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A report this week has shared what “several” senior West Ham United stars are all feeling about manager Julen Lopetegui right now, with pressure truly on the Spaniard after an uninspired start to 2024/2025.

Lopetegui facing sack calls as West Ham look at other managers

The Hammers sit 14th in the Premier League table and have won just three of their opening 10 top-flight matches, leading to suggestions that Lopetegui may not be the right man to replace David Moyes.

Darren Bent says big-name could replace Julen Lopetegui at West Ham

The Spaniard’s position is increasingly fragile.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 5, 2024

The ex-Real Madrid and Spain boss has been slammed for his tactics, consistent selection of certain out-of-form players like Guido Rodriguez and all-round approach to games, with West Ham even branded a “complete mess” under the tactician.

If results, performances and unrest continue in this fashion, Lopetegui faces becoming the next top-flight manager to be sacked after Erik ten Hag – who was ironically given his P45 after defeat at West Ham nearly two weeks ago.

While reports suggest David Sullivan and technical director Tim Steidten are eager to give the 58-year-old more time to transform the club’s fortunes, it is also believed that West Ham have sounded out potential Lopetegui replacements, like former FC Porto boss Sergio Conceicao.

Match

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

#12

02/11/2024

Nottingham Forest (A)

Premier League

3-0 loss

#11

27/10/2024

Man United (H)

Premier League

2-1 win

#10

19/10/2024

Tottenham (A)

Premier League

4-1 loss

#9

05/10/2024

Ipswich (H)

Premier League

4-1 win

#8

28/09/2024

Brentford (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#7

25/09/2024

Liverpool (A)

Carabao Cup

5-1 loss

#6

21/09/2024

Chelsea (H)

Premier League

3-0 loss

#5

14/09/2024

Fulham (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#4

31/08/2024

Man City (H)

Premier League

3-1 loss

#3

28/08/2024

Bournemouth (H)

Carabao Cup

1-0 win

#2

24/08/2024

Crystal Palace (A)

Premier League

2-0 win

#1

17/08/2024

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

2-1 loss

The Irons are doing internal groundwork on possible alternative options, in the event they decide to part ways with Lopetegui, and Conceicao is one of a few names under consideration.

“Sergio Conceicao is one name on West Ham’s radar,” said journalist Graeme Bailey to Hammers News recently.

“He is being looked at by a lot of clubs. Sullivan is not ready to accept yet that bringing Lopetegui in was a mistake.

“But, still, work is being done within the club to assess potential alternatives should Lopetegui fail to steer West Ham back on course. And one of the names that has come up in discussions is that of Conceicao.”

What several West Ham stars are thinking about Lopetegui right now

This week, broadcast giant talkSPORT have also backed West Ham’s links to the Portuguese, who clinched Manager of the Year three times in his homeland and won trophies galore during his time in the Primeira Liga.

They have also shared what “several” senior West Ham players are feeling about Lopetegui right now.

Indeed, it is believed all of them are disenchanted by the former Sevilla boss, and not fully on board with his methodology, which makes for grim reading, considering unity and a collective belief in the project is key for any side to perform well.

Next up for West Ham is a clash against Everton at the London Stadium, who are also struggling for consistent form under Sean Dyche, so this represents a significant opportunity for Lopetegui to get fans back on side with a convincing display.

Glasgow Rangers find themselves in a similar rut that occurred after a few weeks of the 2023/24 campaign.

Having enjoyed a new manager bounce under Michael Beale, poor recruitment in the summer of 2023 led to a disjointed start to the season, with the Light Blues failing to qualify for the Champions League, while slipping eight points behind Celtic.

Philippe Clement replaced the Englishman in October last year, winning the League Cup just two months into his Ibrox reign. However, it has been far from plain sailing since.

Having clawed back the deficit in the league last term, the Gers lost to Motherwell, Ross County and Celtic to finish second, while being defeated 1-0 in the Scottish Cup final by their Old Firm rivals.

Following a busy summer transfer window, hopes were high that Clement could lead the Light Blues to the title this term, but that already looks unlikely as they currently occupy third place in the table.

Rangers’ 10 best managers of all time ranked by win percentage

The Gers missed out on the league title in his first season, but where does Philippe Clement rank among his predecessors?

ByCharlie Smith Jan 4, 2025

Competition

Opponent

Score

Premiership

Kilmarnock

1-0 loss

Premiership

St Johnstone

2-0 win

Europa League

Lyon

4-1 loss

Premiership

Hibernian

1-0 win

Europa League

Malmö

2-0 win

League Cup

Dundee

3-0 win

Premiership

Dundee United

1-0 win

Premiership

Celtic

3-0 loss

Premiership

Ross County

6-0 win

League Cup

St Johnstone

2-0 win

Champions League qualification

Dynamo Kyiv

2-0 loss

Premiership

Motherwell

2-1 win

Champions League qualification

Dynamo Kyiv

1-1

Premiership

Hearts

0-0

It isn’t just the results which are poor, but the performances have been dismal at times. The Gers had sacked their manager before Christmas in the previous two seasons and Clement is a man under serious pressure, so will it happen again in 2024?

