Moyes Future? It’s still up in the air
David Moyes is on thin ice at West Ham. The Arsenal thrashing and stalled contract talks cast a shadow, but recent wins have bought him a lifeline. However, the upcoming Europa League tie with Bayer Leverkusen could be a make-or-break moment for the Hammers boss.
Michail Antonio’s return has sparked a resurgence, with Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus also impressing. West Ham are flying high, but the real test awaits – Leverkusen. Of course Moyes will have to navigate Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United tomorrow, but one doesn’t get the impression that result will overly impact the Scotsman’s future.
According to Sky Sports News Michael Bridge (who increasingly has much to say on West Ham), victory over the German giants would put Moyes “in a very, very strong position.” A win strengthens his bargaining chip in contract talks, potentially securing his future.
Moyes future could depend on beating Leverkusen
But Moyes isn’t out of the woods yet. The board’s initial hesitation speaks volumes. Dharmesh Sheth suggests a deep Europa League run could convince Moyes to stay, but a disappointing exit could tip the scales towards the exit door.
The Hammers gaffer has attempted to regain control of the narrative by suggesting he’ll decide his own future. However, that’s hard to believe given club leaks. A top West Ham source cryptically told Hammers News yesterday; “The managerial situation will be resolved at the end of the season”.
Darren Bent even threw Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna’s name into the mix as a potential replacement. The pressure is on for Moyes. Can he mastermind a win against Leverkusen and cement his place at the helm, or will a European flop pave the way for a new manager at West Ham? The Europa League holds the answer.
I can’t understand why we become obsessed with a recent run of form to decide if a Manager should be replaced or not. If Moyes does well in games A, B, C, then we keep him. If he doesn’t, we kick him out.
Instead of short term game scores, should we not look at the overall results for a season? If that was the case, Moyes has been a big disappointment.
a) Terrible timing and poor choices buying and selling players.
b) Losing games against teams who can’t buy a win anywhere else.
c) Boring tactics every other game.
d) A club reputation that will keep good players away (why should anybody choose West Ham if they can go to Arsenal or Tottenham?).
Moyes is not a long term good prospect. The club will not grow with someone like him at the helm.