Magic number emerges for David Moyes to avoid West Ham United sack decision
David Moyes could face the West Ham United sack should he guide the Irons through a six-game losing run, according to Claret and Hugh.
As reported on the outlet’s website (30 October), a line in the sand has been drawn with the “magic number” being six straight defeats, meaning it is unlikely the Hammers will be sacking the Scotsman in the coming days or even weeks.
Therefore the assumption is that Moyes could avoid the sack with a “simple draw” against Olympiacos when they meet in the Europa League on 9 November, even if the Hammers lose their next two domestically against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup and Brentford in the Premier League.
West Ham have lost each of their last three games in all competitions with plenty of speculation over Moyes’ future at the London Stadium as his current contract expires at the end of the campaign with little evidence to suggest either party is rushing to extend his stay.
Good enough?
West Ham don’t want to rush any contract decision that they make, whether that be over a player or manager’s future at the London Stadium, but this feels slightly as though they are rewarding failure if they keep Moyes in charge because of a single draw.
The difference between six straight defeats and five straight defeats and a draw is a single point and it seems slightly odd that one solitary point would in theory be enough to keep Moyes in his job, just because he avoids the “magic number.”
Moyes deserves plenty of credit for the job he has done at West Ham as he has made them a force in European football by winning the Europa Conference League and has made them competitive in the Premier League once more after years of going through the motions.
But that will count for nothing if they fail to kick on this season and pressure has to be mounting on the former Manchester United manager. While results have been poor in recent weeks, performances have arguably been worse with the Irons carrying little threat.
Should Moyes pick up a result in the next three matches he could well just be delaying the inevitable, but then again, that’s exactly what we all thought at this stage last season.
In other West Ham news, Moyes may have made another mistake at the London Stadium after Flynn Downes shone in a 97 per cent display on loan