With the rumour mill circling regarding his future, we have taken a look at potential candidates who could take the reins at the Light Blues should Clement lose his job in the next few weeks.

1 Kevin Muscat Shanghai Port

Australian Kevin Muscat spent the 2002/03 season at the Gers during his playing career, helping the club win the domestic treble, and he has since forged an impressive managerial career.

He led Melbourne Victory to the A-League championship in 2014/15 and 2017/18 before going on to achieve success in Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos, replacing Ange Postecoglou. In the land of the rising sun, Muscat led the club to the J1 League title in 2022, finishing runners-up twice, while claiming the Japanese Super Cup last year.

Before Clement was unveiled, Muscat revealed that he spoke to Rangers concerning the vacant role. Could it be different this time?

2 Derek McInnes Kilmarnock

Like Muscat, McInnes also played for the club during his career, spending five years at Ibrox between 1995 and 2000.

His longest managerial spell was with Aberdeen, taking charge of the club for eight years and leading them to the 2014 League Cup, their first trophy in 20 years.

His spell at Kilmarnock has been an overriding success, and he has won two matches against Rangers since the start of last term. The Gers made an approach for the Scot in December 2017, but McInnes turned them down.

3 Ole Gunnar Solskjær Free agent (last job: Manchester United)

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is currently without a club, and despite not leading the Old Trafford side to any silverware during his spell as boss, experience managing at that level could be an advantage for the Gers.

It ended poorly for the Norwegian, but he won 91 of his 168 games at United, finishing Premier League runners-up in the 2020/21 campaign and coming close to winning the Europa League in the same year before losing to Villarreal on penalties.

4 Graham Potter Free agent (last job: Chelsea)

Graham Potter has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023, but he has turned down a few jobs since, including the chance to manage French side Lyon.

It appears as though he is waiting for the right opportunity to get back into management. Would Rangers suit him? That he is more of a project manager rather than instant success indicates this may not be the case, but if given time, the Englishman would surely build a solid team at Ibrox.

Unfortunately, time is something the club simply does not have right now, especially with how far behind they are in the Scottish Premiership.

All 20 Premier League managers' salaries (lowest to highest)

How much each Premier League gaffer earns.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 21, 2025 5 Frank Lampard Free agent (last job: Everton)

When Beale was sacked last year, it emerged that Lampard was keen on taking over the reins at Rangers. A while later, news broke that Lampard wasn’t even in the running, and he will almost certainly be an outsider if Clement receives his marching orders.

Sacked from both Chelsea and Everton, his next appointment must be a success, but it would be a massive gamble for Rangers to appoint him. Of course, the same was said about Steven Gerrard, yet he ended up returning the club to the summit of Scottish football by winning the league title in 2021. Stranger things have happened.

6 Kjetil Knutsen Bodo/Glimt

Kjetil Knutsen’s spell in charge of Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt has been incredible. Since 2018, he has led the club to three league titles (in 2019, 2020 and 2023) with his style being easy on the eye.

He became the first coach to see his team score six goals against one managed by José Mourinho, displaying evidence of how his attack-minded philosophy can glide through even the toughest defences – and this is something which would be advantageous for Rangers.

His success in Norway may see bigger teams than the Ibrox side emerge as possible destinations, but if Clement does leave, Knutsen could be an inspired choice.

7 Oliver Glasner Crystal Palace

Current Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner registered an interest in the vacant role following Beale’s sacking last year, but nothing materialised.

Glasner was the man in charge of Eintracht Frankfurt when the German side won the Europa League final against Rangers in 2022. After a positive start to life as the Eagles manager, his side have struggled this term.

Indeed, they currently occupy 18th place in the Premier League table, failing to win a single league match all season. While his job may not be under fire just now, if things persist, could he find his position untenable?

Especially considering his success elsewhere, Glasner could also be another suitable candidate to take over at Ibrox, even if he is out of a job himself in the coming weeks.

Rangers had a starlet who was like "Wayne Rooney", then he left for £0

Rangers thought they had a Wayne Rooney-like talent on their hands, then he was released.

ByDan Emery Oct 23, 2024

Ipswich Town have enjoyed a meteoric rise under the guidance of Kieran McKenna over the last couple of years after the Northern Irishman took the club from League One to the Premier League with back-to-back promotions.

However, despite his success at Portman Road, the 38-year-old will face his toughest task yet in management by trying to keep the Tractor Boys in the top flight beyond this season.

