Neil Moxley aims ‘tin-pot’ jibe at West Ham United ownership as he makes Leeds United and Aston Villa comparison
Sunday People journalist Neil Moxley has mocked David Sullivan for a potentially “tin-pot” decision on West Ham United’s pre-season friendlies this summer.
While most Premier League clubs are jet-setting around the world on pre-season tours, the Hammers’ fixtures are rather grounded and are mostly taking place within the UK.
Moxley can see why David Moyes might have wanted to keep the Irons mainly at home but he’s suggested that if it was down to the ownership, it’s a third-rate decision by the board.
Writing in his column in the Sunday People on 17 July (page 57), Moxley said: “Manchester United and Liverpool are in Thailand. Spurs headed to South Korea. Aston Villa and Leeds United travelled Down Under. And Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton will be in the United States next week.
“West Ham? Bournemouth, Ipswich and Wycombe plus a three-day trip to Sweden.
“Tin-pot? Or keeping it real?
“Possibly the first as far as the owner is concerned. Probably the second if David Moyes had his say on the matter.”
Who cares?
Does it matter, really?
West Ham are massive – they don’t need the extra exposure in the USA or in Asia.
On a more serious note, it may be more beneficial for the Hammers to stay in the UK and play against teams who play in a similar fashion to their Premier League rivals.
While the quality obviously isn’t there for most of West Ham’s pre-season opponents, all these games are really about is getting the squad ready for the new season.
Who’s going to be more prepared? A set of players who have been jet-lagged, forced to play in horrible, equatorial conditions and forced in front of cameras and fans at every opportunity?
Or a set of players who have stayed at home and simply got on with the job in hand.
Sullivan deserves a lot of criticism – but not from a man who doesn’t know the difference between Sweden and Switzerland, which is where West Ham went earlier this summer and beat Servette 2-0.
Next up, on Tuesday, we play Rangers.
They’re the Europa League finalists and going to Ibrox will be a better preparation for the upcoming Premier League season than playing against Minnesota United in the States or Brisbane Roar in Australia.