BBC Sport shares ‘100%’ update on David Moyes future at West Ham United as pressure mounts after Tottenham loss
David Moyes still has the “full support” of the West Ham board despite slipping into the relegation zone with defeat at Tottenham, BBC Sport reports.
Despite a minor revival and four games unbeaten in all competitions the Hammers are still a long way short of expectations this season, and the 2-0 loss at Spurs on Sunday (19 February) has left the club just two points from the bottom of the table.
That has thrown the manager’s job back into doubt, with The Times reporting on Monday (18 February) that another loss against Nottingham Forest in the upcoming fixture will cost him his job, but according to the BBC he in fact retains “100% backing”.
Reporting via Twitter on Monday BBC reporter Simon Stone wrote: “Told West Ham still backing David Moyes to turn the current situation round and remain fully supportive.”
The journalist’s accompanying report on the broadcaster’s website adds on pressure on the manager: “BBC Sport has been told the situation is not as clear-cut as that and Moyes retains the board’s 100% backing.
“It is acknowledged how much good work Moyes has done since he returned for a second spell as manager in December 2019, guiding them clear of relegation trouble before taking them into Europe through their league position in successive seasons for the first time in the club’s history.”
Living in the past?
Nobody denies what Moyes has done for this club over the past few years, and it rightly has bought him more time in charge than others might have received.
But it is a dangerous game to rely on past achievements because the league table doesn’t take them into account so, past a certain point, neither can the manager or the board.
It is easy to argue that the Scot has earned the right to get himself out of the hole he is in, and there were some recent signs that he might be doing that.
But the pressure is back on in a big way after the weekend, as much through wins for Everton and Southampton as the Irons’ defeat in North London, so he’s going to have to find some answers.
There is an argument that there are currently no better options with which to replace Moyes, and it’s true that a few good results can lift that pressure fast.
But that has been the case throughout the season, and if everyone at the London Stadium assumes things will improve because the manager has been here before and the squad is too good to be relegated then they will be down before they realise it.
Moyes has worn out his welcome with some fans already, and if he isn’t careful the same will be true with the rest, but it appears his employers are currently content to keep their faith in him.