The departing manager should be the role model for his successor. Not just at Liverpool, but also at West Ham. David Moyes qualified for Europe regularly, had a series of victories against their supposed superiors and won a trophy. He also lost 5-1 at Anfield in the Carabao Cup.
Julen Lopetegui has emulated his predecessor in one respect. He, too, has lost 5-1 at Anfield in the Carabao Cup. At a stroke, it removed one of the trophies West Ham could have won this season and rendered it less likely they will qualify for Europe in his debut season.
And so it was tempting to recall Moyes’ words after his 5-1 thrashing. They were undiplomatic but instructive. “What would West Ham’s expectations be?” he asked.
“Would you expect us to win a European trophy? Would you expect us to be challenging for the Champions League? There’s not many nodding their heads in here.”
The question of West Ham’s expectations revolves around their season, their spending, their regime change and Lopetegui’s tenure. None of it necessarily means their supporters are unrealistic or that Lopetegui is automatically Manuel Pellegrini Mk II.
West Ham’s first attempt to replace Moyes with a more glamorous alternative produced an unglamorous man who played neither particularly attractive nor winning football.
These are early days, but Lopetegui has made a false start. West Ham sit 14th; they needed an injury-time equaliser to get a point against Fulham, so that could be worse. Their new signings are yet to gel; indeed, some have scarcely been seen.
Niclas Fullkrug, perhaps the flagship acquisition, has not even been spotted in a starting 11 in the league, partly because of injury.
Nor have Luis Guilherme, Jean-Clair Todibo or Carlos Soler, while Crysencio Summerville has begun once in the top flight.
