting with quality and depth, perhaps like never before in the Premier League era.

Key to West Ham’s window success has been the clear structure in place whereby Steidten is in full control of recruitment.

There has been regular dialogue between Steidten and Lopetegui over transfers, targets and what’s needed of course.

And Max Kilman was a big personal target of Lopetegui when he arrived at West Ham.

But Steidten is in charge – and it’s a world away from the situation at the club when Moyes was coming to the end of his tenure just a few months ago.

A Clash of Football Philosophies

Things ended between Moyes and Steidten much like they started, fraught with tension. It was a match made, not quite in hell, but perhaps more purgatory.

They are two football men from completely different eras with entirely contrasting perspectives and philosophies.

Steidten almost walked just a month into the job last summer.

The top source inside the club exclusively confirmed to Hammers News at the time that Steidten was ‘finding Moyes hard work’.

Because old school Moyes simply wasn’t having that someone was going to dictate transfer policy and recruitment.

Moyes had power of veto on all deals written into his contract and he wasn’t afraid to use it.

When there was a clamour for Moyes to be handed a new deal around Christmas time, Hammers News exclusively revealed the Scot’s contract would be ‘subject to terms’.

Those terms were that Steidten would have full control of recruitment and Moyes’ power of veto would be removed.

The moment that was revealed, it was clear Moyes would be leaving the Hammers.

Despite Karren Brady’s attempts to blame the Scot’s departure on West Ham’s fans yesterday.

Moyes knew what was coming this summer and banned West Ham’s technical director from being around the first team as relations turned sour.

It was a last public show of power and when Moyes was let go, Steidten declared his euphoria at having full control at West Ham.

A Legacy of Unfinished Business

Moyes did a tremendous job at West Ham over his two spells.

But he failed to future proof West Ham’s squad despite pledging to follow the Red Bull model he studied during spells out of the game. Upon leaving the Hammers, the squad was the second oldest in the top flight as well as the smallest.

That has not gone unnoticed by Moyes’ successor.

And Lopetegui has aimed a dig at Moyes over his West Ham transfer arrogance.

Talking about West Ham’s transfers during a new interview this week, the Spaniard said no manager should dictate a club’s transfer policy singlehandedly – like Moyes had.

Lopetegui said it is the club that should dictate what players it wants to invest in for the future and it is up the coach to get the very best out of them.

“We had a short squad, and the idea is to have two players per position,” Lopetegui told Marca print edition.

“We haven’t achieved that yet… but we are working on it.

“All the signings are to our liking and that of the sporting management.

“No coach should hold the keys to the future of the club.

“The idea was to bring in players who could know the Premier League so that British culture is in the dressing room, and then to be able to mix different ways of understanding football.

“The owners want the team to be as competitive as possible and to create a long-term project. But we have to focus on the present. I wouldn’t talk about ‘Big Six’ or ‘Big Ten’. Any team can beat anyone in the Premiership. And the grades will come in May.”

Lopetegui is making it clear it is all about the club not him.

Moyes was often more concerned about the here and now when it came to recruitment.

That was somewhat understandable in the dog-eat-dog results driven business that is modern football.

Lopetegui certainly talks well about his investment in West Ham’s future.

Now it’s up to him and Steidten to prove this way is better for the club long-term.

A New Beginning for the Hammers

ON the first day of every season I am always full of optimism and hope  that West Ham can win the Premier League.

You’ve signed new players, things are coming together, and you think, ‘This may be our year’.

Even if we don’t wrestle the trophy off Manchester City,  getting back into Europe is an absolute priority for us — and for our new manager.

We made an exciting appointment in Julen Lopetegui, having said goodbye to David Moyes in May after a remarkable period of success.

Julen has been a breath of fresh air.

He’s an experienced individual we believe can build on David’s great work, get us back into Europe and deliver the wins the fans want. We are giving him every penny we can in the transfer market to do just that, with our eight signings so far.

But I must pay tribute to David again.

I had an excellent working relationship with him. His work ethic, attention to detail, passion, drive and energy were all second to none and he was an absolute pleasure to work with.

He left for several reasons. Firstly, a bit of inconsistency had crept into results.

And without putting words into his mouth, I think he felt very unappreciated by the supporters.

He delivered a first major trophy since 1980, a consistent period of domestic success — including three consecutive European qualifications for the first time in the club’s history — and reached the semis and quarter-finals in Europe either side of the Conference League triumph.

As a result, he found it quite difficult to be turned on so quickly last season when things dipped — especially after gaining the most Premier League points West Ham had ever had at the halfway point of a campaign.

Not that he was boo-hooing about it, that’s not his style. He  rolled up his sleeves and got on with it.

But things can go a bit stale and both club and manager need a change, and that’s the conclusion we came to together.

It’s very sad when a relationship comes to an end with someone you have worked with very closely and admire and like.

But parting ways is the easier bit. Getting a better replacement is where the real work begins.

It’s a very close relationship so you have to have a bit of chemistry and feel they are someone you can work with who isn’t emotionally draining or  demanding.

