By Hugh Southon
Gotta be honest about this – I become more and more fed up with the Moyes knockers.
Like most others who know anything at all about this game I’ve become heartily sick of the regular change of management which has stripped this football club of an identity.
For the sake of this piece I’m only going back as far as Sam Allardyce and wish he wasn’t on the list at all.
But to go from his “respect the point” and “get it forward quickly” style to the more sophisticated, if fragile Slaven Bilic, onto Moyes, then Pellegrini and back to Moyes shows nothing other than misdirection and confusion at the top of the club.
But I do get a little cheesed off and more when a bloke saves us from relegation amid crowd protests TWICE and is regularly blasted as boring, predictable and dull.
His first arrival was marked by a crowd invasion and major demonstrations but he managed to save us – in part – by turning Marko Arnautovic into a very good striker.
Many of the people who were moaning about him then, later decided he was given a raw deal by the board who decided to stick all their dough on red by backing Pellegrini like no manager before or probably ever again.
What a failure that was and back we went to Moyes who supplied us with some great football after lockdown and is starting to show again that maybe, just maybe, he might just give us a team which can defy the expectations of most by taking a few points over these upcoming difficult games.
We could also find ourselves moving on into the later rounds of the Carabao Cup should we manage to beat Hull City on Tuesday night.
Along the way, we may discover that the much-maligned Arthur Masuaku – given what we saw against Arsenal – could become a key figure in a revival of fortunes not too many expect.
The Arnautovic masterstroke was a major factor in the club remaining in the Premier League…Masuaku’s development as a left-winger could be an another this time around if he can retain a level of consistency we haven’t seen previously.
Moyes is not the mug many believe him to be or a bloke who should receive the sort of bashings he has in the past. He may not be the most charismatic but he’s what this club needs right now I reckon.
Let’s just hope a certain Mr David Sullivan allows him to develop things his way and eventually appoints a director of football who can genuinely see this club move forward and develop a much needed footballing image.
Whatever that may be!
Good article Hugh – I feel exactly the same – despite all the stick that he gets Moyes has shown a lot of love and respect to the club – and unlike e.g. Harry who was never slow to throw a player under the bus to get himself off the hook (Manny Ominyimi was just the most extreme case of that) , Moyes gives a lot of support to the players and this I believe will be one of the factors that helps us through this tough spell
I for one give him a lot of credit for what he has achieved and certainly we played a lot of good football last night
No cannot knock him. I knock VAR and the poor referees.
Couldn’t agree more, Hugh. Best thing you’ve written for a while. I’ve always felt that Moyes, if given time and support – dlfrom both fans and board – could be the best manager we’ve had for decades. He rebuilt Everton, and won the backing of the shrewdest man in football, Alex Ferguson.
I think we reached a new low with the Moyes knocking earlier today on here, when I read a comment reminding us that Pochettino is available!
Having said all of that, I’m still left questioning some of Moyes’ decisions. I don’t understand Tarkowski. I don’t understand why he keeps playing Fredericks and starting with Mark Noble. But, overall, I.think he’s doing a solid in perennially difficult circumstances.
Absolutely spot on Hugh. My only worry is his continued selection of Cresswell who is completely off the pace of PL football. But he is doing a great job in difficult times.
If history teaches us anything it teaches us that Masuaku will not play two decent games back to back.
Sadly, that is generally true of the whole team,so I expect after a very decent effort against the Gunners to see us revert to a Newcastle- level performance either mid- week or next weekend.
For some reason I can’t begin to fathom we seem to need to be in the most desperate trouble before we can rouse ourselves to put in two or three decent performances on the bounce. Anyone else have a clue why this is?
Agree Hugh, feel sorry for the guy. He seems to spend his time here firefighting instead of being able to build something worthwhile. Although I don’t always agree with his selections, he should be allowed to get on with his job and be given full support by the board. He was their choice, they should back him all the way.
I have never been a fan but I admit he did a great job last season. He also bought well and fingers crossed he will now do the same over the next few weeks, he deserves this chance and he deserves the support of the owners.. I am hopeful if he signs proper defenders, he will then start to play more attacking line ups but if he does not then I will give him a hard time. The signings he makes in the next few weeks are critical. Whatever he brings in it must be quality – no more rubbish. I do believe he is a negative coach but I am not writing him off yet. I hope he is successful and he deserves the chance.
We played very well yesterday with his team set up and it was a huge improvement on Newcastle who were dire today.Need to stick with him and back him in the last 3 weeks of the transfer window.The knockers are the ones who were pleading for Pellegrini and Moyes is still clearing up that almighty mess.He has saved the club twice now from certain relegation and the last thing we need is another manager.We need stability and continuity and i for one said he should have got the job 1st time round.
