David Moyes told to give West Ham United fans what they want and walk away by Chris Sutton
David Moyes should walk away from West Ham and wait for the fans to be calling for him to return when they struggle without him, says Chris Sutton.
The BBC pundit claimed on Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club on 12 February that the Irons boss would be feeling “under-appreciated” with supporters wanting him out, and suggested they should be careful what they wish for in a more attacking coach.
With no wins in 2024 and coming off the back of a 6-0 home thrashing by Arsenal sections of the club’s fanbase are calling for the manager to go, while the contract extension plans have been shelved [Daily Mail, 12 February], but Sutton expects the club to struggle without him.
Sutton said (7.41pm): “What he should do, David Moyes [is] walk away at the end of the season. Give the West Ham fans what they want. Let them get some fancy manager in who plays an attacking brand of football, and then they’ll get in a relegation battle.
“And then what will they do? Ask for David Moyes back… that may well happen. If I was David Moyes, he must feel under-appreciated.”
Sutton praise for Moyes at West Ham over the top
Ignoring what Moyes has achieved at the London Stadium would be wrong, because the situation was a mess when he returned to the club.
The board got it wrong previously in not offering him the job longer-term before appointing Manuel Pellegrini, he has proven that with European qualifications and a trophy win.
But that doesn’t mean he is the only manager in world football who can possibly be any sort of success at West Ham, and that supporters can’t demand better when he doesn’t succeed.
The likes of Jarrod Bowen and Declan Rice have grown a great deal under Moyes but few could argue that he gets the most out of the more recent attacking stars who arrived at the club.
There is inherent risk involved in attempting to improve on the status quo, which admittedly isn’t appalling, as the likes of Everton have found in recent years, as have a number of previous mid-table regulars who have since been relegated.
But the football is often bad, and if the board were convinced that Moyes was the man for the long term they would have locked him into a new contract long before now.
Unenjoyable football can be excused when there is defensive stability and results follow, but the Scot is always going to be under pressure when he isn’t providing either.
It is true that if he goes the club might end up worse off, but in showing part of the time how good this West Ham side can be Moyes also needs to have better answers as to why they are so far off that level so often otherwise.
And when he has seemingly been central to what did and didn’t happen in a January transfer window that looks to have done little to improve things he simply can’t avoid criticism, even allowing for the positive side of his reign.
In other West Ham news, a post-deadline first-team transfer exit has collapsed after a move was agreed.
For more West Ham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.