By CandH’s top blogger Allen Cummings

The transformation in fortunes for West Ham from where they were at this same stage last season to where they are now is nothing short of remarkable.

This year

There will be nine games to play when the Hammers take to the field against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Monday evening.

The very worst position we could find ourselves in by that time, by virtue of our closest rivals having already played their latest fixtures, will be eighth in the Premier League – sitting as we do at the moment on 49 points from 29 games played.

What a world of difference that is from where we stood after 29 games played last season. As Project Restart kicked in, we were perilously placed 16^th in the league, desperately looking over our shoulder, dreading the very real threat of relegation breathing down our neck.

Last year

Fast forward 10 months and we’re contemplating what we have to do to get ourselves into one of those coveted top four places – not calculating who we have to beat to keep us out of the bottom three.

It’s been a turnaround of mammoth proportions – something none of us even in our wildest dreams saw coming.

The players – old hands and new recruits – have been fantastic. But surely the manager needs special praise for the way he has brought them all together, aided by shrewd acquisitions in the transfer and loan market – not all readily accepted by some fans it has to be said – and more importantly the way he has got them all playing together.

He’s blended, coaxed and encouraged the players at his disposal. He’s given them a game plan to work to – provided a template designed to get the best out of them all. A clear direction of travel that was all too sadly missing under Manuel Pellegrini.

West Ham don’t have the spending power of the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur.

Moyes can’t call on big-name players when he needs to shuffle his pack as the fixtures arrive thick and fast the way they have this season.

As armchair managers we can all pick a side when you have an array of international stars at your disposal. Moyes hasn’t enjoyed that luxury, so his achievement has been all the greater.

When the Manager of the Year is selected it will probably go to Pep Guardiola. City look odds on to take the Premier League title now, and will be favourites to pick up the first silverware of the season by winning the Carabao Cup (let’s hope so if it means them denying the spuds).

Brendan Rodgers will no doubt have his supporters for the fine job he’s doing with Leicester City. But he was already well placed with his team, building on a decent season in 2019-2020. Dean Smith has done well, too, but his Aston Villa side look to have faded of late.

No manager has had to come from as far back as Moyes has with West Ham. His achievement with the team this season undoubtably deserves recognition – David Moyes Manager of the Year would be a fitting reward.