David Moyes has been reflecting on “the one who got away” following the continued excellent form of Scotland international Scott McTominay.
West Ham tried for two years to sign the former Manchester United midfielder, who has since taken Serie A by storm following his move to Napoli.
McTominay has been in rampant form this season, scoring eight league goals and playing a key role in keeping Napoli hot on the heels of league leaders Inter Milan.
The Hammers made multiple attempts to land the Manchester United graduate — particularly after Declan Rice’s departure to Arsenal — and there was a genuine belief at the time that a deal could be struck.
Former West Ham boss David Moyes now believes that missing out on McTominay may have been a pivotal moment in his reign at the club.
“We bought two really good players in James Ward-Prowse and Edson Álvarez, so that was the cover, but Scott was certainly one of the players we had a big interest in as well,” Moyes said.
“Scott is a good all-round midfielder, but his best attributes are arriving in the area — or just on the edge of it — at the right time to score or create chances.
“McTominay was a player who I felt I needed at the time, but we didn’t quite get it over the line, and he went on to score a lot of big goals for Manchester United last season instead.”
It’s clear Moyes believes McTominay could have made all the difference — and perhaps even helped him keep his job at the London Stadium. To be fair to Moyesie, he always did rate the former Man U player and the Hammers midfield would have been in a far better shape now if we had signed him.
Moyes didn’t lose his job due to one player.
He never signed a striker in his last 6 months of tenure.
Continued to run legs off same 11 players.
Played players out of position.
Lost pinnacle games at end of season when top 6 was within reach.
Got the hump with prospect of losing grip on transfers.
the bread has gone stale 🍞🥱