The pundit we love to hate – Robbie Savage – has delivered his verdict on the Irons decision to hand David Moyes the London Stadium gig.
And he asks: “Do you want to play pretty football, and risk ending up in the Championship next season or do you want to stay in the Premier League and reach safety by grinding out results if necessary?”
Writing in his Daily Mirror column he explains that for him it’s a no brainer although says it’s never been harder for managers to please their clubs’ supporters.
He writes: “It seems staying up is no longer enough. You have to achieve safety with style. Keeping the fans happy with the right mix between results and artistic impression has become football’s hardest balancing act.”
Of Moyes he declares: “It didn’t work out for him at Manchester United, but the worst time to take over at Old Trafford was always going to be for the man who followed Sir Alex Ferguson.
Yes, the United job is one of the plum appointments in club football, but I admired Moyes for having the guts to take it on.
If there were question marks about his two signings, Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini, they have both proved decent acquisitions. Mata has been worth his weight in quality and Fellaini has won over a lot of the supporters.
Moyes was also brave enough to make his next stop in Spain. We often complain about the lack of British coaches who try to expand their horizons working abroad – at least Moyes was prepared to put his neck on the block at Real Sociedad.
And although he was the manager who took Sunderland down last season, that wasn’t down to one horrid campaign yielding just six wins in 38 games.
They had been dicing with relegation for years, and this time the Black Cats ran out of lives.
Look at the stream of good managers – from Martin O’Neill to Steve Bruce, Dick Advocaat and now Simon Grayson – who have been chewed up and spat out at the Stadium of Light.”
And whilst admitted his appointment at West Ham has not been afforded a rapturous welcome by the supporters he says: “I like the guy and I happen to think the Hammers have chosen well.”
We’re holding our collective breadths Mr Savage . For once , I agree with you . Away to a depleted Watford side is game we would expect to win , even under Bilic .
And as for Paul Merson ripping onto AC about his relegation comments,,,!! .
Er , Glenn Roeader was Manager in 2003 , senior Merson . Nuff said .
I watched Watford give Chelsea a tough game Kevin- a point there would be quite a result imo. They are inconsistent but somehow they manage to change managers -& players- but remain competitive. Their recruitment puts ours in the shade. That Richarlison is a monster & Doucoure & Feminike would be great for us. And they end up with Silva. How do they do it. I dunno but I am confident Mr S is at this very minute looking into it and saying ‘ we can’t just go on running this club the way I have always done it. I am going to learn from some of these other clubs & transform this club’. Or not.
But yes I think this is a fair assessment by Goldilocks. It may be old age rotting my brain but although I always want to disagree with him I sometimes see some sense in what he is saying,
To be fair to the former professional footballer/nefarious cheat *(delete as appropriate) Robbie Savage, I can’t disagree with a single thing the bloke has said. But let’s put this in perspective. Every team in The Premiership with the exception of The Citizens is not going to win the league. Of those left, most are not going to win either of the domestic trophies either. That said, are we supposed to be grateful for not getting relegated? Are we not entitled at least to expect to be entertained? Surely that is a minimum. So whilst it might be difficult for managers, that is basically their job. To entertain us. Sam Alardyce forgot that. We he dished us up turd after turd masquerading as football games he was called up on it. When 10 man Hull lost to us but gave us a lesson in effort West Ham were booed off. “I’ve never been af a team where you win and get booed off” he moaned. Welcome to West Ham. If he’d had stuck around long enough he’d have seen the team loose and get a standing ovation… if they deserved one. That’s all we ask. Respect the fans. Don’t insult our intelligence.
This poor excuse of a knowledgeable and gifted (not ) supposedly football player come cheat
Has not a fekin clue what ever conversation he’s having or being humiliated on pointless BBC TV show !😂 to boot ! He recently said on sky or one of the other pundit shows along with Rio
That we should be thankfull of being in the prem and our goal should be to remain in it and not think above our station basically ? What would this welsh braindead wan#£r know about flair and attractive football that is easy to coach with the foresite of seeing a player or players with that quality and build around them a balanced team capable of defending and attacking with flair and entertain ! We’ve had teams like that here in the past but have underachieved but gave us all a lot of enjoyment , maybe not since bonds and harry and certainly lyall and greenwood who delivered the FACups and cupwinners cup and the like ! We want flair in the team and frankly lanzini can’t produce it on his own plus he is not the finished article yet !
So fek off savage ! You know nothing about west ham and nothing else either you thick cxxt😈 the question we all want answered is what will Moyes bring to the table next week and after to take us on to better things , no point in talking about all the negative board crap and similar ! Moyes has to deliver and looking to past players like mirallas and fellai I etc always comes back to haunt you IMO , Moyes has a big job on his hands and I think he will struggle
With the players in this squad but that’s just my opinion , his other problem will be money for new players ? Good luck Mr Moyes I didn’t want you but I want you to succeed !! 😉