Moyes crucial Alvarez decision: Newcastle United v West Ham United
Morning Irons,
It’s matchday, and it’s looking like a tough one against a strong Newcastle team. David Moyes has a mostly full squad to choose from, but it’s the absence through suspension that worries me the most.
Edson Alvarez is a big miss because he makes our team tick. Over on our Hammers Chat Patreon page, the Mexican regularly scores highly in our player ratings series. In fact, there’s a case to be made that the midfield doesn’t really function without him.
Moyes Alvarez decision v Eddie Howe’s Toon will decide the game
This gives David Moyes something of a conundrum. The combination of Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse has been truly awful in Alvarez’s absence this season. West Ham did reinforce that midfield with the loan signing of Kalvin Phillips in the January transfer window, but he’s proven to be a horrendous signing thus far.
The manager needs to find a solution though. With Alvarez missing the first of three games today against Newcastle, The Hammers (and Moyes in particular) can’t afford three defeats. Two Premier League fixtures and one Europa quarter final with our Mexican metronome on the naughty step are going to be tough to negotiate.
Over to you Mr Moyes!