“‘They’ve Brought It on Themselves!’ Keys Takes Joy in West Ham Woes, Calls for Lampard to Take Charge
Richard Keys has openly admitted he’s enjoying West Ham United’s struggles under Julen Lopetegui, delivering a scathing rant that’s sure to irk Hammers fans. It hasn’t been the year West Ham hoped for; the team has experienced a dramatic decline, with the club’s form nosediving since January. Just last December, David Moyes had led the Hammers to a top-six spot, coming close to breaking into the top four with back-to-back victories over Manchester United and Arsenal.
But the momentum has collapsed, as West Ham managed only nine wins from 38 games in 2024—relegation-worthy form, if stretched over an entire Premier League season. Despite these lackluster results, the club’s decision to part ways with Moyes in the summer was widely criticized by media, with many voicing regret that the Scot, who had brought stability, was replaced. Julen Lopetegui’s arrival hasn’t changed the narrative, as many fans felt underwhelmed from the outset. His tenure has been marred by disappointing performances, questionable decisions, and man-management issues that have left both supporters and the board unconvinced.
The Hammers’ latest setback, a 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, highlighted their struggles, and were it not for a fortunate win over Manchester United, they’d be heading into the clash with Everton on a three-game losing streak. West Ham’s owners are publicly standing by Lopetegui but admit results need to improve, and a recent fan poll, conducted by a key Hammers board source, revealed waning confidence in the manager’s ability to steer the team back on course.
Amidst all this turmoil, some of Moyes’ supporters, who previously warned the club to “be careful what you wish for,” are now reminding fans of those words. Richard Keys, a vocal Moyes advocate and close friend, was among those critics. In his latest piece on his website, Keys seemed to relish the struggles at West Ham, showing no sympathy for the club’s current plight and stating they’re facing consequences of their own making. He concluded his remarks with a bold suggestion: that West Ham “deserves” to end up with Frank Lampard as manager—a swipe that has stoked fans’ frustrations further.
Keys’ comments underscore a sense of schadenfreude. He argues that West Ham’s quest for a new style of play post-Moyes has backfired, implying that the club should have stuck with stability over entertainment. According to him, their current downward spiral will get worse before it gets better. He even went as far as suggesting Lampard—a manager who’s far from popular with Hammers supporters, given his ties to Chelsea and complicated history with West Ham—might be the natural consequence of the club’s choices.
For West Ham fans, the implication that they were wrong to want a fresh approach in the post-Moyes era is infuriating. Clubs like Tottenham, Aston Villa, Brighton, and Bournemouth have all pursued more dynamic styles of play and reaped the rewards. Why should West Ham be chastised for aspiring to the same? Just because Lopetegui’s tenure has struggled to deliver results, doesn’t mean it was wrong for the club to part ways with Moyes. Even Moyes himself admitted that, by the end, his time with West Ham had run its course. So, if the former manager can accept the club’s decision, why can’t his allies like Keys?
Keys’ suggestion that West Ham deserves Lampard as a manager feels like a low blow, especially given the deep-seated tension between Lampard and the club’s fanbase. It’s a stinging critique that Hammers fans are sure to resent, especially coming from someone who has championed Moyes so vocally.
