If nothing else this Christmas has proved how wrong us fans can often get it as our knees jerk in reaction to a poor or great result.
We all like to believe we are right but this game makes mugs of us all and that has been perfectly demonstrated over the last three games.
It seemed barely credible – despite him having a very poor game and one that he owned up to – there were those either calling for or getting close to wanting David Moyes, out after the Brighton draw.
It was a different story after Saints away and following the win at Everton Moyes was again ‘Moysie’ and a hero, – that’s football for yer!
That he claimed his first Goodison Park win since leaving after leaving the club over a Carlo Ancelotti side speaks for itself – this is a man who has found the right club and is changing its psyche very quickly indeed.
West Ham will always have its fan issues – if it’s not one thing it’s something else and none of us have a monopoly on what’s right or wrong.
Currently, the big thing we are seeing underway at this club is a degree of stability we have needed for years and my New Year hope is that us fans can get sucked into that in a big way.
Unbridled passion and tribalism is all well and good but I’d far sooner settle for the calm and steady top 10 West Ham this season with fans – for once at Christmas – wearing a smile on their collective face.
How fabulous to be wondering if we will break 30 points at the half way stage of the season! It’s been a while and I love it too Hughie!
Anyone who has sat in the home seats at the Emirates when Arsenal are hosting understands that while WHU fans are mercurial, Gunner fans are chronically morose. Even when winning they moan.
Great Christmas start with a manger who can weather a storm. Has my support and will have to allow for the occasional snipe.
Is it to early to dream of Europe? Better check my passport to see if it’s got 6 months left on it 😊⚒🤙🏾
I certainly have been critical at times of Moyes “being negative” and him playing Mark Noble when I was of the opoinion a “younger /more adventurous” player could have been used…. I will put my hand up.. no problems….. That win last night against our “huge bogey” side was almost perfection… I still believe Haller shouldn’t start but the substitutions made by Moyes were spot on… Credit where credit is due… 👌👍
Totally agree, Hugh. Stability and steady progress are what Moyes said he’d deliver and so far he has. I’m not one of those dreaming of European qualification as I’m not sure we’ll have a squad deep enough to cope with that next season, but if it comes around then that’s an adventure to enjoy. I thought we’d get 6 points out of our 3 most recent matches as I thought we’d beat Brighton and Southampton but lose at Goodison. Very happy to have got it wrong again as an unbeaten 5 points will do nicely.
Europe in ’22-’23 might be realistic. He is building from the back and there has been real progress.
It’s actually boring listening to the DM haters. They’re like petulant little brats that didn’t get the Chrimbo pressie they were expecting. It’s actually pathetic to listen to their anti Moyes rhetoric. He needs time to build a team on a much more reduced budget than the other teams targeting Europe. I can guarantee the guy will be working his butt off during the four day player break and he must be given the right backing and time. I hope the owners don’t end up feeling the pressue from the minority of footie fans who are anti DM. These fans need to look hard at themselves and start supporting the guy – none of you have an idesa of what happens behind closed doors. The guy is pure football and has more about him than all our past EPL managers save Harry and Bonzo. I know we are all entitled to our own opinion, which also includs my dig at the anti DM muppets…
Completely agree with almost every single word of this. The only bit I don’t agree on is the line about Bonzo and Harry. I loved both of them when they were managing us. Moyes has more about him than both of them, though. Bonzo couldn’t deal with big name players or the media as well as Moyes, and Harry often undermined himself with the revolving door transfer policy. Been saying it for a while, and said it first time around too: if given the chance by GSB and often-fickle West Ham fans, Moyes could be our best manager since John Lyall.
Yeah I get what you’re saying. DM knows how the media set up.works and he is definitely more of a footballing man too. I’d say my.over enthusiasm on Bonzo is down to what he put into the club as a player and captain whereas Harry getting Di Canio will always be a top memory. But you’re right – .I have that feeling too in egards to DM being best manager since John Lyle. It’s been many years since I’ve been this relaxed at the hammers not being battered and losing confidence when opposing teams go ahead. When Brighton was leading twice last week I’d have that feeling of doom – esp first part of last season under that muppet Pellegrini…but last week I saw us 2–1 down and had every confidence we would still get a point. At least us realistic fans can see the opportunity here – COYI 😀
I was angry at moyes for fielding a weakened team against Brighton. In hindsight though I was wrong to criticise. Resting our better attacking players against the lesser team was a good idea because god knows we needed them against Southampton and Everton. I hadn’t actually realised we were due to play three games in six days. Proof if any was needed that knee jerk reactions are for jerks.
