West Ham United desperate over David Moyes situation as stance on Rafael Benitez emerges
David Moyes might “survive” the sack at West Ham because the club remain unconvinced by any alternatives and are “desperate” to avoid removing him, The Guardian reports.
Despite reports suggesting that Rafael Benitez has been identified as the man to replace the struggling Hammers boss [Telegraph, 15 February], [Daily Star, 20 February], there are apparently “doubts” over the Spaniard.
West Brom manager Carlos Corberan is of interest but after signing a new Baggies contract amid links to the still-vacant Leeds United job he is seen as a target for the future.
As such, Jacob Steinberg in The Guardian reports that the Hammers hierarchy are “desperate” not to have to sack Moyes, despite the recent improvement ending with defeat at Tottenham.
The Irons are now 18th in the Premier League and just two points from the foot of the table.
Steinberg writes: “Sources have said West Ham are desperate not to have to sack Moyes, who had overseen an improvement in his side’s form before losing at Spurs.
“The 59-year-old was braced for the worst if West Ham had lost at home to Everton last month, but they won that game convincingly and followed it up with draws against Newcastle and Chelsea.”
Cautionary tale
It is in some ways admirable that the West Ham board have shown this much loyalty to a manager who has done a lot for them, in an age of hiring and firing that often doesn’t have the desired results.
But were there an outstanding option available Moyes would likely be one wrong move from the exit door right now.
The current plights of fellow relegation strugglers Everton and Leeds appear to be instructive in this situation, with the latter having dispensed with Jesse Marsch’s services and then found themselves scrambling to find a viable replacement.
Clearly, the Irons board want to avoid that situation, but Everton have now won twice from three games since appointing Sean Dyche.
That it was West Ham who beat Frank Lampard to open that job up might especially rankle with Hammers fans because Dyche looks in many ways to be the stand-out candidate among managers who were actually available at this stage of the season.
It seems like the board’s stance is genuine, since heavy investment in the squad over the past two windows has likely removed suspicion that they are hoping to avoid the expense of sacking and replacing Moyes.
And if he can find an answer from somewhere while manager-less Leeds continue to struggle that will look like a very smart move, but it is definitely touch and go at the moment and he often isn’t helping himself.