THE football managerial merry-go-round is a bizarre spectacle at the best of times, but when it comes to West Ham United, it goes to a whole new level.
The club has been in the top seven of the Premier League (PL) for most of the season. The Hammers were knocked out of the Europa League at the quarter-final stage this season. Last season, the club won the Europa Conference League, and prior to that, managed to make the semi-finals of the Europa League. So that is three successive seasons playing in Europe.
The club have won more matches in European competition over the past three seasons than any other club — a total of 26 victories in 37 matches, compared to Real Madrid's 24 wins in 35 matches and Manchester City’s 23 wins in 35 matches.
Manager David Moyes has twice saved the club from relegation, first in 2018. He was then passed over for the manager’s job. The man who got the job, Manuel Pellegrini, spent much money in putting together a side destined for relegation.
Again, Moyes stepped in to save their Premiership status. This time West Ham’s board had the sense to give Moyes the job permanently. Then, sixth- and seventh-place finishes in the Premier League led to those spirited European runs.
Moyes has bought wisely. He brought in Jarrod Bowen from Hull for £20 million. The England international has prospered under Moyes, becoming an regular starter and scoring more than 20 goals this season. His value will now be upward of £100m.
Czechs Tomas Soucek (£20m) and Vladimir Coufal (£5m) have also been big successes. Talisman Lucas Paqueta was bought for £50m in the summer of 2022.
Two brilliant seasons for the Hammers mean he also now carries a price tag of over £85m.
Despite his success in the transfer market, Moyes has never been given the riches afforded to Pellegrini.
Indeed, there has been no new money for players since summer 2022. The money spent last summer brought more successes with Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez and James Ward Prowse all proving big hits. However, the funds came from the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal and Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta.
So why one might ask do West Ham want to get rid of arguably the most successful manager in their history?
The treatment meted out in the media to Moyes would make the objective observer think West Ham were in the running for relegation.
There has been a growing number of critics, mainly due to the defensive style of football played by Moyes. It is not the most exciting football to watch but as results show, it is effective.
The “sack Moyes” brigade first became noticeable last season, as Premier League form stuttered. The critics though had to shut up, when the club landed the Europa Conference League and began this season so positively.
Criticism soon resurfaced, though, when results faltered.
Moyes has tended to dismiss such title tattle. The West Ham board also stood by their man. How much disquiet was due to actual fans, and how much due to social media news outlets with no other news but seemingly obsessed with getting Moyes sacked, is unclear.
However, what has emerged is that reportedly the club have been checking out potential replacements.
There were negotiations between club and manager over a new contract before Christmas. Then, this was put on hold till the end of the season.
Arguably, the club needed to check out potential managerial replacements, given the uncertainty.
But from the Scotsman’s perspective, it must seem like betrayal if this has been going on while he has been battling for a top-six finish and success in Europe.
He also won’t have been impressed by being forced to sell two senior professionals — Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma — in January, with no replacements coming in. It is hardly surprising that a small squad, that was then cut further, should come up short in the PL and Europe.
The club are officially saying nothing about the managerial position.
However, Moyes himself might well decide he has had enough. He’s done a remarkable job over five years with limited resources. He has had little thanks for what he has achieved. And he certainly won’t be short of teams seeking his services.
West Ham fans need to be careful what they wish for. The board too are unlikely to find anyone able to match Moyes’s achievements, while operating on a cut-price budget.
Maybe West Ham fans will only recognise how successful Moyes has been in a few years time when looking back. It is something West Ham fans specialise in — some remain trapped in a time warp in the middle of the1960s when the club apparently won the World Cup and European Cup Winners Cup, playing Brazilian-style football.
Or maybe it’ll come when Moyes’s successor spends a lot of money, only to see the club get relegated again. If so, it is doubtful that the Scotsman will be back to launch a third rescue mission.