A great 5 points considering who we were playing and all in 6 days. I agree with you, Hugh, stability is the what we need, although i too have been caught up in the hype of how high we could finish this season, even though it could be detrimental to our stability in the future.
However, I would like to point out to those slating the fans who have criticised Moyes lately that castigating him for negative tactics or team selection isn’t hating on him, it is merely pointing out what some of us see as facts. Last night, for example, the commentators on the channel i was watching the game on stated on more than one occasion that the game was one of the worst they have seen for a long time in the Premier League. It isn’t the first time that accusation has been levelled at a game we’re playing in. If you add that to our games vs. Southampton, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Sheffield United and Chelsea you see a pattern in the performances. I don’t think it’s unfair to call out what you see as a fan.
Those stating he should be sacked, in my opinion, are a hammer short of a toolbox but those pointing out patterns of negativity, of poor performance or of bizarre team selections are just calling it as they see it. Isn’t the expression of opinions, positive and negative, what forums are for, after all?
Our match against Southampton was the most boring EPL match of 2020 until ManU played Wolves. Too many matches in too short a time for even the clubs chasing the top spot to come out firing.
The relegation battle was exciting enough for 2020. A couple of sleepers to end the year and take home some points suits me fine.
Yea point taken old chap. I agree that these forums are great for debate and to be able to discussour viewpoints. It’s also great that Hugh doesn’t delete posts that can sometimes get fiery and misinformed. My point about the fickle fans, especially with over the top comments on sacking a manager who has brought in stability a lot quicker than other managers. To even compare DM to Allardyce is pathetic in itself. So I react with frustration and contemp when I see complete stupidity. But Saul is right also in the fact that expression of opinions are what this site is about – along with up to date news feeds etc. It seems quite weird that WHU are being labelled boring when most of the games being played have shown how some players need a rest break from all teams not just us. DM may have played negative against Brighton, but that squad should still have won on paper. It also worked out to be a very clever move in terms of resting certain players and having close to a full squad for the tougher games v Saints and Everton. The footie may have looked uninspiring at times but that’s what happened when you have teams focused on defending and counter attack. I recall having a fiery debate with a hammers fan who said he would rather us offer full on attack and end to end play and lose every game 5-4 and up end relegated then playing it too safe and actually going to win such games. I eamn WTF guys! Attractive footie week in week out just to appease some fans who still live in the Victorian age! Every team we play will need a different approach – from what I have seen of WHU, we have been creating chances and have been outstanding on set pieces. It’s a dumb arguement to insist on end to end matches with every game. DM knows this league and he knows football. He is not a boring manager who prefers to hoof it up rather than dribble and play. My main problem is I bite too quickly sometimes and I should sit back rather than respond in impulse. The fact that DM has turned things around for us, even after 3 games in 6 days and dealing with a squad that still needs back up for each position, that fact is that DM knows the game and knows what we need. The anti Moyes campaign is only fair if we are struggling in the bottom 5, but we are actually joing 5th in the PL with half the season gone. That speaks for itself surely. Anyway I’ve babbled on again but I am finding myself a DM stalwart with every game that passes by. I do hope the owners get the DR deal done and dusted and in turn shuts the mouths of the journo’s making things up to get their story. Whatever happens this Jan transfer window, I will be behind DM all the way. More than happy to debate with true fans of WHU and it’s also a pleasure to be in comms with most of you on here…COYI
Standing with DM, you and me both, Jersey.
I agree that what we need is a period of stability but also agree with Saul that we should also have the right to criticize where we feel we should
I am a massive Mickey Antonio fan – but just watching the video clip of Eberechi Eze’s goal for Palace v Sheffield United, I feel that Mickey should have shot earlier when he burst through at the end i.e. when he got near to the penalty area and we might have won 2-0
Such a critiicsm doesn’t mean that I think that he should be dropped or anything daft
For the forseeable future I believe that with Moyes and his team we are in good hands to become a top half team
No one disputes anyone’s right to criticise. That wasn’t the point of the piece at all Zahamoore. There are those of course who think it through – there are others who merely react on a 90 mimns. You must have seen it here
Sure Hugh – point noted 😉
I have said many times on here that Moyes knows what he is doing. Players will need to be rested as they are playing 2 -3 games every week. He may have got Noble wrong in a 10 role but he changed it at half time. You can’t change it after 15 mins . Regarding Harry he made terrible signings that cost the club millions. Titi Camara ,Song,Gary Childs all deals with souness he is not someone I would trust ask William Arthur Bonds about trusting him I know I believe