By CandH blogger Alan Cummings
I was as surprised as a great many others, so it seems, when Hugh revealed that David Moyes had moved to the top of the list of possible replacements for Manuel Pellegrini, should the Chilean depart.
Of course some were quick to hit the keyboards demanding we should be looking elsewhere at the likes of Rafa Benitez, Sean Dyche and Eddie Howe, All very creditable alternatives – but all currently gainfully employed – and therein lies the problem.
With the exception of possibly Benitez, the other two are under pretty rock-solid contracts, and obviously highly regarded by their clubs.
First persuading them to leave their safe houses and move to our house, wont be as easy as some seem to think. And even if the targets were interested, their present clubs are likely, understandably so, to be very reluctant to release them without a fight.
Could we afford to let our current situation drag on very much longer? Isn’t the call for Pellegrini to go – and to go NOW?
I’d agree simple availability isn’t necessarily the best reason for making an appointment. But I’d argue that’s being disrespectful to Moyes – and ungracious for the job he did for us.
If we cast our minds back to November 2017 when he took over from Slaven Bilic, we were already in the relegation zone – even worse off than we are today. When he left in May 2018 we had achieved mid-table security, avoiding the big drop by nine clear points.
Clearly he must have done something right during that time. Post Bilic we were crying out for improved fitness, better organisation, stronger discipline, a more steely approach and a visible desire to play for the team. Sound familiar?
Moyes brought all of those things to the London Stadium during his tenure. He saved our season – and some might argue saved our club from a relegation that could have proved catastrophic in the grand scheme of things.
That’s before we start thinking about him turning Arnautvic into a central striker and Masuaku an out and out left winger.
I accept David Moyes isn’t everyone’s idea of a West Ham manager. But we thought Bilic was the perfect fit – it turned out he wasn’t! Then we purred over the prospect of Pellegrini recreating football played the West Ham Way. That’s proved another mis-placed vision.
I believe should we be able to tempt David Moyes back he would do the necessary job for us – a second time!
That’s if Everton don’t tempt him first.
There is no case for Moyes or Hughton. If we can’t get better than MP (and neither of them are better) then we should stick rather than twist. The club should either be more ambitious in who they approach or go for a young coach with some success and a lot to prove. Not sure that Bowyer fits that but Gerrard would be an interesting appointment. He has improved Rangers, would likely utilize our academy and has a reputation to grow in the game. He’d also attract top talent to the club. Moyes will definitely not do that.
Spot in view of almost all West Ham fans.
Let’s pay and get Sean Dyche..Geeeez what’s the point in being in a 60K seater stadium in the Championship?
I’d rather see us relegated and get the 2 muppet directors out than see a pathetic manager like Moyes, Houghton and others mentioned!!
Dyche has done an AMAXING job with limited funds at Burnley….
We need a scrappy no nonsense, young modern manager..
Chelsea 5 v 0 West Ham
You saw it hear first!!!
FRaid not – been mentioned many times LOL
I think you’re being ungrateful for the job Pellegrini has done for us and you’ll be on Moyes back aswell if we don’t play like Barcelona
The reason Moyes did an adequate job and made is appear better is because he was capable of doing the basics. MP can’t even do the following:
Set play plans
Movement at throw ons
Free kicks that target their weaker defenders
Choosing an adequate goalie
Teaching a defender to head the ball over the bar rather than into danger
Earning the tactical foul
Making the tactical foul
Crossing the ball before the defense is set
Picking up the second ball
Running
Hell even BFS can do those.
It’s once you get past the above basics that the next level of entertainment and effectiveness come into play, which sadly the aforementioned managers only achieve at best 50% of the time. Elite level managers can do it all. MP can’t get our players to move into space for a throw on. He doesn’t believe in crosses. It’s unbelievable.
Well said
If we get Moyes back I give up! Surprised he hasn’t been snapped up by Leyton Orient, about his level now……
We need to get rid of Pelle sooner rather than later but let’s not get worse than we already have, if we believe we are a top club let’s start behaving like we are and try to attract a young quality manager who has a vision and plays with a high tempo. Plenty right with the squad and nothing 2 strong central midfielders a reserve keeper wouldn’t fix…..
Given 10m, he chose Jordon Hugill ?
Given 30m – 40m a season what will he do?
he seems as good as the current and past managers in the market , but I reckon he would sign players who at least try.
Might show more passion and I wouldn’t mind Pearce back with some passion.
All these other so called managers don’t offer much more.
He also got something out of an ageing underperforming squad even when the players knew he wasn’t there for long.
For me I would take a safe pair of British hands over this consistently overhyped foreigners.
Another Xenophobe. Overhyped foreigners? Tell that to Liverpool or Manchester City or Tottenham or Leicester when they won the league. Safe pair of British hands? What utter old school nonsense
As Geo pointed out, accoding to OPTA Moyes didn’t actually have us cover any more ground than Bilic after red cards were factored in. That’s was all a myth.
He did have a much worse win rate than Bilic, in fact he has the worst win rate of any WHU manager.
