Ian Herbert: West Ham United at crossroads as David Moyes exit verdict shared
Ian Herbert has mooted a managerial change at West Ham following the clash with Fiorentina on Wednesday (7 June).
The Hammers take on the Italian outfit in the Europa Conference League final in the Czech Republic capital of Prague.
And Herbert believes the final represents a “crossroads” for the East London outfit ahead of the new campaign.
“What lies beyond this final?” Herbert wrote for the Daily Mail. “Another season of counter-attacking football against Bournemouth and Fulham? An amorphous belief that this European adventure can somehow invigorate this club at home?
“If it’s time for a managerial change, who comes next? Can the board really be trusted to know?
“The future may look a little clearer after events at Prague’s Fortuna Arena. This feels like a crossroads, as well as a final.”
Uncertain future
It’s difficult to know what happens next season at West Ham, but the Europa Conference League final will definitely have a big say on their summer plans.
Both a victory and a loss would, however, have the same result in terms of recruiting players, in that the Hammers will definitely be bringing in new faces.
But if they win the competition, it could really help persuade a handful of top-class players to join the club, with European football on the cards for those new arrivals.
If the Hammers lose, it will certainly be more difficult to persuade such talent to come to East London, particularly after the Premier League campaign the club had.
The future of David Moyes meanwhile is very up in the air at the minute, but a victory in Prague should ensure that he is the man in the dugout once again next season, if of course that is what the manager wants.