West Ham United: Garth Crooks shares what will happen next with David Moyes
Garth Crooks insists it is now “inevitable” that David Moyes will step down as West Ham manager at the end of the season.
The Scotsman’s current deal is due to expire in the summer, but he was offered fresh terms by the board earlier this year.
After United’s Europa League exit to Bayer Leverkusen, though, and the 5-2 stuffing at Crystal Palace, the end looks near for Moyes.
Writing in his weekly column for BBC Sport, Crooks said: “As good a performance as this was for Palace, it was a shocking performance by West Ham – and one that has monumentally let David Moyes down in light of the fact that his players are well aware that the manager has not signed a new contract at the club.
“It’s well known that he is not universally liked by the majority of their fans and this result would have not helped him one bit. The Hammers have some important fixtures left to play and winning some of them is the least they can do before his inevitable departure.”
Crystal Palace result could be end of road for David Moyes
The performance and scoreline against Palace very much felt like the players simply could not be bothered.
It is easy to say that in frustration on the back of such a disappointing result, but nobody came out of that game with any credit.
Put it down to tiredness if you like, but to be four goals down inside 41 minutes – against a London rival at that – is just truly shocking.
Aston Villa have showed that it is possible to balance European football and domestic matters, so that excuse just does not cut it.
The worry now is that West Ham allow this season to fade out. As annoying as the Palace result was, a top-six finish is still achievable.
If nothing else, Moyes announcing his departure in the coming days would at least – hopefully – turn the mood around London Stadium.
Supporters could thank Moyes for his work and the club can line up his replacement – if that has not already happened – before the summer.
The alternative is that no announcement is made, results continue to go downhill and the atmosphere around the club then becomes toxic. Absolutely nobody wants that.
In other West Ham news, Alan Pardew has also had his say on the future of Moyes.
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