This year will live long in the memories of the fanbase, spending their first season in England’s top division for the first time in 22 years.

Meetings with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United will ignite the supporters’ hopes of sustaining their Premier League status and ensuring that they don’t go another two decades without top-flight football.

As a result of their shock rise over the last two seasons, heavy investment was needed during the off-season, which led to the club signing one player with bags of Premier League experience.

Kalvin Phillips’ move to join Ipswich Town

After a failed loan move to West Ham United that saw the midfielder feature just ten times in all competitions, Kalvin Phillips had a huge choice over his next move to help ignite his once-promising career.

The 28-year-old enjoyed a successful spell with Leeds United, featuring 234 times for his boyhood club, before joining Manchester City in a £45m deal during the summer of 2022.

However, the move has been a disaster for the former England international, featuring just 31 times and failing to dislodge Rodri from his starting role in defensive midfield.

As a result, Phillips accepted a proposal to join Ipswich on a season-long loan during the transfer window, with his top-flight experience vital to McKenna’s squad.

The midfielder has made 77 appearances in the competition to date, with his skill set hopefully giving the Tractor Boys that cutting edge in those cagey affairs.

However, they are yet to see the best of the one-time £45m signing, with the 28-year-old only on the pitch for 303 minutes in the league as he looks to regain his full fitness.

Whilst he undoubtedly has the quality to be a monster hit at Portman Road, the club may have been better off pursuing a deal to re-sign a player who’s previously thrived in East Anglia.

The man who Ipswich missed out on this summer

Ipswich’s hunt for new additions took them all over Europe, but they also targeted numerous players close to home, including former Tractor Boy, Flynn Downes.

McKenna’s side made an attempt to sign the 25-year-old after he helped Southampton secure promotion back to the Premier League after their play-off final victory over Leeds United at Wembley.

However, they missed out on a permanent deal to re-sign the midfielder, with Downes securing a £18m move to join Russell Martin’s side – with Ipswich moving onto other targets including Phillips.

Games played

7

4

Pass accuracy

91%

79%

Progressive carries per 90

1.7

0.6

Passes leading to shots per 90

1.9

1.2

Tackles won per 90

1

0.9

Aerials won

70%

33%

When delving into the pair’s respective stats from the current campaign, it’s clear that the current Southampton man has outperformed the Ipswich loanee, potentially seeing McKenna’s side regret not pushing harder for his signature.

The “monstrous” Saints star, as described by his current boss, has excelled in possession, achieving a much higher pass completion rate, whilst also averaging more progressive carries per 90.

Out of possession, Downes also has the upper hand, winning more tackles per 90 whilst winning more aerial battles – demonstrating the qualities he would’ve added in regaining the ball for McKenna’s side.

Undoubtedly, Phillips will provide a solid short-term option for the club, but with the long-term also in mind, Downes would’ve certainly been a better addition for the Tractor Boys.

His quality is evident, as demonstrated by his figures this season, potentially handing the East Anglian that added edge in their battle to avoid relegation this season.

Left for £5m: Ipswich hit gold offloading star who's now without a club

Ipswich Town cashed in at the best possible time when this former star left Portman Road.

1 ByKelan Sarson Oct 8, 2024

Apart from the two Tests, and matches at world and Asian events, India will play 27 ODIs and 36 T20Is in this period

Vishal Dikshit16-Aug-2022India are set to play two Tests, both at home, in the 2022-25 women’s FTP cycle. The first, against England, will be in December 2023, and the second, against Australia, will be part of the tour from December 2023 to January 2024. England (five) will play the most Tests, in this FTP, followed by Australia (four), and South Africa (three). As such, these are the only four women’s teams playing Test cricket in this period.Related

