West Ham: BBC Sport pundit left baffled by ‘bizarre and weird’ David Moyes away record
Michael Brown says it is “baffling” that West Ham boss David Moyes has failed to beat Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea in 72 attempts away from home.
As quoted by BBC Sport (27 September), the pundit claimed that the Hammers squad would not be daunted by the fact, but shared his shock regarding the record due to Moyes’ organisation and footballing knowledge.
Moyes extended the unwanted record after the Hammers’ 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (24 September), but Brown claimed West Ham’s “wonderful” players would be up for the challenge against the top sides.
Brown said: “It’s baffling. I do not understand how David Moyes has never won at Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea [in 72 attempts].
“I do not think it is a mentality thing though. Moyes is so thorough with everything he does and his team is really organised. He understands how to be hard to beat and get everyone behind the ball, but also when to be more expansive.
“You look at his teams and say they are hard-working, they grind out results and are sides you would want to play in. A side where you feel like someone would have your back.
“It’s bizarre and weird but I do not think we can look too far into it. I don’t think the players are fazed by it. Just look at the European competitions and where they have finished in the Premier League.”
“They obviously have got some wonderful players that would want to embrace those games.”
Crazy
Beating these sides would be a challenge for any side, but such an extensive record would be cause for concern for any Hammers fan.
Per London World (22 December 2022), the Scotsman has never won a Premier League away game against any of those sides, perhaps making the West Ham faithful write off any fixtures against these top clubs.
In Moyes’ defence, he did best Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils at Old Trafford in a League Cup clash in 2021 [Transfermarkt], but the league record is quite remarkable considering Moyes’ vast experience and the quality of some of the sides he’s managed.
Moyes will next have the chance to end this unwanted record on Boxing Day, with the Hammers making the away trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal, but with the Gunners looking as strong as last season, they will most likely enter the clash as favourites.
The boss may be disappointed to have to wait until May to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge amid the Blues’ early struggles in the league under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, who will hope to have sorted the club out within that seven-month period.
Moyes will likely break this curse, but with each passing fixture, it becomes more and more damning.
In other West Ham news, a celebrity fan has raged at what Moyes did in the defeat against Liverpool.