West Ham Kieran McKenna link ‘disrespectful’ amid ‘remarkable’ David Moyes verdict
Carlton Palmer has called West Ham United’s rumoured interest of Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna “disrespectful”.
The former England midfielder thinks it is unfair to both McKenna and current hammers boss David Moyes to be speculating over their futures during the season in such fashion.
Speaking to Football League World (24 April), Palmer said: “I really don’t like this to be honest, where managers who are in work are being linked to jobs where other managers are in work. It’s just really disrespectful to the managers and clubs, it’s really unfair.”
The ex-England international went on to praise Moyes for the job he has done at the London Stadium, where the Hammers have qualified for Europe three years in a row, and won continental silverware under the Scot in last season’s Europa Conference League.
“Like I said before, the job that David Moyes has done at West Ham is absolutely remarkable. West Ham are eighth in the Premier League,” he added.
“I know people are saying to me it’s the type of football that David Moyes is playing, he is playing the type of football that wins football matches.”
Palmer also stated that the prospect of moving to West Ham would not be that attractive to McKenna, given the stellar job he has done at Portman Road.
“The job he has done at Ipswich Town, it’s fair to say that every club that is looking for a manager will be casting their eyes on Kieran McKenna.” Palmer believes.
“The owners of [Ipswich] are well backed financially, they moved heaven and Earth to give him a new contract to represent the success he was bringing to the football club, so I don’t see Kieran McKenna going anywhere from Ipswich Town unless he’s getting a top job in the Premier League, like a Manchester United or a Liverpool.”
Is speculation around David Moyes’ future at West Ham disrespectful?
While their 5-2 defeat at Crystal Palace was wholly unacceptable, context is important when weighing up what West Ham should do next.
Adding European silverware to the trophy cabinet at the London Stadium was a phenomenal achievement for West Ham, and Moyes has rightly taken plenty of plaudits for that success.
Regardless of the style of the football, football fans want to watch their team win, and West Ham did not do much of that when they last got rid of Moyes to bring Manuel Pellegrini in six years ago.
Some point towards the money Moyes has spent as an indicator that he should be doing even better, but West Ham lingered near the relegation zone under Pellegrini during the 2019-20 season after spending £155m during his reign.
With another season in Europe certainly not beyond the Hammers, as they sit two points off seventh, albeit having played two games more, and an unfortunate European exit to a fantastic Bayer Leverkusen, Moyes deserves more respect, even if he is set to leave at the end of the season.
In other West Ham news, the club are eyeing up a potential cut-price move for Vitoria Guimaraes star Jota Silva.
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