Exclusive: McAvennie hails Moyes for signing ‘Wonderful’ West Ham trio
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie believes David Moyes should be trusted to be in sole charge of transfers at West Ham with his 2020 additions proving their weight in gold at the London Stadium.
In January, Moyes welcomed goalkeeper Darren Randolph and winger Jarrod Bowen to the club on permanent deals while also adding midfielder Tomas Soucek on loan.
In the summer, Soucek’s loan was made permanent while right-back Vladimir Coufal was also snapped up from Slavia Prague. Craig Dawson and Said Benrahma were also brought in on temporary deals.
McAvennie is delighted by what he’s seen from Bowen, Soucek and Coufal and claims they were signings made by Moyes rather than David Sullivan.
“I think David’s signings – Bowen, Soucek and Coufal – have been wonderful. They’re three great signings. David knows a player,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“He should be trusted to sign players now. He’s earned that right.
“We don’t want any surprise signings. Sometimes you’d turn up and they go ‘here’s a striker for you’. You don’t want that now.
“The manager deserves to buy his own players because he lives and dies by his choices.
“He’s brought in Bowen, he’s brought in Soucek, he’s brought in Coufal. That’s three great signings.”
It is hard to say which of those three players has been the best for West Ham since Moyes brought them in.
Bowen’s set-pieces and crosses into the box, as well as his finishing, has been an asset while Soucek’s aerial dominance has helped the Irons dominate at set-pieces at both ends of the pitch and in the middle of the park.
Coufal, like Bowen, is also a danger when the ball is out wide but as we saw on Wednesday night against Crystal Palace, he can keep top attackers like Wilfried Zaha quiet.
It will be interesting to see what January throws up.
West Ham didn’t give Moyes a lot to spend in the summer but there are definitely some areas of this squad that still needs improving.
In other West Ham news, this was our moment of the match against Palace.