Claret and Hugh‘s work experience youngster Rory Matloob reckons David Moyes‘ Man United and Hammers versions are very much the same. And in this article explains the similarities of his time at Old Trafford to those we are now seeing at the London Stadium,
By Rory Matloob
You don’t have to gave been in football too long to see the West Ham/ Manchester United versions of David Moyes are very much the same.
It’s hardly a hidden truth that West Ham are struggling under the man and the pressure is now starting to pile up on the Scot.
With zero wins in their last eight games and nine goals conceded against Arsenal and Manchester United with none in return, the fans – to put it very mildly – are losing patience.
But where are the similarities with his time in Manchester compared to East London?
Moyes walked into Old Trafford with a mountain to climb from from minute one. With Sir Alex Ferguson leaving the club after twenty-six years, and many players such as Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, and Wayne Rooney all past their best, he knew he would be up against it.
The summer of 2013 saw Paul Scholes hang his boots up for the second time at 38 years old and with him departing, United were in urgent need of a replacement. That summer Moyes chased German midfielder Toni Kroos and the out of favour Cesc Fabregas at Barcelona, But with Moyes having uncertainties about the two players, both were happy to stay put at their current clubs.
Man United/Hammers Moyes versions much the same. Moyes couldn’t make his mind up about Fabregas who played for Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and Monaco!
As the Manchester United fans grew impatient with Moyes, and the club having still seen no new midfielder walk through the door, they finally budged and forked out £27.5 million and Moyes bought Marouane Fellaini’s.
The signing left many fans with raised eyebrows. Fellaini was a completely different profile to the players identified at the start of the window and United and it certainly had many United fans confused at the direction Moyes was trying to take the club .
Now, at West Ham, Moyes remains as undecided on transfers. The winter window saw the club linked to young star Hugo Ekitike and Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah.
Neither joined and with 33 year old Michail Antonio’s fitness unreliable, a striker would have been a massive pick-up this window.
Where Moyes potentially struggles as a manager is getting the best out of the most technically gifted players, apart from Lucas Paqueta,.
His track record with the more skilful players is not great. In July 2022 West Ham looked to have signed a real gem in Gianluca Scamacca for £35.5 million. At the time the Italian forward was a hot prospect in Serie A, according to Fabrizio Romano. Paris-Saint Germain aimed to hijack the deal only for it to fall through at the last minute.
The Italian’s time in London will be one he’ll want to forget, with injuries hindering his game time or Moyes preferring to play Antonio. Scamaca didn’t stick around long and is now playing for Atalanta.
A similar situation happened with Juan Mata at Manchester United with the Spaniard fell out of favour at Chelsea when Jose Mourinho came in. With Mata not in the Portuguese’s plans United paid Chelsea £37 million for his services.
The 12/13 season was Mata’s best season as a professional. That season he registered an astonishing 20 goals and 34 assists in all competitions from the number 10 position.
Yet United fans being confused as to why Moyes kept persisting with playing Mata on the right wing.
He has shown similar tendencies at West Ham with the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Ben Johnson and even Mo Kudus and others earlier in his spell at the club.
One wonders to what extent he has grown as a manager.
I could not agree more. Everywhere he goes same perennial problems. I would add that we keep seeing trusted players ran into the ground (Soucek) , no replacement youngsters trained up to step in and help 25mins but played for 2mins (which is simply demoralizing), good players constantly frozen out (Scamacca), talented players & youngsters becoming disillusioned & keen to leave (too many to list). My theory is the academy is doing really well but are trained on a modern template and that is a misfit with what DM looks for, which is not good for the club’s future. Now we also hear lots of questions raised on preparation & training. You can see it too, because sometimes against technically strong teams, we look naïve and slow, when we should not. If he did correct his flaws that would be great and there would be hope but he refuses to adapt and you feel as though it will never really happen.