Alan Smith, the former Arsenal and Leicester City striker, has voiced his criticism of West Ham’s underperformance in the Premier League this season, labeling them the most “underachieving” team so far. He singled out one player in particular whose disappointing form reflects the broader issues within the squad.
Under Julen Lopetegui, West Ham have won just three of their opening 11 league matches, leaving them in a concerning 14th place. The team has endured heavy losses, including a 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest and a 4-1 drubbing by Tottenham. With tough upcoming fixtures against Newcastle United and Arsenal, their struggles are expected to continue. These challenges come despite significant financial backing in the summer to support Lopetegui’s appointment and bolster the squad.
Speaking to AceOdds, Smith remarked, “West Ham have been disappointing this season. They made a managerial change, bringing in Lopetegui, the former Spain and Real Madrid boss, after the fans grew frustrated with David Moyes. But it hasn’t worked out as they hoped. Despite being a large club with 60,000 fans at every home game, things seem to be going backward. One of the biggest disappointments has been Paquetá. He was brought in to be the creative spark, but he hasn’t been able to make an impact. Now, questions are being asked about whether Lopetegui is the right man for the job.”
Smith’s comments come amid rumors linking West Ham with a potential move for Manchester City’s James McAtee. The 22-year-old, who has impressed during loan spells at Sheffield United, has struggled to break into City’s first team, despite Pep Guardiola previously praising him as a “special” talent as he progressed through the club’s youth system.