But I cannot tell you how good it felt being in Europe and winning that trophy.

And that’s exactly what David Sullivan, Tim Steidten and I felt when we met with Julen. We liked him straight away.

We felt he was genuine, hard-working, passionate, enthusiastic, had clear ideas of what he wanted to do and understood the West Ham way.

But I cannot tell you how good it felt being in Europe and winning that trophy.

To be part of a West Ham that created that memory for hundreds of thousands of our supporters was very special.

And we believe we can do that again with Julen.

The Future is Now

NOTHING stays the same forever.

And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.

Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.

Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.

There's also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the 'multiball' system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides - but not straight away.

Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25.

The prospect of playing  Premier League games abroad hasn’t been officially raised — YET — but it has been mooted among some owners.

But it would be unforgivable to deny season-ticket holders a game and West Ham would definitely vote against any proposal that meant doing that.

With foreign investment in the Premier League increasing, some say its global appeal means taking the show on the road is the right thing to do. I understand the logic.

 But I’m English, I live here and believe all games should be played in this country.

We have pre-season tours to let overseas fans watch us play.

We would not be the only club to vote against a proposal if every team had to play a match outside the UK every year.

West Ham have just come back from the US where some of the American Prem owners are pushing for a Stateside league game.

The idea was floated years ago and shot down immediately.

But there weren’t as many  foreign owners then. We would obviously look at the detail of any proposal and, handled right, it could be workable.

Particularly if teams have the ability to opt out.

And if two other clubs wanted to do it and the League felt it was in its best interest, I wouldn’t stop them.

But we would not be the only club to vote against a proposal if every team had to play a match outside the UK every year.

I was really impressed with Niclas Fullkrug — our new striker signed from Borussia Dortmund.

As soon as he stepped off the plane from Germany he asked: “Where can I train? Because I don’t like to miss a single day.”

That’s the kind of attitude that you want. He’s a big personality, incredibly professional, a strong individual and a real grown up.

He’s going to have a hugely positive impact. We’re all really excited.

The Unpopular Truth About West Ham Fans

They say timing is everything and West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady has decided to criticise the club’s fans on the eve of the new season.

It is fair to say Karren Brady is not the most popular person among West Ham fans.

There is no denying the Baroness has done an excellent job when it comes to turning around West Ham’s finances since arriving at the club with David Sullivan and David Gold in 14 years ago.

But the list of grievances Hammers supporters have with Brady – who once referred to them as “customers” – is long.

And growing it seems.

West Ham fans are already up in arms over the ticketing situation at the club.

Supporter groups such as Hammers United launched a petition after season ticket prices rose above the rate of inflation.

Tensions are at boiling point between West Ham fans and the owners after it emerged new concessions are now restricted to bands five and six.

That means children are now charged full adult price for tickets because there are no more concessions seated together.

Pricing for matches has rocketed too. Aston Villa has been classed as a Category A game with tickets topping out at an eye-watering £105.

The cheapest general sale seat being £50.

As a result West Ham could be set for major opening day embarrassment in front of the watching TV millions.

Now the club’s vice-chair seems to have put her foot in it again by irking an already irritated fanbase.

Because Brady has taken aim at West Ham fans on the eve of the new season.

Speaking to The Sun, for whom she is a columnist, Brady was discussing the departure of David Moyes.

And she laid the blame for his exit almost entirely at the feet of West Ham’s fans, saying the Scot wanted to leave because he was shocked that supporters ‘turned on him so quickly’ last season.

“He left for several reasons,” Brady said.

“Firstly, a bit of inconsistency had crept into results.

“And without putting words into his mouth, I think he felt very unappreciated by the supporters…

“He found it quite difficult to be turned on so quickly last season when things dipped — especially after gaining the most Premier League points West Ham had ever had at the halfway point of a campaign.”

While Brady was criticising fans less than 24 hours out from an opening game the club are struggling to sell out due to their pricing strategy, the club’s media team were releasing a video from manager Julen Lopetegui imploring fans to be the team’s 12th man.

In the beating heart of London, a new story is about to unfold…✨ pic.twitter.com/qxWuL0zkhm

Brady was being very economical with the facts in the interview.

West Ham fans did not turn on Moyes last season. Supporters had grown fed up with the style of play and approach the season before when West Ham battled relegation until the final month of the campaign.

It was widely reported that Sullivan would have parted ways with Moyes had the Hammers not gone on and won the Europa Conference League.

Would that have been the fault of West Ham fans too?

Brady even admits results and performances had become inconsistent and the club felt change was needed. Yet she still decides to lay the blame with West Ham’s fans.

Let’s not forget that West Ham’s hierarchy were very publicly sounding out new managers while Moyes was still in the job.

In fact the manager was so angry with that situation he banned technical director Tim Steidten from being around the first team.

I guess that was the fault of West Ham’s fans too?

The pièce de résistance of the interview, though, is that after lauding Moyes and blaming fans for his departure, Brady goes on to say Lopetegui is a ‘breath of fresh air’ and suggests he is an upgrade on the Scot.