The 2022/23 domestic Premier League campaign was a long, hard, slog for West Ham United manager David Moyes.
Despite successes in recent seasons, players struggled for form and consistency and with 20 defeats to our name, finishing the campaign on 40 points and in 14th place was in many ways far better than some had probably expected as the final few months of the year ticked around.
During the build up to Saturday’s FA Cup Final at Wembley between Manchester rivals United and City, former England, Red Devil, and West Ham striker, Teddy Sheringham, was out in the press and given how 2022/23 was such a strange season for the Hammers, he was asked about the wildly contrasting form we had when it came to the domestic and European portions of our year as Football odds at the start of the campaign would not have predicted that.
It was a source of deep frustration for large sections of the fanbase, as our results were the polar opposite when it came to our Europa Conference League campaign. Form, consistency, and good performance levels were nigh on guaranteed whenever we took to the pitch. We stormed the Group B stage with 18 points and six wins from six, and Moyes and the first team squad are now preparing for Wednesday evening’s Final clash with Italian Serie A side Fiorentina.
Given our European adventure so far, there will be good confidence in the camp that we can keep our momentum going and bring the trophy home with us to the London Stadium, and then we simply hope for a slightly more consistent domestic experience when the 2023/24 campaign rolls around.
Turning back to Sheringham’s words, given we have now reached our first major European Final since way back in 1976, the 57 year old felt that it had justified the board’s decision to stick with Moyes despite all the negative attention we were getting in the media at the point and although he felt the final would be a tough game, and probably go to penalties, he backed us to win it.
“West Ham have been unbelievable, and I’m delighted for them. It’s been tough for them in the league this season, but I think it was the right decision to stick with David Moyes. I’d love to see them win it. A tough 1-1 and I think it might even go to penalties. I’ll say West Ham to win on penalties.”
All eyes to next Wednesday and everyone will be hoping that our remarkable European form can continue for another 90 minutes, and despite Sheringham’s penalty prediction, that we can win it in normal time and save ourselves some unnecessary nerves.
Image from: unsplash.com