BCCI marks window in March 2023 for inaugural women's IPL

Seven Tests, 135 ODIs and 159 T20Is in first women's international FTP

There’s also the resumption of the T20 Asia Cup after a gap in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The window for it is in the first half of October this year. The venue for it hasn’t been finalised yet. The last time the women’s Asia Cup was played, in 2018 in Malaysia, Bangladesh beat India off the last ball in the final.India have a total of four home series in 2023-24, which will feature a total of 23 international games. South Africa will kickstart India’s season in September 2023 with three ODIs and three T20Is, before New Zealand’s tour in October for the same number of fixtures in both formats. After more than a month’s gap, England will visit India in December for a Test and three T20Is, followed by Australia’s arrival for a Test, three ODIs and three T20Is over December 2023 and January 2024.England last played a Test in India in 2005, while Australia last visited India for Test-match cricket way back in 1984.After the T20 World Cup in South Africa in February 2023, there is a gap in the FTP from March to May for all teams, which is set to serve as a window for the inaugural women’s IPL as well as the FairBreak Invitational T20 tournament in Hong Kong. As of now, the BCCI is looking to hold the women’s IPL in March as a standalone tournament, prior to the men’s chapter starting in April. The women’s domestic season has been advanced by a month for the women’s IPL and is scheduled to end in February next year with the inter-zonal one-day competition.There is very little cricket scheduled for India in the entire 2024 calendar year•ICC via Getty ImagesOverall, the FTP includes 27 ODIs and 36 T20Is for India as part of their home-and-away bilateral engagements, and a T20I tri-series in the lead up to the 2023 T20 World Cup. India have already played three ODIs and three T20Is in Sri Lanka in June-July this year, which are part of the FTP. In effect, the FTP started in May 2022 and will run till the end of April 2025. India’s next assignment is a tour of England for three ODIs and three T20Is in September, followed by a home series against Australia for five T20Is to end the year.At the start of 2023, India will fly to South Africa for a T20I tri-series also involving West Indies before the T20 World Cup, which will also be held in South Africa in February. Then, in June 2023, India will tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and three T20Is before returning for their home season, where they host South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia.There is very little cricket scheduled for India in the 2024 calendar year. Once Australia leave India in early 2024, the next assignment will be a reciprocal tour of Australia at the end of the year for three ODIs, before they return home to host West Indies (three ODIs and three T20Is) in December 2024 and Ireland (three ODIs and three T20Is) in January 2025 in the lead up to the 50-over World Cup at home in April.

Four half-centuries ensure comfortable day for tourists as Robinson sends down 18 overs

Alan Gardner21-May-2022After the frustrations of a washed-out first day, Hove was back to its tranquil self for the start of New Zealand’s touring commitments proper. Spectators basked, seagulls swooped and runs were picked off in leisurely fashion by the visiting batters. The number of ball replacements (two) almost equalled the wickets taken by Sussex’s attack (three), which included England seamer Ollie Robinson, who sent down 18 overs in his bid to prove himself worthy of a return to the Test fold.There were half-centuries for four members of New Zealand’s top five – Tom Latham, Will Young, Michael Bracewell and Tom Blundell – each of whom then retired to let a team-mate have a bat. As far as leg-stretchers go, this was a useful introduction for the New Zealanders, who only had 12 men to call on here due to a combination of injuries, Covid and late arrivals.”To get out there, on a nice surface, for all the guys to get a good hit and some time under their belts is always nice,” Luke Ronchi, New Zealand’s being coach, said afterwards.”It’s those challenges you want to face when you first arrive. Not just him [Robinson], but all the guys got it to nibble around a bit and use that Dukes ball the way they can. For our guys to come from home to here, to face that and get through that challenge is what we’re after. It’s nice to bat through the day and a few guys get some runs.”Alongside Robinson, Sussex fielded three 20-year-old seamers and one aged 23 – although this wasn’t a case of chucking in the kids for a friendly fixture, rather a reflection of the strategy at Hove where they have leaned heavily on their academy in recent seasons. The focus was understandably on Robinson, left out of England’s squad for the first two Tests over concerns about his match fitness, and he emerged unscathed – albeit wicketless – despite spending around an hour off the field either side of the tea break.He began with an exacting new-ball spell of 6-3-6-0, bowling down the hill from the Cromwell Road End with four slips watching on. Young took a blow on the glove and both openers were made to look uncertain against Robinson’s nagging line and length.He picked up again after lunch, delivering another five overs and coming close to a breakthrough, the rejection of his expectant lbw appeal from Hamish Rutherford’s third ball bringing a withering glance back at the umpire. Having returned to the field 20 minutes into the evening session, he delivered two more overs before the arrival of the second new ball, with a fourth spell extending his day’s work to 18-5-42-0.New Zealand will have tougher examinations ahead, but there is benefit to be gained from spending time in the middle – and surviving a few overs from Robinson, in particular. Latham was typically unobtrusive, cracking a back cut off the left-armer Sean Hunt for the first of his six boundaries, and later producing a dismissive pull down the ground off Henry Crocombe. Young found the leg-side boundary three times in four balls from Crocombe, but was content to slipstream his captain as the pair raised 100 before lunch.Latham was the first to reach his half-century, soon followed by his partner – who then headed from the field to be replaced by Rutherford half an hour after lunch. Young made 331 runs at 55.16 from four matches with Northamptonshire before the start of the tour and is expected to keep his place at opener for the Tests, despite scores of 8, 3 and 0 in New Zealand’s most-recent series against South Africa, with Devon Conway – who scored a double-century on debut opening the batting at Lord’s last year – likely to move down to No. 4 below the returning Kane Williamson.

WHAT. A. CATCH.

Is there anything @iMRizwanPak can't do? pic.twitter.com/aa4XkvF8Af

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 21, 2022