Kieran Gill lays into David Moyes and West Ham United players after Olympiacos defeat
Kieran Gill has laid into David Moyes and his West Ham squad after the 2-1 Europa League defeat to Olympiacos in Athens on 26 October.
The Daily Mail journalist fumed at the display after full-time, comparing the players to statues when they conceded the opening goal of the game, with Lucas Paqueta the only man to get any praise.
The Brazilian thundered home a volley to set up a tense end to the game, but it was one the Hammers never looked like they would win, on a very poor night.
Speaking via the MailSport Twitter account on 26 October, Gill ranted: “It turns out the Greeks don’t only smash dinner plates because Olympiacos shattered West Ham’s unbeaten run in Europe here.
“To be honest, David Moyes only has himself to blame. He fielded a weakened line-up and threw some fringe players into a powder cake and it blew up in their faces.
“The first goal for Olympiacos, the West Ham players just stood still like Greek statues and just allowed their player to toe-poke it in from 25 yards. The second goal was a cross, then there was an attempt at a clearance by Angelo Ogbonna and it just sliced into his own net.
“Paqueta came in and scored a vicious volley, a great finish and that sort of set up a nervy ending. But the Olympiacos ultras never stopped singing all the way through, it was one of the most incredible atmospheres I’ve ever witnessed.
“The only bonus is West Ham won’t have to wait long to try and exact revenge because these teams meet on 9 November in London, but for now the focus is going to be on Everton on Sunday, and Moyes’ lineup suggested that was the priority tonight.”
A poor display
This was a poor showing from a West Ham side, no matter the changes that were made or the ultimate importance of the game, it would have been a fixture they believed they could win.
Having won their first two Europa League ties, this will be less of a cause for concern for Moyes’ team than it potentially could have been, but it will not want to be something the Hammers turn into a habit with the end of their long unbeaten run in Europe.
The opportunity to bounce back will present itself in the form of a struggling Everton side, but they will be bookmarking 9 November as their opportunity to turn around the defeat they suffered today.
It will now be up to Moyes to ensure his squad reacts positively and the result doesn’t knock them off course for what they are planning to be a successful season.
In other West Ham news, Karren Brady shared footage of Olympiacos fans.