West Ham United exit on cards for David Moyes after Bayer Leverkusen loss amid ‘dysfunction’
David Moyes is “one of the greatest figures in the club’s history” but looks “likely” to leave West Ham this summer after defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, according to Jacob Steinberg.
The Guardian journalist wrote for the paper’s website on 20 April that while a decision has not yet been made ahead of talks once the campaign concludes “the sense from within West Ham” is that the Scot won’t get his contract renewed, despite looking likely to do so in mid-winter.
Steinberg notes Moyes’ achievements in his four-plus years since returning to the London Stadium but also points out there is “a streak of lingering dysfunction” at the club and the situation suggests David Sullivan must now choose between the manager and technical director Tim Steidten, admitting there is “a case for” the German staying and finding a new manager to revive an aging squad.
The stance on Moyes’ future reportedly could yet change once more, with possible European qualification swaying the verdict back in his favour, but after the current continental campaign was ended after a valiant effort against Xabi Alonso’s all-conquering Leverkusen, where the Scot’s preference for a small squad caught up with him, he appears to be on the way out.
Tim Steidten to be handed the keys to West Ham rebuild?
As Steinberg essentially suggests, there isn’t really a right or wrong answer on whether West Ham fans should want Moyes to stay or go.
His resurrection of a side that looked more likely to be slipping back into the Championship in 2019 than winning a European trophy is undeniable, and some of the occasions that he is so keen to point out he has treated the supporters to will live long in the memory.
But he has also caused himself issues by failing to adequately evolve the squad once he elevated it to a regular European qualifier, with both new signings and youth prospects too often peripheral as he reverted to type with his trusted favourites.
On their day West Ham can be excellent, but those days are arguably too infrequent even when results sometimes don’t look too bad after scraped 1-0 wins thanks to late Tomas Soucek winners.
But the record on paper often seems to be all the manager’s most vocal supporters look at and while it is certainly possible that the Irons fall away if Moyes departs they could just as easily build on his work.
And faith in Sullivan landing a suitable successor is admittedly not going to be through the roof when he has seemingly been unable to decide on whether to keep the former Everton boss for the past 18 months, but Steidten has shown positive signs in the transfer market so if the German could repeat the trick in the managerial market it could be a success.
At this time a year ago it also looked like Moyes was heading towards the exit before he secured an historic Europa Conference League triumph so nothing can be certain at this club, but with the exit from the Europa League seemingly removing the final chance for him to blast plans out of the water with an unexpected success it is perhaps more certain that he goes this time around.
In other West Ham news, Aston Villa and Wolves are both in the race to snap up an exit-bound Hammers ace who is widely sought-after.
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