A top West Ham star who was substituted in the 4-1 Premier League drubbing at bitter rivals Spurs has revealed what was said after the game.
West Ham United have been abysmal in 2024 and that continued at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Hammers have won just seven of 35 games in all competitions since the turn of the year.
That is relegation form.
Julen Lopetegui looked like he might have lift off when West Ham beat Ipswich 4-1 before the international break.
It was a false dawn, though, as the Hammers suffered another pitiful and painful defeat to a rival.
Deeply concerning 3-0 and 5-1 defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool were one thing.
Getting hammered by their biggest Premier League rivals sounds the alarm bells for West Ham after the 4-1 reverse at Spurs.
Make no mistake, it could and should have been by a greater margin too.
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West Ham’s insipid defeat to biggest Premier League rivals
West Ham fans packed out the away end as always.
But it was empty with 15 minutes to go as the Irons collapsed in spectacular style.
This is not the first time Hammers fans have left games early this season. That in itself is sending a grave message to the club’s owners about the manager.
West Ham lack fight, passion, togetherness and resilience. Especially when their backs are to the wall.
But this is not exclusive to the fledgling Lopetegui era, it was happening under David Moyes too.
West Ham’s midfield is broken. It simply does not function and has been thrown together with absolutely zero thought.
It is slow, immobile and lacking in any guile. The personnel do not complement each other at all.
The midfield gives little protection to the defence and offers nothing going forwards either.
One man at the heart of it saw himself substituted again by Lopetegui at Tottenham.
Hooked West Ham star lifts lid on what was said after Spurs
Now hooked West Ham star Tomas Soucek has lifted the lid on what was said in the dressing room after the Spurs drubbing.
Soucek has been one of the club’s most reliable players for years.
But he did not have a good day in north London – like too many of his teammates.
So what was said and how was the mood in the Hammers dressing room after the humbling?
Soucek says there is ‘anger, frustration and sadness’ in the dressing room.
The big Czech says the players told each other in the changing room they cannot allow performances like the one at Spurs to happen anymore.
And there was a rallying call between them so say they have a full week to prepare for Man United and put things right.
Soucek: ‘We just said this can’t happen’
“Obviously, we are so angry, so frustrated, all of us,” Soucek told TNT Sports in an interview which you can see below.
“We just said this can’t happen because it’s a big derby, it’s for us, for our pride, for our fans, it’s a massive game, and we lost. And we lost in a big difference.
“We are just very sad, but we also said that this is one thing and we have the whole week to overcome and win the next game at home against United.
“One thing happened today and we have the whole week to do something with that.”
West Ham are already miles off the stated aim for the season – the European spots.
There are no signs performances or results are going to change dramatically anytime soon.
The jury is very much out on Lopetegui.
But the club’s summer transfers are also in the spotlight too, unfortunately for Tim Steidten.
One thing is certain. After spending £155m on nine new players, it will be easier for the club to change one man – Lopetegui – than half a squad yet again.