The world and its wife seems to have an opinion about Julen Lopetegui and West Ham right now but Kevin Nolan's carries more weight.

Kevin Nolan has only just been able to start watching West Ham again.

The huge Hammers fan favourite was a big part of the club's rise under David Moyes over the last few years.

He was part of the backroom team that ended West Ham's 43-year major trophy drought.

That's after Nolan served the Hammers with distinction as a player and captain too.

He was desperate to stay at West Ham in the summer.

Nolan revealed he offered to stay at the club after the departure of Moyes and to work under the new management team.

But Nolan says Julen Lopetegui snubbed the offer, much to his disappointment.

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Back at the end of August Nolan said he had been refusing to watch his old team under Lopetegui because he was 'still raw'.

That is beginning to thaw now for the ex Hammers midfielder.

Nolan said he wanted to try and help the new manager with his vast knowledge of the club after nine years in east London as a player and coach.

Lopetegui probably could have done with Nolan's influence by the sounds of it.

There have been several stories of disenchantment among players along with the blazing row between the head coach and Mohammed Kudus at the weekend.

Lucas Paqueta was also seen shaking his head at the manager when he was substituted in the second half at Brentford.

Hammers skipper Jarrod Bowen was also brought off near the end of the game. And not for the first time under the Spaniard.

Now Nolan has told Lopetegui he has got it so wrong over West Ham's star player.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live Sport, Nolan says making Bowen captain was the wrong decision.

He believes the armband has come too soon for Bowen.

And Nolan feels the added pressure Bowen feels is affecting his early season performances.

"He has just come back from the Euros. If you look at a lot of the people who have come back from the Euros as well, they have had quite a slow start to try and get back into this sort of season. A lot of pressure has been placed on Jarrod's shoulders.

"Listen, he can take it. He is a big guy. He is a good lad, top man, great professional. When I heard that he got the captaincy, and I know it's a massive thing for him, I just thought, it is a bit too early for him and would that affect his game? You know what I mean?

"Would that take away what Jarrod is? And when I am looking at it now and seeing him after the game, he is probably taking a lot more on whereas he was firmly focused on Jarrod Bowen and being the best he can be for West Ham."

Nolan is echoing what many West Ham fans have said this season.

But there are very few obvious alternatives.

Worryingly so according to another former West Ham captain.

Nigel Reo-Coker has revealed he witnessed a worrying lack of characters and leaders on a visit to West Ham training.