I totally agree. I just hope he plays squad members in their key positions. We’ve always known Arthur is a pacey leftie and has only ever struggled when it fell on him to drop back in defence. Brings back memories of Bilic playing Antonio as a right back. These are supposed to be footie experts yet anyone with half a brain cell could see it was wrong. Anyway DM is the man to take us forward. He lives, eats and sleeps football. The owners must stand up and back him like they should’ve done before going with that tool Pellegrini and his fellow muppets. I have every faith in Moyse but the board must back him. I also think the silence from GSB is disgraceful as they’ve only added fuel to the fire – I’d also like to see unity with Nobes, Rice and Moyse holding a press conference. Don’t ask for much do I!!! Final thing, if fans were in the stadium again I think the owners would’ve come out in public to placate at the very least. I imagine they’re very happy they won’t get it in the neck for the next month or two in the stadium. We better have at least 2 quality defenders in by the time fans can get back in and also have points on the table, otherwise they’re gonna be in for some serious backlash…COYI
Couldn’t agree more Hugh.
Good article Hugh and agree. Second only to moving stadium the frequent change of managers is destroying (destroyed🙁) the identity and heritage of our club. Badge is third (London).
Moyes is a good manager. Not perfect, cautious, considered, deliberate which means leads to the delays we see in transfers and substitutions. But when we see the number of players going through the revolving doors in both directions rapidly I am happy he gives thought to the transfers. Until we get a Director of Football and scouting network to help Moyes build up a portfolio of players he can look to more quickly we have to be as patient as him. As for the substitutions, have to live with it……although I wonder if some of the issue is he doesn’t trust his subs, which says even less of the players who don’t even get on the bench!
Back Moyes, extend his contract and give him the chance to rebuild this club.
Wholeheartedly agree with you on this one Hugh.
Now Im going to check the water is still going down the plughole the right way
Give him a break?
You sure!!
A manager with a decent pair of balls would have made subs to go for the win when it was 1-1
And its a yes from me!
I agree with you 100%.
I think he will steady the ship and is just what we need, however why does it take so long to put subs on and why in the 88th minute when we should have had them on there on about 65th, 70th minute when we were on top and why have we not got Rico Henry in when left back is a glaring problem for us. The Tarkowski chase is a very odd one when the full backs are more of the problem. Think he is the right man but some odd things from him.
Not a massive Moyes fan. Wish he would be more pro active on subs in particular. But at this point can’t really trust the board to make an appointment. So it is what is with moyes.
It’s going to be another year of gritty boring football. Moyes averages around a point per game which should enable us to scrape through.
Spot on assessment and fantastic article Hugh…… It NEEDED to be said. I have also read the Unbelievable and Corrosive nonsense about Moyes and have wondered what planet the people aiming such criticisms about him are on. They make wild statements about him which are disrespectful to a man of his stature and status within the game.
I have often thought that if these same people making these disparaging remarks about him cannot see the green shoots and the turning around of this club (football wise)…. then they clearly must be blind.
The people who have jumped on the DITHERING Dave band wagon, clearly have no Idea what PRAGMATIC means, which describes him perfectly and is exactly what this club with its unambitious, own goal Owners, need in its manager.
A mate of mine is an Everton supporter and for many since Moyes joined them from Preston, I had watched and admired his work at Everton and saw them develop under him on a meagre budget.
I am Totally convinced that given the proper support under better owners, Moyes could leave a legacy at this club because he is Everything a club like ours needs in a manager, and he is someone who actually wants to stay and create a legacy. I have stated it many times but this club NEEDS stability more than anything else right now going forward. This club needs to build back it’s identity and make us proud supporters once again.
Yesterday there were loads of nasty remarks flying around once the team was announced against Arsenal, many of these remarks made out that these supporters had more of an idea of team selection than Moyes??? Maybe the people making these comments didn’t quite think their thoughts through before posting these remarks….. but these throwaway remarks can easily be forgotton once posted….. But it leads to a drip drip drip corrosiveness which is tiring because you wonder what sort of support these people think they are giving to the manager and team. On the flip side you have people being condescending and over simplistic in their view of what Moyes should or shouldn’t do with players he had met on his arrival at this club and probably wouldn’t have brought.
The owners need to back him and until he is backed have a bit of sympathy for the situation that a capable manager has found himself in.
COYI
Problems start from the top.
David Moyes is not at the top. ITS THE BOARD. They are using him as fireman in a house burning down.
But firemen know how to put out a fire and stop idiots adding fuel.
Give him a proper chance
I respect Moyes and feel he is the manager we need for the next while. Even he can’t make a silk purse from a dog’s ear.
Part of the fun of watching games is deciding what one might do if managing. When the real manager ignores the unheard advice and things go wrong, criticism of the decision naturally follows. Similarly, when he doesn’t do the expected, playing Masuaku for example, and things go right, it reminds me why I am not managing.
Never personal, it is just footie after all…
Totally agree. You’ve nailed this one Hugh. Moyes ain’t perfect but I happen to think he represents our best chance of becoming a stable top eight outfit in the years ahead and personally im sick of the chopping and changing.
Spot on Hugh. He saved us once, was snubbed, but came back in crisis with positive enthusiasm last year and did it again. Give him a go – the constant moaning is not helpful or classy.
