Moyes must win to avoid Irons career Bees sting

The words crucial, six pointers and critical have been part of the West Ham vocabulary for many years but the game against Brentford this evening top all as far as David Moyes is concerned. Should he win, all of us, presumably will be chuffed but defeat for the sixth time against the Bees will sting that Moyes career perhaps fatally.

It will certainly hurt his career harder than anything that has been said on social media or anywhere else since the defeat at Nottingham Forest where accompanying “Moyes Out” posters were on display.

Moyes must win to avoid Irons career Bees sting

I hope and pray for the sake of the fans – if not necessarily for him – that he has thought this thing through and, for starters, brings in Angelo Ogbonna who has plenty of experience of such occasions as tonight’s. Zouma has been slow and ponderous and given Oggy’s game against Arsenal at their gaff – which was incredible – I see no reason for him being on the side lines since. His experience is needed tonight in a big way in my view. Vladi Coufal needs to up his game as does Aguerd but no complaints about Emerson.

Moyes has one worrying situation in midfield. Does he play Paqueta from the start or give him a cameo role? He is in no way match fit and will there be any threat to his future well being? Should he play and fall to the ground injured the screams against the manager will be nearly unimaginable.

Danny Ings, having had his best game since arriving against Sheffield United, may feel aggrieved and feel he has a major point to prove if chosen.

So as a result – despite wanting to make any of those decisions even if I had too – this is the team I would put out: 4-4-2

Areola; Coufal, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Emerson; Alvarez, Ward Prowse, Kudus, Bowen, Ings, Antonio.