West Ham United board have David Moyes sack decision to make – Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness believes West Ham United will face “Armageddon” if they are relegation from the Premier League this season ahead of their game with Everton (21 January).
The Hammers slumped into the drop zone after a dire 1-0 loss to Wolves last time out, and writing for the Daily Mail (Saturday 21, page 113), Souness expressed how supporters must be “mystified” considering the £165million invested in the squad during the summer.
The likes of Gianluca Scammacca signed for £35.5million, while Lucas Paqueta switched to the London Stadium for a huge fee of £51million last summer, with David Moyes still facing the sack after that.
Sky Sports pundit Souness admitted that the Hammers board will face a tough decision if Moyes’ side lose to Everton on Saturday, who themselves are in free fall.
He wrote: “But West Ham supporters will be mystified as to how they are in the bottom three. The optimism levels were enormous on the back of finishing seventh and making the semi-finals of the Europa League last season.
“The very best of sport is about jeopardy – and the risk of Armageddon that comes with relegation from the Premier League means there is a real fascination with the teams down there.
“To that end, the loser of this game today will do well to survive.”
Pressure mounting
How Moyes is still in the job speaks testament to the job he has done at the London Stadium in previous years.
The Scot has built up a ridiculous amount of credit in the bank following a run to the Europa League semi-finals last year and qualifying for the Europa Conference League this term.
His side, however, looks like a shadow of their former selves despite the injection of cash and quality, and at the end of the day, the blame will fall a the manager’s doorstep.
There is no other way of putting it. If Moyes and West Ham United crumble to their 13th defeat of the season, there can’t be any way Moyes survives in the job.
The club have reportedly already lined up Rafa Benitez as the Scots replacement if the club are forced to part ways, and this seems like a smart move. The former Champions League winner would lack no less experience than Moyes but might bring some fresh ideas to the East London club in the latter stages of the season.