With most fire aimed at the owners I’m sure moyes is being given a break, and some sympathy.
My main criticism of him as a manager is his consistent frustrating use (lack of subs) . Rarely does he make the first move, even when some players are clearly dead on their feet.
It’s right to question, isn’t it? Those calling for his head I don’t agree with but those pointing out his patterns of being reactive, reluctant to make changes and being overtly defensive have the right. His record since the return from lockdown is, I believe, P11 W3 D3 L5. He deserves the chance to build in my opinion (which I also believe could give him the tools to be less defensively minded) and it looks like his hands are tied right now which must be incredibly frustrating for him.
I agree we need stability at our club for the next few seasons, even if that means mid-table mediocrity. But to question his tactics and his record is every fans’ right. Without questioning how do we reach understanding?
Pushing Noble forward, utilising vision and passing accuracy, relieving him of the burden of covering the whole pitch at his age. Finding a system that plays Antonio to his strengths, allowing him to frighten defenders with natural attributes of pace, power and guile. As you said, Marko and now Massuaku. Player by player, position by position, match by match we see improvement. I like the guy and believe he is probably the most professional manager we’ve had for a long time.
I know as fans, we can’t all agree on everything but there’s one thing we at least should agree on. For the man that has done what his done twice, with other people’s squads, only making 2 signings along the deserves our patience and a lot of respect.
Yeah the Newcastle game was poor but look at the wolves and spurs games, and what happened after that. Im looking forward to the season ahead. We’re never going to win every game but when have we?
Spot on Hugh. Given the right backing this is the man who could stabilise this club, and perhaps bring us some silverwear along the way. COYI’S
I agree that Moyes gets a hard time, and I for one wasn’t half as annoyed when he returned for his second spell at the club. He is a stable manager who will focus on the basics, without relying on archaic style of football.
The frustration comes from his refusal to make substitutions during the game, it holds no logic, and something you rarely see in football nowadays. Either he doesn’t know how to use his subs to get something from the game or he is too loyal to the players that start, I don’t know.
But I do know that the owners and players get their fair share of stick, which 99% of the time is warranted, and Moyes cost us the game against Arsenal
Good article Hugh. I have always been a supporter of Moyes so I’m in agreement. Fans always have a right to their opinions – it’s interesting to read other points of view, after all. The one thing in common we all share is that we love West Ham, although sometimes I doubt that by some of the comments. COYI.
Moyes is already having his ” break “. If the club owners were doing the job properly and not running the club like a market stall Moyes would not be in the job . He got it because he was cheap and available and would put up with the Brady bunch . He has little tactical awareness and constantly plays people out of position . He picks Cresswell , Noble and Fredericks game after game when they are all well below premiereship standard . To not select Cullen in the squad was a disgrace at the weekend . Noble should not even be considered any more as he has absolutely nothing left to offer . We were so much better on Saturday with an on the field leader by example and a midfield that is mobile and follows runners . When Noble is fit he will crawl , literally , back into the team and we will revert to the inept bunch of no hoppers that turned out against Newcastle . The only place Moyes is leading us with Captain Noble is down .
Well said Hugh. If anything David Moyes need praise for not walking out on this great club. One problem being that we have ten’s of thousands of supporters and regardless of the team DM selects not everyone will agree with him. Secondly after Bilic went we were in trouble DM gets appointed, against the wishes of the fans, to save us from relegation. Well guess what, DM achieves his and the owners goal and just as a reward he gets the sack. Now where do we go, the fans are unhappy to say the least, so, in the footballing wisdom of the owners, we’ll go for a big name manager to them by,as they thought, opting for a big name manager Pellegrini,! remembering here that he was coaching in China at the time, they paid him a ludicrous salary and bowed to his every wish, with the help of Husilos. Anderson £35m, Haller £45m, Fornals £24m. Were these good buys? still to be proven. Pellegrini fails and so DM gets appointed, again without the approval of the supporters, to save the team once more from relegation. Guess what, DM again achieves what the owners wanted and as a reward gets a bonus and gets to stay on. DM then puts his plans to build a team of his own, but hang on there is no money for transfers unless we sell first. OK Hugill and Ajeti get sold, £10m in the bank. Alas, no one wants our “superstars” so the owners decide we’ll sell a player that is a big part of Moyes rebuild, Diangana. DM accepts this without a whimper, although our club captain puts his pennyworth in and gets a slapped wrist.Right now DM has £28m to spend, but no he doesn’t, we’re keeping that money, you’ll have to sign freebies or loans. Now the supporters are really mad and this filters through to the rest of the footballing world, with the result that no players want to join West Ham. DM is doing his best but he is nowhere near being the problem!
Quite right westham steve the owners are 90% of the problem but Moyes is responsible for team selection and tactics which is what goes on on the field . The article is about Moyes not the Brady bunch . We all know and agree that they are horrendous and dragging our great club down into the mire .
Come on Hugh give the guy a break, highlighting his man knockers will be tough for him to recover from. He is a good solid manager, will get the club back to mid-table which is our level.