David Moyes has blamed the absence of Declan Rice for West Ham’s heavy away defeats this season, following his side’s 5-0 loss at Chelsea on Sunday. This appears to be the last recourse of a desperate man grasping for excuses to explain his inability to compete defensively this season.
I have some sympathy for David Moyes, who is clearly in such a state of bewilderment that he’s unable to accurately assess the reasons for his team’s breakdown. The truth is that West Ham were thrashed last season even with Rice in the team, and we spent most of the season flirting with relegation.
In reality, Moyes has struggled to organise a defence despite spending £80 million on central defenders in the last four years.
When asked why the Hammers have suffered heavy defeats away from home this season, following the 5-0 loss at Chelsea, Moyes replied: “Declan Rice. You get the best midfield player in the country, protecting, making sure the moments and times you limit maybe 50 percent of the attacks and the moments, when you get that then it makes you a much better defensive team. We’ve lacked protection in front of the back four, we’ve lacked good enough defending, we’ve just not been good enough in many games.”
These seem like desperate words from a man searching for solutions.
I don’t really think that what he said was to put the blame on the lack of Declan; & in any case, that would be a fair comment, don’t you think ? There is no doubt in my mind that we miss Declan significantly. However, I think that you are correct to draw attention to West Ham’s complete lack of competent defenders – something that Moyes is very definitely responsible for.
David Moyes made a mistake of not playing according together his team’s strength.You can’t go toe to toe with Chelsea.Moyes should have been compact and counter Chelsea.His comments about Rice was uncalled for as it may see he despises other players at his disposal.
Yes, a strange excuse. Has he only just noticed that Declan Rice has gone? I might accept this weak explanation were it not for the fact we nearly got relegated with Declan last season… forget the third tier European competition we won, and every other team in the Premier League, apart from Arsenal, does not have Declan in midfield, yet we are performing defensively as bad as any apart from Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United. It’s almost as though the Moyes’ choice for defence above all else with the ridiculous signing of Kakvin Philips didn’t work out.
Moyes is never to blame it’s always someone else’s fault.He really is spineless and a coward as he never takes a chance and plays his cautious defensive tactics.That don’t work as his best players are his attacking players! So he plays defensively and encourages teams to attack our really poor defense which has now let in seventy goals this season.My grandma could do a better job honestly!!!
What a completely wrong comment to make at this time, from Moyes! Instead of accepting the fault is down to Him! the way he lined the team up, and positions he puts them in. I never like to see any manager leave in the way he is Going! But Moyes has brought his downfall on himself. A Real MAN would have resigned a few weeks ago! then desperately hanging on,
He has a way with his underhand comments of undermining some of the existing players. Notably Alvarez, who IMO has been one of our players of the year along with Bowen and Kudus. In this situation we miss Dawson and the centre backs we currently have, one wants out to the Saudi league (Aguerd) one doesn’t look like he could walk a mile without his knees collapsing (Zouma) and one great servant for the club but is sadly a bit too old without much match fitness (Ogbona) . Obviously the under 21 team doesn’t play with a centre or else they would have had a call up by now………… No under Moyes you don’t get that honour until you are 30. Give me strength……
Good luck in your next endeavor, David,
Again the debates on our defensive capabilities , what about our offensive capabilities, if the ball spends more time in the opponents half then our defense wouldn’t be under so much pressure, if he thinks that having saint Declan in the side yesterday would have made a difference I think he’s living in a dream world,
I agree with you, I might never have made it as a premiership manager but I always reckon if your team have possession of the ball and are playing in the oppositions half it will reduce your chance of conceding a goal. Obviously Mr Moyes has a diff ent view
Such a misguided thing to say, whether it has any truth or not. I ask myself what I’d be thinking about that if I were a player in the dressing room. It’s an indication that he has lost the team to a large degree. With all that said, look no further than the board for the crass and classless management of the whole situation.
Given the chance Moyes would have 6 players in front of the back 4 and he often does , hence
West Hams. average of approximately 30 % possession. if truth be told most of that seems to be down. to the Goalkeeper! in MOYES teams. he certainly has to earn his money !
I. always thought that the Goalkeeper was the LAST. LINE OF. DEFENCE.
Sadly, David Moyes is a dinosaur 🦖 who lacks tactical flexibility and adaptability.
He never plays to his strengths and always sets up the team to be attacked over and over again.
These flimsy excuses he makes just expose his limitations every season and the best thing he can do for the club is to resign ASAP.
West Ham have a plethora of talent. Alvarez, Bowen, Kudus, Prowse, Areola, Soucek, Antonio etc and you’re leaking like a fishing net… inexcusable!
Moyes is a dinosaur 🦖…time to part ways.