Us fans are great at making judgements and those who claimed David Moyes was most certainly NOT the man to take over from Slaven Bilic probably believed there was plenty to back their view.Sunderland for example had been a total disaster for the bloke and things hadn’t been that clever at Man U but then who would have been able to follow Sir Alex – can’t think of anyone.
Lovely bloke though he was, there’s no question that Slav had to go. Let’s be honest, you didn’t need to be a NASA rocket scientist to spot that the squad were slow, lethargic and heading into more and more trouble.
But the arrival of Moyes appears to have proved another situation well known within the game but perhaps not so widely appreciated outside.It’s this: Players don’t really want to be mates with the boss and Slav always gave the impression that was his approach to things with his treatment of such as Dimi Payet and Mark Noble.
Images of the manager and skipper in particular gagging around appeared with monotonous regularity with the boss making his feeling on the skipper and others pretty well known at times.
There was also the talking up of the rater awkward Frenchman as a jolly good bloke and the player around whom the team would be built. All well and good but unnecessary and in the end counter productive.
Rightly or wrongly, an impression was given that the guys were his pals and that he would trust them through thick and thin. It didn’t work and I believe a generally lethargy – along with a lax regime training regime – set in which finally lost him his job.
However things may go over the rest of the season – and as I write they look great – I can’t see Moyes sending out the same sort of signals.
He’s a pragmatist with bags of PL experience and an intimate knowledge of how managers should treat footballers.
In a nutshell, he appears to treat them for what they are – highly paid employees who do a job at work and who will be treated according to their performance – no more no less.
He appears to keep a distance between himself and them – never over praising and never over criticising – ensuring that none of them feel they are getting too close.
It’s about respect and whilst I detect no Sgt Major approach there’s definitely a straightforward “I’m in charge” attitude implicit in everything he
says and does.
There may not be the Bilic charisma but there’s an honesty, work ethic and a no prisoners (“If you don’t run you don’t play” ) attitude which was precisely what was required of a squad which was learning to take life far too easily.
No, he wasn’t everybody’s choice but was probably the best of those available as results in December showed. It’s interesting too that amid all the protests against the board at that time this was somehow overlooked.
Yes, the board must take their share of responsibility for all that had gone before there was barely a word about an appointment which appear to have been about as good as it gets.
A small matter perhaps, but balance and fair play are virtues which perhaps we should always be inclined to remember when people do get things right!
O Poor old Joe Hart eh. A dreadful start to the latest phase of his career means the World Cup is becoming more and more of a distant possibility as it seems is his involvement against his former club Shrewsbury Town in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Personally I’m not shedding too many tear given I always believed Adrian was the better of the two.
However things may go over the rest of the season – and as I write they look great
Really do they? We’re 17th in the table involved in a relegation dog fight with probably 9 other clubs ? Is that great? This is once of the most bizarre articles I have seen in a long time.
Hugh, I’m not sure how you come to the conclusion that things are going great after 2 consecutive insipid performances, and a precarious 17th position in the EPL.
Moyes made some huge tactical and strategic errors in the 2-3 loss to Newcastle. Playing with a 3-4-3 formation was wrong, wrong, wrong!!
Starting with Ayew was a mistake as a third attacker was another bad mistake. We had 4 wide players (2 wing-backs and 2 wide forwards), leading to a central midfield weakness.
If Moyes had employed a 3-5-2, using Chicharito and Marko up front, I’m sure that we would not have looked so weak and slow in midfield.
My biggest concern, however, was Moyes decision to revert back to ‘West Ham plan B’ get the ball to Andy at all cost-the big hoof will do it??
I am hoping that the decision to fall back on using Carroll was ‘a one-off lapse and that we will play a more cultured passing game upon the return of Lanzini.
If, for some reason, Moyes has come ‘under the AC spell’-then forget this season folks;if we can’t beat a weakened Newcastle at home,then who could we beat with Carroll as our king-hitter?
I still remain uncertain about Moyes-he started so well, but am starting to see signs of panicking. The effects of losing to Newcastle may have very destructive effects on the team’s confidence.
Worrying times Hugh!!
The love in with Moyes on hear is ridiculous.
Again he’s made two huge mistakes in the last two games.
Such a negative selection against Arsenal,no chance for the youth,when he plays the most left footed full back as a right wing back.
Drops Rich in favour of Kouyate. Ayew in and can’t help out running back.
Poor team selection again.& points dropped.
8 from 8 is still relagation form and we’re out of a cup we could easily of still be in if Moyes had been positive.Momentum lost.
Cheers Moyes
What a surprise. Another dreadful performance under Moyes is followed by another puff piece by Hugh Sullivan sorry Southon, saying what a great difference Moyes has made. Not.
As our ex manager, ‘Arry, has pointed out, with so many games being played, this he’s got them so much fitter is a load of baloney.
And Moyes has stated there is a big gap in the squad at centre midfield. Shame Bilic didn’t try to do anything about that. Oh………
+1😕 Moyes made the difference all right ! Picked the wrong side , totally out of balance ,
If Moyes feels Carroll is our answer then he has truly fell under the spell max , as for starting a unfit Antonio with the likes of pea, sakho , rice, on the bench beggars belief , let’s hope we can get a few in in Jan ! Were still in trouble make no mistake about that , yesterdays performance told us that , and it will keep rearing its ugly head until new blood arrives ,
Dig deep Sullivan as there’s no other option ! Until Moyes gets his choices expect more of the same , this isn’t his team but surely he can see the poor players on the books that need moving on ! But his comments the other day about Carroll left me feeling a bit cold when he praised him and is sticking by him ? Speaks volumes for me ! He’s part of the problem in this club , shame he can’t see that , he hasn’t had a decent game for months and that’s not acceptable for me , and you can add a few more to the list as well !
Totally feked my Xmas ! Like 32 I give 3 to all players except Arnie and massuaku and Adrian who was left in the lurch ? starting with Moyes !!😤
No disrespect @max but if Carroll had scored or contributed to 2 more goals Im sure you wouldnt be moaning about the ‘plan b’. You work to your resources and when you are down if ugly football is the only way to win what would you prefer?
Maybe the Xmas cheer was cracked open a little early in the Southon house???
Note: For those Carroll-haters (Max, Laz) he did cause/create/integrally involved in the 2nd goal yesterday….. most of the team were awful, Masuaku looked bright in places, but can someone please teach him to cut in from the flank and run at the defence!! His production would double…
Sitting 17th in the table is not an invitation to play pretty football . A 343 against a struggling Newcastle was daft anyway ,, see no reason to keep chipping away at Carroll .
When Carroll and a few others chip in with a few performances and turn their form around I will be #1 praising them but they are producing jack💩, haters of Carroll ? Na mate just not prepared to view the crap and say ahhh never mind ! Take this 80,000 a week and better luck next week ! Carroll is and has not fulfilled his potential for west ham ! Move him on asap , just not good enough , I feel like I’m being mugged every week I use my season ticket knowing their living the life of Riley while most supporters save hard to support their team and let down even in the basics ? Lol! I don’t hate any west ham player but I will let it be known who I don’t want at the club and Carroll is one of them along with ayew , cresswell , zabba , Reid , hart, fonte , and if kouyate and obiang don’t pull their finger out they can go to ! And as for Antonio he’s either carrying a highly injury or hasn’t got over being dumped by england as his dip in form seems to coincide with that ? I might be wrong but it is not the same Antonio we’ve all come to know , something isn’t right there ! 😎