People only have some fondness for him because of the last couple of games we played against Everton and Leicester when they were safely midtable, on the beach and looking to sack their managers (who were both gone soon after). Before then it was appauling, terrible football and equally shocking results.
Have it on good authority that the players had already made their minds up on him too. The training without a ball before Man City was the last straw.
Moyes will go to Everton. He still lives in Preston.
The Board should have strengthened the squad properly pre-season with a quality DM, a goalkeeper with Premier League experience and a quality left back.
But they cut corners and now its another fine mess that will end up costing them much much more in the end.
Expect Chris Houghton
No no no no NO! The board can’t be forgiven if they employ Hughton or Moyes….even Benitez.
We need someone young and long term who is premier league proven. Pay the damn money flr Howe, or evening Dyche or you will get relegated. Fact!
Who?
I would certainly take Moyes and argued on here against his firing. As for good football, Pelle brings that in spades for the opposition by giving them so much space – we made AFC WImbledon, Cardiff and Oxford look like Barcelona
When Moyes got his first victory against Chelsea I dont remember many fans crying about defensive football
Right now the priority should be to avoid relegation – given the amount of talk about a new manager there seems no point in delaying the firing of Pelle
My previous post seemed to have disappeared – Alan I liked your post and agreed with it
However before keyboard warriors become apoplectic I checked the odds on Sky Bet – Moyes is evens to be the next Everton manager and 20/1 to be our next manager – so I guess it is not going to happen
Bookies might not be conniseurs of good football – but they would not throw their money away
Worth a fiver mate at 20s
Probably worth a tenner .
Just my own opinion but no thanks to Moyes he’s not the answer . There’s a reason he’s not employed at another club , enough said.
Need Moyes back to stop the rot unless Everton get him first.
Problem as Alan says, other managers are employed at present and the top ones won’t come to West Ham with the Dave’s running the show.
Or, we could get Chris Hughton who won 3 of his last 23 games at Brighton ?
Nothing would surprise me at this club, to be honest.
Wasn’t Pelligrini supposed to be a Top Manager ? The two Dave’s were then the owners and still are . Hard to blame the owners for Pelligrini’s failure . I still believe Moyes would be our best option if and when MP leaves . He knows how to steer a rudderless ship into a safe port . He’s already done it once . Would rather see the Moyes style than be in the Championship . The next game against Chelsea could force things to change .
Not sure that Everton would want Moyes back. . 11 years of winning nothing .
Whereas West Hams case is totally different . We need someone to get us out of trouble and quickly . Reckon the Favourite for Howe or Dyche would be Everton .
If we are talking about bringing back manager’s how about Alan Pardew? The only manager to take us to a major cup final since 1980? His age must be the same as Moyes’s he’s younger than Pellegrini and Benitez , he’s not under any contract, I enjoyed his football and a lot of his signings. Praised and used the Academy and worked on a tight budget? If we are to go backwards? Just saying 😂😂😂
Moyes seems to divide opinion pretty evenly. I think Allen made a good case for. The arguments against seem to be mainly based on the type of football played. The guy on here yesterday suggesting the fans are the problem ( most of which I didn’t agree with) could have argued that maybe Hammers fans want too much, given our financial resources & the fact we are stuck with our existing owners for the foreseeable future. Remember the Bill Shankly comment from years ago ‘Ron Greenwood? Lovely man. West Ham? Always play lovely football…..4 points every season!!’ I think we have to be pragmatic & assuming Benitez is ruled out Moyes is probably the pragmatic choice. I thought he should have been given the job (plus the money Pellegrini has wasted in two windows) in 2018. But it was a struggle then …..can he do it twice?
I agree with Alan Cummings regarding David Moyes becoming our manager. I’ve already given my opinion of David Moyes in another posting. In case you didn’t read it first time, here it is again. I don’t have a problem with David Moyes. And I don’t think David has a problem with us. David Moyes knew the score when he joined West Ham United. He knew that Pellegrini had been approached, but wouldn’t be available until the end of that season. David Moyes got us out of the relegation zone and safe, knowing he would be gone when Pellegrini came in at the end of that season. No grumbles, no fuss, just did his job and got us out of a mess. We should be grateful to David Moyes for doing what he did. I’m sure if he had stayed, he would have bought players in and done a lot better. So if the club is ready to do a u-turn and get him back, I would be happy with that. We need stability at West Ham, which, David Moyes would give us. Bring it on.
The fact that the media are still writing about David Moyes becoming our manager, means there’s no smoke without fire. Just hope someone has lit the fuzz. Its true that David may be tempted to go back to Everton. But, one thing in our favor is, David knew the situation regarding Pellegrini taking over at the end of that season, but was still happy to do the good job he did. Everton sacked him. West Ham didn’t sack him and he already knew he was leaving at the end of that season. I would give David Moyes a 2 year contract with a extra year extension if he does well. He would need the rest of this season to bring stability to the club, at least another season to improve the squad and bring in some of our young players already at the club. But, its out of our hands, we just have to wait and see if he gets the job or not. I hope he does.