Peter Lynch

Thu 22 June 2023 9:40, UK

Former West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson has a “good feeling” about manager David Moyes going forward.

The manager was under immense pressure in the dugout earlier in the year as the Hammers flirted with relegation from the Premier League.

But the Scot guided them to safety and to Europa Conference League success, meaning he has now secured his future at the London Stadium [The Guardian, 14 June].

“My criticism of David Moyes is that he is a bit cautious as a manager and he doesn’t take many chances,” Magnusson told The Athletic. “But I guess that way of management has worked well for him over the years.

“If you always set out to be attacking then quite often you will lose every week, so he’s found a way that works for him. I have a good feeling about Moyes moving forward. It would’ve been a tough season for him, so winning the Conference League is massive for Moyes and West Ham.

“I can see them doing a Roma and reaching the final of the Europa League next season. Teams in Europe need to start taking West Ham seriously. They mean business.”

Impressive turnaround

Things really did look bad for Moyes and for West Ham not long ago, with the club’s European adventure perhaps the only reason that the Scot was kept in the dugout earlier this year.

The Hammers were flying high in Europe, but worryingly were in real danger of dropping down to the Championship.

Many supporters may have been satisfied with that European success even if they did get relegated, but Moyes managed to turn things around dramatically to ensure a superb outcome both domestically and in the Europa Conference League.

Sacking the manager now would definitely be harsh, but stranger things have happened in football, while there is also the possibility that Moyes will want to exit the club on a high this summer.

He looks set to be the man in the dugout for another campaign, although the pressure will quickly mount if any new signings don’t hit the ground running and results don’t go their way.