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Moyes finds the bad old ways have returned

David Moyes has already discovered that he is going to have to go back to basics and instil real discipline into the Hammers squad.

That’s where it started for him last time around and although he’s too polite to go into depth he seems to have realised that some bad habits have crept in since his departure from the club.

He was very straightforward on the issue when he spoke to reporters following today’s  press conference at Rush Green earlier today.

He was asked about  the basic discipline within the squad and was quick to offer a very honest response.

He explained: ““I’d have said that was probably one of the biggest jobs I had when I came in last time. It was make sure that there was zero tolerance.

“There can only be certain limits with what you can do but it looks like I am going back to that level and saying ‘this is how it is going to be’.

You either get on board or you don’t because I haven’t got enough time and enough games if one or two of you don’t like it then sorry let me know…”

And he added: “I don’t think it would be wrong to say we want them all to jump up a couple of pegs.  I’ve come in today and it feels a bit like deja vu.

I actually thought that I had got rid of some of the things and we’d got to a bit where  there was quite a bit of non-negotiable ‘you’re doing the work’  but I feel I might have to go back to the start and say ‘we’re back to here’ and I’d have liked to have come in with a new message.

What I do believe is that we have got a stronger and better squad now than when I first came in. I think getting the right balance, team and formation is something we will need to work on in the coming weeks and months.”

ClaretandHugh says: David Moyes’ first impressions seem to mirror those the majority of fans have held for a long time – the bad old ways have crept back into a squad which looked unable to last the pace of a 90 minute game. So it’s back to basics for a man who believes in fundamentals like basic fitness. That we are at that point so soon after he left is really a pretty horrendous state of affairs and we can only keep everything crossed that he somehow manages to fire the squad up sufficiently for three points on Wednesday from a game that needs to be won given what follows during January

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

7 comments on “Moyes finds the bad old ways have returned

  1. Ok, I’ll accept, I’m probably one of the few excited by his return.
    The manager is the manager, strong leadership required. What’s upsetting though is that so many professionals, highly paid at that, do not take personal responsibility for their fitness. Absolutely vital for the job they’re paid to do.
    It’s akin to the working man turning up late, drunk or wearing board shorts to a business meeting (which I personally feel is acceptable).
    Of course I don’t know the full story, I don’t work at the club. But we will soon find out who wants to play for the shirt and who is just there for the pay packet.
    COYI ⚒⚒⚒

  2. Thanks for that news. I have thought for weeks that this is a team going through the motions on match day and doesn’t give a toss. Will he be drafting in the youngsters to replace those who don’t give a toss? We don’t need to buy in the January window coz it’s full of rejects and misfits, just put your size 11’s up their arses.

  3. It’s been pretty obvious the players haven’t been fit enough to last the pace for 95 mins and it has cost us – eg. v Arsenal. I always liked Moyes, so I’m not unhappy he is back to get the players fitter and more organised. I also think he will critically evaluate all the players, including the u23’s, but I’d be surprised if he doesn’t look to sign a box-to-box midfielder and see how to inject some more pace up top. Genuinely looking forward to 2020, but hope springs eternal as a fan of our great club. COYI.

  4. I can’t remember a new boss getting off to a flying start at West Ham in recent years. Possibly Bilic although I think his first few results were poor. So perhaps we are overdue a ‘new manager bounce’.

    There are plenty of good players in the Championship, & certainly quite a few with a good work ethic. A ‘glamour ‘ player like Payet or Di Canio might be nice but probably not going to happen. At this stage the priority is I guess the work ethic. Feeling cautiously optimistic, but mixed with depression that we have yet another second half of the season counting how many points we need for safety. Is it ever going to change?

  5. I live him but does the club captain have to take a slice of responsibility here? Surely it’s part of his job too to make sure the highest standards are being met and if not, reporting it back to the upper levels of management or ownership.

  6. It bothers me that our highest paid players are our laziest.If They aren’t gonna be effective for Moyes.They will sit on the bench.Of course we are gonna buy over this window.It inevitable.

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