The Pressure on David Moyes is Rising: Monday Morning Hammers Report
As I wasn’t around to write about the team’s win over FCSB on Thursday, we’re kicking off this week by borrowing a format from Jonas Siegel of The Athletic. I hope you enjoy the piece – which runs through the last seven days, with key observations and notes.
If David Moyes wasn’t already under pressure, he is now.
West Ham washed away weeks of upward mobility with a dreadful performance versus Crystal Palace on Sunday [6 September], which resulted in a comeback loss on home soil.
The Hammers, who face Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday [9 November], enter the final round of Premier League fixtures before the World Cup boxed into the bottom half of the table, far away from where they expected to be at this point in the season.
As has often been the case with Moyes-era West Ham, they named a predictable lineup for the visit of Palace. Tomáš Souček kept his place in the team, despite providing little in possession all season. Lucas Paquetá returned from a shoulder injury to start in the No. 10 role, which – once again – left him completely isolated.
Mistakes also cost West Ham.
Wilfried Zaha equalised after Craig Dawson cannoned a pass to Thilo Kehrer, who couldn’t control the ball on a greasy surface at the London Stadium.
Then, in the final minute, Michail Antonio repeated the error he made at Selhurst Park in 2018, chipping the ball into the goalkeeper’s gloves to facilitate what proved to be the match-winning counterattack.
“It was gutting, but we didn’t deserve to win,” Moyes said of the outcome. “There was always a chance we could lose it and that’s what happened in the end… [I’m] really disappointed with how we played in the first-half. We went a goal ahead, which was probably against the run of play, and then we gave away a terrible goal. It could have made a big difference going in ahead at half-time, but we hadn’t played well.”
He also returned fire at the club’s supporters, who booed his decision to substitute goal-scorer Saïd Benrahma.
When asked about the crowd’s reaction, Moyes added: “I thought he scored a good goal [but] I don’t know if he had much of an impact after. There’s a lot of people, a lot of experts out there, isn’t there? … I felt we probably improved in the last 20 minutes and gave ourselves one or two opportunities.”
If his post-match comments are indicative of his mood, Moyes can feel the heat. After receiving the dreaded vote of confidence, he is running out of time to turn the situation around.
Two Points
1. Impressive Rookies: While the team’s win in Bucharest has been overtaken by current events, it provided the backdrop for a handful of positive plotlines.
Ollie Scarles was West Ham’s best performer. In the absence of Aaron Cresswell and Emerson, the 16-year-old (yep, readers, we’re ancient) was a breath of fresh air from left wing-back. He always made himself available to receive the ball, defended wisely, and caused the home side plenty of issues from wide areas.
Scarles was one of nine Academy of Football graduates to feature, on what was a memorable night for huge debutant class.
“I think it shows how good this academy really is and how, when given the chances, we can show what we can really do,” he explained. “Credit to all the lads that played and got on, and even the ones who didn’t in how they conducted themselves and behaved.”
Scarles is still some way from Premier League readiness, but that shouldn’t detract his impressive debut. He’s a player to watch.
2. Frustration: Speaking after the defeat to Crystal Palace, Rice’s frustration was clear to see.
“You can see it in my face,” he told reporters in Stratford. “I’m devastated because that was a game we had to win. We had two games before the World Cup to put ourselves in a good position – we lost one of them and now we’re counting on next week for a result.
“You don’t want to already feel like that at this stage in the season. That’s what we’ve done so well in the last two years: we’d have won matches like today.”
Rice – sometimes to his detriment – wears his heart on his sleeve when asked for post-match commentary.
In this case, his honesty revealed the squad’s deep insecurity about the months ahead: it’s telling that they are looking down the table — rather than up it — after a rocky start.
If their last match was a ‘must-win’ moment, how will West Ham’s players view next weekend’s clash versus Leicester City? They’re rattled.
Point of Curiosity
How will West Ham approach their final match before the World Cup?
Rice made an important point on Sunday: West Ham’s loss to Crystal Palace means they enter the final round of fixtures before the World Cup just two points above the drop zone and in desperate need of three points.
If the Hammers beat Leicester, Moyes will enter the midseason with his team perched in the middle of the pack. But what if they lose and teams below them find a way to put points on the board?
In the worst-case scenario, West Ham could spend the international break locked in the bottom three. Then what? Would the board sack Moyes, the best coach they’ve ever hired, despite his record on the continent? It’s possible.
With that in mind, how will he approach a must-win match on the eve of the World Cup? Will he stick with his preferred squad – including players desperate to avoid a tournament-ending injury – or twist in favour of a fresh approach?
Moyes’ history implies he will select the first option. If that turns out to be a mistake, it could — and maybe should — cost him his job. Undeniably, the pressure is on.