Chris Sutton urges West Ham United summer signings to improve amid David Moyes sack pressure
Chris Sutton believes the £160million spent by West Ham United in the summer transfer window has become a “millstone” around David Moyes’ neck, and these players must improve to stop him from facing the sack.
The Hammers have underwhelmed this season after splashing the cash in the summer, currently occupying one of the relegation spots following a run of seven games without a win in the Premier League.
Moyes now faces the “real possibility” of being given the boot before taking on relegation rivals Everton on Saturday (21 January) as his job sits perilously on a knife edge. [Daily Mail, 16 January]
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, BBC Sport pundit Sutton gave his thoughts on West Ham’s campaign as they reached the halfway stage of the season.
He said: “Lads, do you want David Moyes sacked? He spent £160m in the summer and that’s become a millstone around his neck. Gianluca Scamacca and Lucas Paqueta, I expect more. Same goes for you, Jarrod Bowen.
“Moyes needs you all to perform, more than ever. You have exceeded expectations in the last two years but you are better than 18th.
“Declan Rice, Michail Antonio, Aaron Cresswell, Angelo Ogbonna — you were there in March 2018 when Burnley won 3-0 and the London Stadium pitch was invaded by fans. We don’t want to see that again. It’s Everton at home on Saturday. Go out there and for the love of God, perform.”
Fair assessment
The London Stadium was a hive of positivity at the beginning of the Premier League season following the marquee summer signings of Scamacca and Paqueta, but how things have changed in just 19 games of league football is quite remarkable.
The Hammers looked void of options, ideas, and, most worryingly creativity in their recent 1-0 loss to Wolves, which has become a common trend over the course of the season.
Scamacca has failed to hit the heights expected of him since moving from Sassuolo, while Paqueta looks like a shadow of the player who lit up the Qatar World Cup.
Part of the blame must fall on these players’ shoulders, along with other experienced pros such as Antonio and Cresswell, who have clearly let the manager down.
You can’t blame the Scot for his team changing from a Europe League standard side to this motley crew in just six months.