New Delhi: West Ham United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers. Hammers vs Wolves. Julen Lopetegui vs Gary O’Neil. No matter how you build it, the best way to define the game remains, ‘El Sackico’. Two sides near the bottom of the game go head to head to inflict wounds on the other in order to patch themselves up. Two managers come face to face knowing fully well, this could be the last time this season.
When the fixtures were out, no one would’ve thought that the final clash of Matchday 15 would hold so much importance in the season but that’s why it’s called ‘the beautiful game’ where even the most normal of matches can turn out to be of huge significance. Neither managers would’ve expected to find themselves in this situation after just 14 games but here they are. Some might even say that they’re lucky enough to have even reached this point, such has been their campaigns till now.
West Ham’s Premier League campaign so far
The Hammers went into the 2024/25 season with a lot of excitement and positivity following an excellent summer window. They bid farewell to manager David Moyes and replaced him with former Spain and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui, in hopes of challenging for Europe once again, having recently won the UEFA Conference League. They made their intentions extremely clear as they brought in nine players to the club, all of whom looked extremely good on paper.
Lopetegui, who’s facing his former club tonight, wanted players to establish his style and contribute to what he wants to build and he identified his former Wolves captain, Max Kilman to bring to the club. He brought the Englishman by making him the club’s second most expensive signing of all-time and that was just the beginning of the shopping spree. He would go on to add the likes of Jean Claire Todibo and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in defense.
🚨⚒️ 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 | Julen Lopetegui expected to STAY in charge of West Ham for the game vs Wolves, reports @SamiMokbel81_DM. ✅
Will be an important match as Gary O’Neil is also under pressure with Wolves to get results. pic.twitter.com/s4OJaKSLgM
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) December 5, 2024
He improved the midfield by brining in Guido Rodriguez on a free transfer and Carlos Soler on loan from PSG, both of whom used to play in La Liga, a league Lopetegui is extremely familiar with. Their attack got the most incomings with players like Crysencio Summerville, Niklas Fullkrug, and Brazilian prodigy Luis Guilherme. While their team looked staked on paper, it hasn’t been transferred onto the field properly.
The Hammers are currently fighting for a place amongst the mid-table mediocrity so that they don’t slip towards the relegation zone. They are sitting 14th in the league table having won only four games and conceded 27 goals in the process. The pressure is increasing on Lopetegui to deliver results after he’s faced humiliating defeats to Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Tottenham and most recently, Leicester City.
Wolves’ Premier League campaign so far
The vibe was very different in the Wolves camp in comparison to the West Ham set up. Gary O’Neil headed into his second season at the Molineux after guiding them to safety last season but things don’t look too good for them this season. They got their season off to a very underwhelming start with a very lacklustre summer transfer window. Not many major signings came through the door for them this season while stars like Max Kilman and Pedro Neto left.
Wolves went for budget options when trying to replace the two, getting Carlos Forbs on loan from Ajax and 18-year-old Bastien Meupiyou from Nantes. 31-year-old Sam Johnstone came in on deadline day to compete for the number one spot and Brazilian midfielder André was the most expensive signing for them of the summer, joining from Fluminense on deadline day as well.
Gary O’Neil is under massive pressure at #Wolves.
However, the current plan is for O’Neil to remain in charge for Monday’s game at West Ham but the hierarchy are aware he has lost the support of many match-going fans.
📰 @talkSPORT | #WWFC pic.twitter.com/zcHpLm9dD5
— Talking Wolves (@TalkingWolves) December 5, 2024
However, their biggest signing of the summer and one that has worked out the best has been the loan arrival of Norwegian striker Jørgen Strand Larsen from Celta Vigo, whose option to buy will surely be trigged if they stay up. However, none of them have really helped them out on the field as they find themselves fighting for their survival, occupying one of the relegation spots, sitting 19th in the table.
They’ve only one two games all season and have conceded a league high 36 goals while losing nine of their 14 games till now. Gary O’Neil was one of the favourites to get the sack early in the season but an impressive showing in the loss to Manchester City got him some more time. However, the club has faced some horrible defeats, such as the 6-2 loss to Chelsea at home, a 5-3 loss to Brentford and they just conceded four goals in back to back losses to Bournemouth and Everton.
Why is the game being dubbed as ‘El Sackico’?
The Premier League clash between West Ham and Wolves on Monday has been cheekily dubbed “El Sackico” by fans and pundits. The term, a cheeky yet grim play on the famous “El Clasico,” highlights the mounting pressure on managers Julen Lopetegui and Gary O’Neil. Both face uncertain futures after lackluster starts to the season, and a defeat in this high-stakes encounter would most likely signal the end for either man.
West Ham, currently five points clear of the relegation zone, find themselves in a precarious position. A loss to Wolves, who sit 19th in the table, would leave the Hammers just three points above the drop zone and deepen concerns over their trajectory. Despite moments of promise, Lopetegui’s side has struggled to find consistency, and the weight of expectation is beginning to take its toll.
⚽️THE EL SACKICO ⚽️
🔵West Ham v Wolverhampton 🟠
Which manager will lose their job ?#WestHam #WestHamUnited #Wolves #Wolverhampton #whuwol #PremierLeague #football pic.twitter.com/iXm4HrWZ1W
— Bet Central (@BetCentralBet) December 9, 2024
Wolves, under Gary O’Neil, have had an equally challenging campaign. Their position near the foot of the table is a stark reflection of their struggles, and with only one win in their last seven games, the team is desperate for a morale-boosting result. O’Neil’s ability to inspire a turnaround is under scrutiny, with this fixture serving as a potential tipping point.
The term “El Sackico” isn’t new, famously used in October 2021 for Tottenham vs. Manchester United, where Spurs’ Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked 48 hours after a defeat, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer soon followed. This history serves as a cautionary tale for Lopetegui and O’Neil. With the stakes so high, Monday’s fixture at the London Stadium promises drama, tension, and potentially decisive consequences for both clubs and managers.
Two managers head into the final clash of Matchday 15 but will both come out the other side of it, that remains to be seen as he head to the second ‘El Sackico’ of the season. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
