West Ham are ready to appoint a director of football this summer rather than rely on a head of recruitment.
Moyes would have to work under a director of football
Moyes ensured that he would remain entirely in charge of transfer dealings when appointing his pal Rob Newman as head of recruitment.
And the view inside the club is that a proper director of football is required to whom the manager is accountable as is the case at other Premier League clubs.
Most now have a director of football to whom the club manager is entirely responsible and that is the way the Hammers are looking to proceed come summer.
There has been some restlessness at the club over the signings made by Moyes going back as far as Jordan Hugill and they don’t feel they have not significantly improved since Newman’s arrival.
There is a feeling that the two are buying for “now” rather than the future – a position which was spotlighted by the arrival of Danny Ings in the last window.
There have been doubts over the quality of other signings from the £200 million handed to the pair as a budget but the club now feel it is time to appoint a director of football to whom the manager – whoever he may be – is entirely accountable.
Long term that is likely to become Mark Noble – currently sporting director – but in the short term the club will be looking for an available candidate.
Whether that position will suit Moyes remains very much to be seen!
Claret and Hugh Exclusive by Hughie Southon
The need for the position of a “Director of Football” at this club had been needed long before Moyes arrived at this club and it is a position accountable to the Chairmen which should be the key to ensuring that any players arriving at the club fit in with the “West Ham Way DNA” of the club and are well scouted and researched.
It seems to be a bit-by-bit process of evolution with this club, and it is a position held by most top clubs, and the managers of these clubs don’t seem to have an issue with the Director of Football position. With club legend Mark Noble as our first “Sporting Director” it looks like we’re finally heading in the right direction.
Maybe Mr Kretinsky’s influence is becoming apparent?
Given that he has already supported Noble by hosting him at Monaco, it would seem that Paul Mitchell would be a sensible appointment on a short term 1-2 year deal. Could continue to train Nobes up, without having to sign up to another long term project so soon after leaving Monaco.
I am confused by the so called disastrous transfer dealings attributed to Moyes. I remember a couple of years ago David Gold saying that realistically you can expect 50% of transfers to catch fire and was celebrating the impact of our 2 Czech imports and bowen as superb transfer business which had over achieved. Despite catgate I also don’t see how the recruitment of Kurt Zoum can be described as disastrous, even given his injury record. a The problem is that eh biggest clubs can by big and often which West Ham cannot. Bowen took a season to adjust to the Premiership and again the bigger clubs can ease players in with the depths of their squads. Look at how gently Liverpool can ease in Diaz and Nunes, players who if West Ham had signed would have been under pressure to deliver immediately. However looking at last summer’s signings Kehrer was acknowledge yesterday to have had a crucially strong game, The Guardian marked and sky both marked him as 8 ot of 10 alongside Rice. Paqueta has finally settled in and looks like a crucial player for West Ham. Ialso fail to see how Downs can be described as a disastrous signing, performing creditably when called upon the role of a squad player, a role he was clearly purchased for. Agurd was described as one of the players of the World Cup, who has again struggled with injury but looks now like a quality defender who will only get better with and PL experience. This leaves Cornet and Scamacca, both of which have barely played due to injury. Again at bigger clubs even with these injuries they would all have a gentler introduction without the massive pressure to deliver instantly. Innes was stopgap signing to try and deliver relif from relegation and arguably has justified his signing in the pressure he has placed on Antonio to perform and the 2 crucial goals he got against Forest which changed the whole mood of our season. It has been a difficult year but to describe recruitment as as ddisastrous bewilders me.
Thank you for your realism and factually correct views, David.
The reality is very few of them apart from Aguerd have become regulars this season and we are referring to the last window no others. Given we are suffering a pretty miserable season by comparison to the last one I am not sure we can describe these as signings which are value for the money spent. I note the likes of Hugill, Emerson, and even Scamacca who has torn no trees up before injury and Ings don’t get mentioned and I don’t think anyone has said Downes is disastrous. Note too that it took Barry Silkman to get Paqueta across the line not Moyes. He is ok with defenders – he was one – Zouma, Aguerd but look at front men and he has little clue or success anywhere. So when talking about getting facts right we need longer memories
For me, it is all about the Big Picture which is something which requires “Perspective” when comparing West Ham to other clubs. The big clubs can give their players time to get used to our game, but we apparently expect them to all hit the ground running.
Even I am beginning to laugh everytime I hear the name Hugill mentioned. It is used as a stick with which to belittle and beat our manager with. I happen to find it childish as where we were “then” and where we are “now” as a club are solar systems apart. If every manager was to be judged on the players they brought who didn’t make the grade, the list would include every manager that ever lived. Opinions are just that and we ALL have to be mindful of this fact. I wonder if Man City supporters make a big deal about Kalvin Phillips not playing or feel that Pep should go because of this?
