Animal lover David Moyes has made his feelings on Kurt Zouma’s abuse of his pet cat firmly on the record: “100 per cent disappointed.”
Many were disappointed that he selected the central defender for his appearance in the team last night but the manager gave what we consider an entirely balanced view of his decision.
It would have been easy to play to what was a near captive audience of critics but instead the boss stuck by his principles as a football club manager and picked the team he thought best for the job.
He was rewarded with a gritty performance and 1-0 win which took us back into the top four but then made sure none of us ran off with the view that all was forgiven and forgotten.
With dogs and horses of his own Moyes made affection for those as an animal lover very clear and condemned Zouma for the way the way he had treated his pet cat.
Asked whether he is upset with Zouma, Moyes replied: “Oh, 100%.”.
“It’s something we’re all disappointed with and something we can’t understand,” the Scot told BBC Match of the Day.
“He’ll learn from it [but] today I had to pick a football team that gave me the best chance of winning the game as manager of West Ham.
“I know how people feel, but I’m also a football manager here.
“My feeling was that Kurt has apologised and I understand a lot of people will not just be accepting of an apology. But to me he came out and [apologised] honestly and I had to do my job.”
Zouma, said in a statement earlier on Tuesday: “I want to apologise for my actions. There are no excuses for my behaviour, which I sincerely regret.”
An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We have recently been made aware that this incident may have taken place in Essex and we are liaising with the RSPCA and urgent enquiries are ongoing.”
Moyes reiterated his stance in his post-match news conference, revealing that the impact of the distressing footage has been felt throughout the team.
“I have spoken to [Zouma] and we will move on as much as we can,” said the 58-year-old.
“We have all felt it through the team and the club. We are all of the same feeling that it is something we didn’t expect of Kurt. We didn’t see that in his character or from him in anything we’ve come across with him.
“We wanted to get this game out of the way and we understand nobody will be pleased about it. It is a poor situation.
“I am someone who cares a lot about my dogs and horses and all the people I am connected with.
“I think the club would rather deal with it all in time and they will let you know what the action is.”
Extremely difficult one for Moyes to deal with, especially with the rush for everyone to express their disgust & outrage about Zouma’s behaviour; which was totally unacceptable & criminal. The manager is responsible for running the team & selects the side. Nowadays, this doesn’t limit itself to solely footballing issues, but also social & behaviourable issues.
However, the owners, club & supporters expect the team to perform to its maximum, & there is no doubt that Zouma’s presence in it represented our best chance of 3 points (which is what West Ham are in business for). From that viewpoint, Moses had no option. The balancing act was to suspend him, play Diop, & drop points. I don’t envy him the decision. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t.
I am prepared to support Moyes & expect the club to fine Zouma & donate the fine to the RSPCA. Let’s leave it to the police to decide on criminal charges. This may not be the most moral of possible actions, but at least Zouma will be punished & some sort of justice achieved. Most of all, let’s hope that Zouma genuinely learns a lesson !
I do not expect, as a supporter, the team to “perform to its maximum” regardless of how the players conduct themselves on and off the pitch. I may be old-fashioned, but I try never to lose sight of the fact that West Ham United isn’t just a Premier League era-business, it’s a football club (i.e. a sporting institution and community asset). I expect that the players who play for the club to behave sportingly, fairly and with decency both on and off the pitch. Putting it in starker terms, I expect them to try to behave as, for instance, Trevor Brooking did and continues to do. There have been two incidents in the last week – Zouma’s criminal animal abuse and Yarmolenko diving in the Kidderminster box – which we, as West Ham fans, in my view, should stand against. Both have breached the implicit code that most fan expect players to adhere to. Some fans might suggest that both players should have been suspended by the Club, rather than by Moyes himself. So, I disagree, with the point that Moyes is in a tricky spot with Zouma. His decision has been an easy one, in one sense: he’s picked Zouma because he was available for selection. Whether he should have been made available for selection by the Club under Club rules – which pre-date Moyes, I’m guessing – is another issue. In my view, neither Zouma nor the perennially-woeful Yarmolenko should have been available for last night’s game.
Well such a nice post by kcock totally nothing to add after some real stick from all against zouma including me who I thought also terrible behaviour towards pets. Yes take the pets away from him and huge fine towards going to rspca. Give him some help too and remember we all have regrets in life through whatever we have done hindsight being easy . Also to be fair with the boos and hate in him playing he with Dawson rose to the occasion and had a really good game along with bowen and rice as usual.
Zouma committed a criminal act,period.
If we couldn’t beat Watford without Zouma then we better jack it in.
Moyes is wrong, he’s old fashioned in many ways this is another example.
The club make this kind of mistake to often.
It was filmed for gods sake in front of a kid. The kid will think it’s acceptable behaviour.
Moyes continues to take us backwards
kcockayn.
Ridiculous, if your teenage child did this and filmed it in front of your youngest, broadcast it on social media you would punish that child surely.
Not take it out for pizza and a film.
Yes, fair points; & I am not condoning Zouma’s behaviour, or Moyes’s reaction. Nor am I saying that Zoumba should not be prosecuted – just pointing out that it is a complicated situation to handle. Moyes’s dilemma is how to reconcile his actions with the club’s policy, his job requirements & decency & morality. Tricky one for him to handle ! I would punish my child, but it is the police’s job to prosecute law breakers. How the club reacts is it’s business; but it is a difficult one for them.
If this story is totally as it appears, I would fully support police action
When I saw the team sheet last night I could not believe Zouma was in the team. I thought this is not right. I have lost all respect for Moyes over it as he said it was his decision and i also have lost respect for the Board who did not intervene or did not highlight to Moyes the club’s values. Of course we all wanted Zouma to play but in life what you want to do is not always the right thing to do. I was always thought to do the right thing and Moyes did not do that last night. He valued the winning of the game as more important that doing the right thing and leaving Zouma out of the team.
How long would you like him yo be left out Johnham1?
jonham/mooro66uk
He should of been banned for 2 weeks,the length of his fine period.
Watford,Leicester,Newcastle missed
Yes
Typical Moyes though.
Reactive instead of Proactive.
This should have all been discussed by him, board and players beforehand Boleyn.No one has a clue I’d bet he’s not even in the squad for Sunday. Mark my words