WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE NEW GAFFER
As a new era dawns over West Ham United, we welcome our newly appointed manager on a 6-month deal, David Moyes.
The Scotsman was appointed manager last week and before he’d even put pen-to-paper, he endured a very negative welcome by a large section of the fanbase. However, in the last week, fans have slowly warmed to the idea of the former Sunderland boss at the club.
MOYES’ PREVIOUS MANAGERIAL ROLES
Moyes started out his managerial career at now Championship side Preston North End, where he spent a total of four years with The Lilywhites.
Once of League Two, Moyes saved the club from potential relegation, turning the side around guiding them to back-to-back promotions, taking them to a Championship play-off berth, where Moyes led his side to the play-off final. Unfortunately, however, they were defeated 3-0 to Bolton Wanderers.
He then left Preston to join Merseyside outfit Everton, in March 2002. Everton were on the brink of relegation but Moyes once again waved his magic wand as The Toffees managed to stay in The Premiership that season.
From 2004-2013 David Moyes became one of Everton’s most successful managers to date, a fan favourite who spent 11 successful years at Goodison, naming it ‘the people’s club’.
Everton qualified for the Europa League twice and enjoyed a number of seasons in the top half, playing an attractive brand of football, but also a defensive minded one too. Moyes also reached the FA Cup Final with Everton in 2009, narrowly missing out with a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.
At the end of the 2012/2013 season, Moyes was handpicked by fellow Scotsman and legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson to take over his reign at Manchester United. This seemed an unbelievable opportunity for Moyes at the time, but , it was a poisoned chalice before he’d even begun.
All the high-quality players that played under Fergie were at the latter stages of their career and Moyes was left with a depleted squad.
Moyes never settled at United, and from day one the fans never took to his style of play or his ways at the club. After winning the Community Shield, Moyes was sacked in 2014, ending his short six-month stay with the reigning Champions.
Moyes had the chance for a fresh start and decided to join Real Sociedad in Spain, where he could find a new challenge, but again this job was unsuccessful too.
Moyes made a good start in his first home game in charge, winning 3-0 against Elche. However, the San Sebastian side never really found their form, with the only real highlight being a 1-0 win over Catalan giants, Barcelona. Once again in November 2015, he was sacked after yet another poor start to the season.
After two failed projects Moyes took the disaster turn to join sinking ship Sunderland in July 2016. With a poor squad and management team, Moyes inevitably struggled and after a horror season at the Stadium of light, not even talisman Jermain Defoe could save the doomed club from relegation, with Moyes parting ways with The Black Cats in July 2017.
MOYES’ PLAYING STYLE AND PHILOSOPHY
We may see an organized and defensive structure under Moyes in his early days as a Hammers boss, due to our defensive frailties under former boss Slaven Bilic, which is needed, after the horrific defensive stats we have prescribed so far this season.
West Ham currently own the worst defence in the Premier League, conceding 23 goals, which, is a surprise due to the high-quality defenders like Winston Reid, Jose Fonte and Pablo Zabaleta currently at the club.
If Moyes can get The Hammers into form, we could see a completely different outlook and side come a few months’ time. Especially with the attacking talent the squad possesses, including the likes of Chicharito, Lanzini, Antonio, Ayew and more.
As West Ham fans, I’m sure we would all love to see Moyes play the West Ham way, however desperate times call for desperate measures, so expect Moyes to be cautious and try to play from the back and work forward.
MY VIEW…
When David Moyes was first appointed West Ham manager, I was very sceptical due to the recent jobs he’d found himself struggling in, but after a week of him being appointed I am fully behind him, and quite excited to see us play against Watford this coming Sunday.
Moyes has appointed Stuart Pearce, Alan Irvine and Billy Mackinlay as his backroom team, which I think is fantastic. Between the three men, they share a vast experience at the top level and I believe we are in good hands.
Also, the training has looked good this past week and is reported to have tired out the players which is great, because they in turn have not pulled their weight this season.
Everything seems so positive at West Ham at the moment and I’m really happy about that and looking forward to the rest of the season, I really don’t think we will get relegated and I think in actual fact we should be at the other end of the table, come the end of the season!
COYI!
By Ibby Ahmed
@SexiLanzini