Usually, teams at the wrong end of the league find their managers coming under fire from supporters. Still, West Ham boss David Moyes, who guided The Hammers to Europa Conference League success last season, is under mounting pressure to turn around the club’s fortunes. And he’s one of the favorites in the sack race with three months of the Premier League campaign to go.
West Ham, until their 2-0 away victory against high-flying Arsenal in late December, were having what many would describe as a good season. They were positioned well in the Premier League, inside the top six, and they’d also breezed through the Europa League group stage too. Anyone checking Premier League match betting online would see the odds reflected West Ham’s great form at the time, but a look now and they couldn’t tell a more different story.
Since defeating title challengers Arsenal on December 28, West Ham have gone six games without victory, which included three straight draws and then three consecutive defeats, defeats they failed to score in. Included in those reverses was a 6-0 loss at home to Mikel Arteta’s high-flying Gunners and a disappointing 2-0 away defeat to relegation candidates Nottingham Forest.
While some West Ham fans have vented their dissatisfaction with Moyes’ management and, more so, the playing style deployed by the Scot, things ramped up at the City Ground, where ‘Moyes Out’ banners were visible throughout the game. There’s always been respect for what Moyes has done while manager of West Ham across his two stints, but patience is beginning to wear thin, and a slide down the division and out of the European qualification places could give owner David Sullivan something to think about, even at such a late stage of the campaign.
Before the drop in form, there was talk that West Ham were keen to extend Moyes’ stay at the club beyond this summer and that Moyes himself was eager to remain in the hot seat. However, in light of recent results, the talks have likely been shelved. It could be a case of waiting to see if Moyes can turn things around, something he’s shown himself capable of doing before. Or, work could be underway to prepare for who’s next if a change is made before the season’s close.
Hot stories
It’s probably unlikely that West Ham will fire Moyes and replace him with a full-time replacement at this point, as it would make more sense to attempt to hire someone new for the long term in the summer months. So, West Ham legend and current sporting director at the club, Mark Noble, could be asked to take temporary charge if Sullivan and the board decide to act in the near future.
But, as seen many times previously, Sullivan has backed Moyes in the bad times and stuck with him, and it’s always worked out in the end. He could be inclined to do so again, especially as more European glory is achievable. However, if Premier League results don’t pick up soon, he may be left with no alternative but to relieve Moyes of his duties.
