West Ham United tactics under David Moyes slammed as ‘robotic’ claim made
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 wants West Ham to play football the way it “should be played,” calling the club “robotic” under David Moyes.
The pundit alluded to the recent 3-1 loss against Liverpool, where the Hammers immediately turned defensive when they didn’t have the ball.
The visitors were in the Premier League match at 1-1 at half-time at Anfield before the hosts scored twice in the second half.
Speaking to West Ham Zone, McAvennie said: “They were so good against Liverpool, they could have beaten them. We had 30% possession, they had 70%.
“As soon as Liverpool got the ball, there were eight West Ham players in two fours, it’s robotic. I think sometimes Michail Antonio can chase more, he needs to go and put them under pressure. If you do that to defenders, they will give you the ball.
“I didn’t see us putting Liverpool under pressure. They had so much time on the ball to do what they wanted, and I don’t like that. There was nobody near Alexis Mac Allister and he flicked it over the two rows of four. Go and close him down.”
“I’m a perfectionist, I want to see them win, I want to see goals and I want to see them playing the way football should be played, but that’s another universe.”
Despite the defeat against Liverpool and indeed a loss to Manchester City prior to that, the Hammers sit seventh in the Premier League table.
And that is thanks to their superb start under manager Moyes, where they defeated the likes of Brighton and Chelsea.
Up next for the East London club is a league test against newly promoted Sheffield United at the London Stadium on Saturday (30 September).
In other West Ham news, a Premier League journalist has slammed Moyes and has mooted a “worrying pattern” for the club.