When you take a look at how David Moyes believes he strengthened the Hammers squad this last winter it raises more questions than answers.
Starting at the back we take a look at Alphonse Areola who cost £12 million and can’t get past Fab despite some decent performances in Europe.
Philo Kehrer has been ok at central defence but has made more than his fair share of mistakes leading to goals notably when at right back.
Emerson: Hardly a replacement for Cresswell and not really much more than a player who was loaned out by Chelsea such were his shortcomings.
Aguerd: Has had more than his share of injuries and can be brilliant or awful as we saw this afternoon
Paqueta: Beginning to look the player we expected but still a way to go as the club’s record signing.
Downes: The cheapest signing of them all and has looked the best but gets very few PL chances.
Scamacca: Plenty of injuries and at £30 million one of the marquee signings but admits himself on several occasions he needs more time.
Cornet: Out for nearly the entire season and although fit getting very few minutes.
Cost of signings: £180 million
Over to you – is the team stronger?
Playing players out of position where do we start, Fornals is a natural 8, moyes plays him out wide out of position. Lanzini is a center player, he plays him out wide, Vlasic a center player plays him out wide, Benrahna is a 10 sitting in behind a 9 never tried by Moyes, Johnson plays as a CB, out of position, bought Haller, Scamacca and ings, they cant be all bad strikers but they dont perform under Moyes, why he plays one up and no 10 in behind. They are completely isolated. Why ? Simply moyes does not play a system that benefits the players. More examples he plays Bowen as a 9, he plays Soucek as an attacking mid, and there are more examples
Think that’s harsh
Have Bowen,Rice, Antonio all not improved under Moyes?
Ings was a Sullivan signing I think?
Playing new signings out of position? Like who? Paqueta even said himself he can play 8 or 10 even out wide and Kehrer plays RB for German national side
Paqueta is playing well now he’s adapted to the pace of the EPL
Emerson – we needed cover at LB desperately and think he’s been decent and wasnt expensive. Downes – think they are/were hoping to be a Dec understudy and step in as cover this season and then going forward and looked decent enough squad player
Aguerd, Scamacca and Cornet – tough to judge with the injuries
Do I want fresh blood next season in charge, yes.
But where on earth do you get “even they players he’s signed want him gone” – Spirit seems still there, not “lost the dressing room” as the cliche goes
He was a definite Moyes signing. FACT!
I have no doubt that under the right manager that Areola, Aguerd, Paqueta, Cornet and Scamacca will thrive but they wont under Moyes, he simply does not know how to improve players. He plays a system that does not suit them, he plays them out of position etc but we all know this..Kehrer is a useful utility player but I never really understood the Downes or Emerson signings. However the signing that just made no sense is the Ings one, a huge mistake on a number of fronts..Moyes has to go on e we are safe as he will not develop players. Everyone wants him gone including most importantly the players he has signed..
I wouldn’t trust Moyes to do my weekly shop let alone give him millions in the transfer market to spend !!!!!!