David Moyes & Craig Dawson up for Premier League awards after impressive January
West Ham boss David Moyes and defender Craig Dawson have been nominated for the Premier League manager and player of the month awards.
The Hammers have made a fantastic start to 2021, winning four of their five league games as well as two FA Cup clashes.
Moyes has led his squad to victories over Everton, Burnley, West Brom and Palace. He’s up for his first award since March 2013.
Dawson had made just one appearance for us before the turn of the year. He has since played a huge part in our four league wins, scoring two goals and helping keep two clean sheets.
Sign him up
I’ll admit, I was underwhelmed by the arrivals of Moyes and Dawson within the past twelve months. Dawson was a cheap back-up to the centre half options, Moyes was here to save us and be gone after 18 months.
In all my years supporting West Ham, I haven’t felt as confident as I do now. Our form over January has been near perfect, aside from the home defeat to Liverpool.
In that time, Dawson has been on another level. According to WyScout, he has averaged 81.3% passing accuracy, completing 100% of his dribbles successfully and winning 64.5% of his defensive duels.
Add that to his 5.89 interceptions and 9.24 recoveries per 90, and you have one of the best defenders in the top-flight at this moment.
He is the fourth West Ham player in four months to be nominated, after Pablo Fornals, Angelo Ogbonna and Tomas Soucek.
In my eyes, Moyes walks on water. He’s helped me fall in love with my club again after years of lies and controversy at the hands of the board.
Yes, the board are still up to their usual tricks. Understandably, the fan base still feels the way it does towards them. They have a chance now to build on what Moyes has begun, to win back the faith of the fans.
This is the first time since the stadium move that we’ve come close to the elusive ‘next level’.
Moyes’ contract is up in May. Give him whatever he wants to stay on, do the job and go and back him in the summer window – he deserves to continue the job he’s started.
In other West Ham news, Arthur Masuaku has handed the squad a huge fitness boost.