Julen Lopetegui is not currently facing immediate dismissal despite increasing concerns at West Ham over their poor start to the season.

West Ham, currently positioned in 15th place after a 4-1 loss to Tottenham on Saturday, are not considering a managerial change at this time and are committed to giving Lopetegui time to adjust after appointing him as David Moyes’s successor last summer. The club’s board is known for avoiding hasty decisions and acknowledges that the Spaniard is in the process of implementing a new playing style while integrating 10 new signings from the summer transfer window. However, there is significant concern about the team's early results under Lopetegui, who is under pressure ahead of the home game against Manchester United this Sunday. His position may be reassessed if there is no improvement before Christmas.

The former Wolves manager needs to see results improve before the international break next month. West Ham will visit Nottingham Forest and host Everton after facing United. They could be without Mohammed Kudus for these fixtures due to his red card against Spurs. Kudus left three Spurs players injured and faces the possibility of a Football Association ban exceeding three games. The Ghanaian was sent off for violent conduct following an initial clash with Micky van de Ven, but he also shoved the defender and Pape Matar Sarr in the face and knocked over Richarlison.

Kudus’s outburst occurred at the end of a second half where West Ham were overwhelmed by Spurs, who scored three times in eight minutes. The winger has already had a confrontation with Lopetegui this season, having an angry exchange after being substituted at half-time during last month’s draw with Brentford. Kudus scored in his next game, a 4-1 win against Ipswich earlier this month.

West Ham hope the performance against Ipswich reflects the true potential of the squad. They have had a challenging start to the season, having already faced Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Spurs. They were eliminated from the Carabao Cup after a 5-1 loss to Liverpool.

Internal discussions have questioned the effectiveness of recruitment after a summer spend exceeding £100m. Tim Steidten, the technical director, played a key role in signing the Germany striker Niclas Füllkrug, who has yet to score since joining from Borussia Dortmund for £27.5m. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since August due to a persistent achilles issue.

West Ham have also struggled defensively, conceding 15 goals in eight games despite strengthening their defense with signings like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Max Kilman, and Jean-Clair Todibo. They have failed to address their lack of pace in central midfield and were outplayed by Spurs.

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