Amorim blow leaves Lopetegui as front-runner for West Ham job, but is he an upgrade on Moyes? | OneFootball

West Ham United’s quest for a successor to David Moyes is turning into a frustrating saga.

While the fans’ patience is wearing thin after the Crystal Palace drubbing, the club is struggling to find a suitable replacement.

Despite a divided fanbase regarding Moyes’ future, the London derby humiliation seems to have finally tipped the scales against the Scottish manager. However, the board has yet to make a definitive decision.

Reports of Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim holding talks with West Ham initially excited supporters. Landing the highly-rated Portuguese manager would have been a massive coup for the Hammers.

However, the excitement quickly faded into despair as reports emerged that the 39-year-old wouldn’t be taking over from Moyes this summer, leaving the club to explore other alternatives.

West Ham’s search has included a wide range of names, from Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira to audacious suggestions such as former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Hansi Flick.

The latest Guardian report points to former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui as the front-runner, but West Ham could do better than the Spaniard.

Is Lopetegui an upgrade on Moyes?

Lopetegui certainly comes with an appealing CV, having worked with top clubs across the globe, including Real Madrid, Sevilla and Porto.

However, his trophy cabinet isn’t a significant upgrade on Moyes. Both managers possess a solitary European title, with Lopetegui’s 2020 Europa League triumph with Sevilla marking the pinnacle of his achievements.

Since then, Lopetegui’s career trajectory has flattened, although his relegation rescue mission with Wolves deserves some credit.

With ten wins from 27 games (D5, L12), the Spaniard rescued Wolves from the threat of relegation, helping them to a comfortable mid-table finish.

However, Lopetegui is hardly an upgrade on Moyes. Both managers employ an identical tactical approach.

They favour a defensive, rigid system that prioritises stability over spectacle. But with the calibre of West Ham’s players, the fans yearn for a more exciting brand of football.

Amorim would have offered that, but after that dream evaporated, the board must explore all available options to avoid making knee-jerk decisions that could potentially jeopardise our future.