West Ham United were humbled by Crystal Palace in the Premier League this afternoon, and it was all David Moyes’s fault.
West Ham boss David Moyes watched on from the sidelines helplessly as his players were ripped apart by Crystal Palace in the Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.
Sure, the players were horrendous today, and many of them aren’t fit to wear the shirt. However, Moyes has built this squad over the past four-and-a-half years, and the buck stops with him.
Tensions are building at the London Stadium after a really poor run, with friction between Moyes and Tim Steidten reportedly not helping matters.
Things were looking so good for us before the January transfer window opened. We had just beaten Arsenal 2-0 to go sixth in the table, and we were in such a strong position to really kick on.
However, the Hammers have regressed since after a woeful January transfer window. The current state we’re in is down to one man – David Moyes…
Moyes’s West Ham excuse an oxymoron in the extreme after Crystal Palace defeat
Moyes’s has continually spouted on about his preference of having a smaller squad.
He did it yet again before today’s clash with Palace, telling the Evening Standard how having a small squad can be better than having a big one at times:
“I don’t think we are a club that is going to carry loads and loads of really top players, so we can change one of our really good players for another at absolutely the same level. If I am being honest, if I had my way I would have smaller squads anyway. I would rather have a smaller squad. I always have done. You can get more problems with a bigger squad. Having a smaller squad isn’t bad but when you are playing, I think it will be 57 games this season, and maybe 60 last. We have had to take a big hit.”
At the same time, he has banged on time and time again about how tired his players have been during the second half of the season. You don’t say!
Moyes doesn’t trust his fringe players and barely plays them, so whenever they do come into the team, they’re cold and out of rhythm.
Because of this, the 60-year-old then flogs the same 13 or 14 players to death. It’s a vicious cycle that will never end because of his lack of quality options.
Again, let me remind everyone…he built this squad!
The Scot cannot say that he likes a small squad in one sentence, and then bemoan that fact that his players are tired in the next. It’s an oxymoron in the extreme and akin to someone saying, ‘not to worry, it’s only a minor crisis’.
It’s utter rubbish that needs calling out. Moyes allowed Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals to leave the London Stadium in the January window, but then failed to bring in any replacements for them.
It has been reported by top Hammers journalist Jacob Steinberg that the West Ham boss had the chance to sign Wilfried Zaha on loan in January, but rejected that opportunity as he thought the winger wouldn’t improve his squad.
It’s sad that it seems to have ended this way. It didn’t need to, that’s for sure. West Ham were battered by Crystal Palace today, after Moyes rolled out the same old team bar a couple of players.
The Scot should have left with his head held high last summer, but his ego got the better of him. Now his exit from the London Stadium may not be quite as dignified as it would otherwise have been.
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