If as a supporter, everything was based on success, I would probably have switched to supporting Liverpool (at that time) years ago. The Expectations between us and the clubs who actually have money is a little unrealistic at times. We are making progress as a club and for me this is something that I can see. It is easy to become mindlessly critical at times and this is where perspective and being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes comes in. If I had a special power, I’d make it Mandatory to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, which would give us all a much greater understanding.
I am NOT expecting to have the last word, but I feel that my opinion is just as valid as the next man and I also realise that many of the less vocal who share the same opinion avoid engaging rather than voicing their opinions.
Well of course your opinions are valid but you have missed a very big point or two – possibly more. Hugill, Scamacca, Ings…strikers and failures as were several at Everton. He wants an Arnautovic or Mikey and buys Ings – WHY? He’s ok with defenders but do we think Emerson who was loaned out by Chelsea is an answer. Downes – as Moyes said – isn’t ready. And by the way in over 60 years of supporting this club I have never compared us with any of the big boys so that isn’t valid at all. City have funds to buy others if one or two fail. Moyes was handed £200 million to improve us and has taken us backwards and we don’t have the funds to cover mistakes in the market. As for the personal stuff about being in another’s shoes, once an argument reaches that level it is lost. And by the way I am surprised at those who having been critical suddenly change their minds on the basis of one game against United won by a goalkeeping boob although yes, a good performance.
It’s everything to do with perception and a win against united doesn’t alter my opinion in any way shape or form. I’m not far behind you in the time that I have supported my club, but if you can name me a more successful manager of this club apart from Greenwood (100% respect) and Lyall I will possibly change my views. I was brought up to understand that being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, allows understanding and shows the measure of the man. This was instilled within me as a child….no argument was lost there on my part I’m afraid.
I won’t go back and forth because you will counter whatever I say without being able to truly answer anything that I have said simply because you don’t want to. But its your site and your constant interventions on your site stand out like a beacon to everyone. Once you post an article let it develop organically, without attempting to make things fit into Your Box. I used to enjoy reading articles from a variety of posters and there was always something to learn…. Now it has become a toxic stream with always the same theme. Victory isn’t meant to be enjoyed these days because we NEED to get rid of our manager. If many of these people understood what the general opinion outside of this club was, they would possibly feel a little foolish. But I don’t believe that any of these people who have dug this hole have the ability to admit anything, even begrudgingly. General opinion is a numbers game and those many numbers are known as Common Sense, but what do I know 🤷♂️ I’m trapped inside this bubble lol
£200 Million isn’t a drop in the ocean (as it probably is to most of the bigger teams….a couple of players) but to a few of us it is meant to guarantee instant success… Amazing!
As you said . Perspective. Yours is yours and mine is mine. Sorry I can find nothing good to say about him. The oldest manager in the league. Won nothing. Poor in the market. Instant success? Thst happened last year. He had 200m in summer played much the same team as last and took us backwards. So then comes those like yourself with the personal stuff. If you dont like it dont read it. There are plenty of sites with claret and blue specs. He is poor AND NOT A WEST HAM WAY MANAGER WHO H IS ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME BECAUSR WE WONT BE COMPETING AT TOP. NEVER HAVE NEVER WILL. WE ARE WEST HAM A TEAM AND CLUB WHICH MUST ENTERTAIN. By the way both yourself and others have had pieces published saying the opposite because I respect you as a fan and writer. I try not to allow personal and professional overlap unlike others. Managers. Harry. He knew the club
I would argue that Ings has helped Antonio to stay honest. I think it was the Ings arrival that saw a resurgence in the form of Antonio. Funny that the effect competition for places can have on a player.
I think that it is best to leave it at that, but nothing personal was intended as I still believe that it is about perspective.
Looking back Harry was a good manager with a great style of football during what was a great period for us, along with some great players. But Harry was also responsible for bringing some of the worst footballers to wear the claret and blue to this club, but I don’t hold this against him. During his time he also spent the “Rio money” poorly, for which jokes still exist to this day… but I still don’t hold it against him. Statistically Harry’s record doesn’t actually stand up against Moyes.
I just don’t believe that chopping and changing managers is a successful business model or that it is sustainable for a club like ours, fortunately, the Chairmen seem to be of the same opinion.
So if he gets the chance we will see how Moyes spends the Rice money, pray God NO. At least we prove the point we are not in the board’s pocket as many love to accuse us of. Repeat, He does not entertain and as Greenwood says , and with which I agree, and clearly Harry too. I believe Moyes has brought dreadful players to the club in far less time than H managed
Some valid points Mr Cat, but our Supremo has not won a major trophy in his career, despite having managed 1,091 matches across his 25-year management career and having the third-highest amount of games managed in Premier League history.
Here’s hoping.
I wouldn’t want to be judged on my past and in football past achievements don’t count for much anyway, as someone will always find the right stick with which to beat you. You don’t rack up a record like that (bettered by only a few) for being rubbish. So thanks for the stats.
COYI