Rafa Benitez verdict emerges as David Moyes sack decision mooted at West Ham United
Managers such as West Ham owners’ favourites Rafa Benitez and Marcelo Bielsa are likely to be off the table if David Moyes departs, according to Paul Brown.
The former Daily Star journalist told GiveMeSport on 7 November that new technical director Tim Steidten’s presence is “more likely” to mean an “up and coming” manager would be brought in if the Scot is removed.
However, he has suggested that there isn’t likely to be anything “imminent” in terms of a decision on Moyes, with more clarity to emerge over the “coming weeks” as the transfer window approaches.
Brown said: “It’s really hard to know because the owners there had their favourites. Before Moyes, they were big admirers of people like Marcelo Bielsa and Rafa Benitez, but I suspect that with Tim Steidten coming in, those kind of managers would not be high on his wish list if the club was to make a change.
“So you’d be more likely to see West Ham trying to go for more of a younger, up-and-coming manager I think if a change is coming. But I don’t think one is imminent just yet.
“I think things will become clearer nearer to Christmas when the club starts making transfer plans and talking to the current manager about his contract. So I think we’ll know a little more in the coming weeks.”
Planning
There is unlikely to be much enthusiasm for a figure like Benitez among the West Ham fanbase, and while Bielsa might be more intriguing he looks likely to be unavailable having established himself as Uruguay boss.
Considering the knock on Moyes tends to relate to his old-fashioned tendencies and a lack of expansive football it would probably be seen as a positive for Steidten to be looking for a change from that.
It is obviously a risk to go for a more unproven option, but arguably has a greater potential upside if the German were to find the right man.
It seems fairly likely that having stuck with Moyes over the summer but not extended his contract before now the club might be looking to allow him to see out his current deal and then move on from him.
But if Premier League results don’t improve that situation could change, especially as mid-table mediocrity or worse, makes it more likely that star players would be minded to accept advances from other clubs.
Lucas Paqueta almost went in the summer to Manchester City and Liverpool are repeatedly linked to Jarrod Bowen, so the Irons would surely like to avoid a repeat of the Declan Rice situation if there is the opportunity to make a change at the top that offers significant improvements.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers want to a sign a player who is loved by a rival manager.