Exclusive by Hughie Southon
West Ham have no money to spend strengthening the squad when the January window opens after the club’s cash splash of over £150 million in the summer.
There has been much discussion on whether the club will trust the manager with new funds as we hover above the relegation zone.
But the reality is that the board will – as has been explained by sources to ClaretandHugh on several occasions – be relying on the manager to ensure that the players he brought in during the summer are capable of capable of digging us out of this situation.
It leaves Moyes between a rock and a hard place as he bids to get points from a series of difficult games immediately after the break starting with Arsenal away and Brentford at home.
The very best he can hope for in the window is MAYBE a couple of loans should he remain in place with the club having made it clear results and performances MUST improve.
The club has been through a tumultuous transition from last two season’s personnel wise, both on and off the pitch. From losing two trusty lieutenants in Irvine and Pearce, to countless squad players and development players to boot.
For the record, I’m not a fan of pragmatic managers, Roeder, Curbs, BFS and Moyes do not float my boat whilst watching their teams don the famous Claret & Blue at the club I love, playing the game that I love.
However, the season is only a shade over a third complete, I know with the festive season being so close that it distorts the whole complexion of what is still possible of achieving. I’ve always looked at the 21 games completed marker and use 20 points gained as a barometer for achieving the minimum requirement. So far we’re just about on track, or slightly above.
This can still be a productive season if we all remain calm and unified on the terraces.
If we can’t afford new players, let’s just accept it, get behind what we’ve got, finish the season strong and move on from there.
“ don’t worry about a thing, cos every little thing gonna be alright!
COYI.
I think it’s well known that Moyes has been given a target of 5 points from the next three games – that Arsenal away, Brentford home and Leeds away – by my reckoning that’s one win and two draws, I can’t see that happening. What the Board do when he doesn’t reach this target is impossible to say – what’s Big Sam up to nowadays! 😳
… or Avram Grant!! 😳
Moyes will probably have some money from the sale of Declan Rice – and who could blame him for going given the lack of ambition at West Ham both on the pitch and off it!!!
Whatever your views on David Moyes and current situation I suspect the Board will not make changes as there appears to be no readily available options. At least from the restart we should have a fully fit squad with all new players available for the first time. So let’s give it a go COYI!