Richard Keys issues warning to West Ham United live on air after David Moyes admission
Richard Keys warned West Ham fans to be careful what they wish for regarding the future of manager David Moyes.
Moyes, who celebrates four years in his second spell at London Stadium next week, is due to be out of contract at the end of the campaign.
Speaking on the back of the heavy EFL Cup quarter-final loss to Liverpool in midweek, Moyes defended his record as West Ham boss.
“I don’t know how, genuinely, it gets an awful lot better without us getting absolute trillions from somewhere else where we can buy success. I don’t see where it’s getting much better,” he is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail [21 December].
“We’re in a world now where people want things to be better quickly. I’m finding that hard to see, unless a country comes to give you the finances which is required.
“I’m doing as well as I can do, because the budgets of the other clubs are so much greater, whether it’s wages or transfer fees. I feel as if I’m having to justify some of those questions. But not many talk about it, so there’s some facts.”
Speaking ahead of West Ham’s 2-0 win over Manchester United [23 December, 12:23pm], Keys said on beIN Sports: “I agree 100 per cent with what David Moyes said about West Ham fans’ expectations these days.
“There is no guarantee that if he’d played his first team against Liverpool that they would have won. What he’s right about is that these days we associate West Ham with top eight finishes, with winning European trophies, going deep in domestic cups.
“I think West Ham fans should be a little careful with what they wish for. At the moment he’s leaving at the end of the season, and that would be a huge gamble.”
Tough one
West Ham’s recent up-and-down form continued with their 2-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday (23 December).
That came on the back of a hugely disappointing cup exit at Anfield, which itself followed back-to-back victories, which came after a thrashing at Fulham.
It may well be one of those seasons for the Irons, but ultimately we are into the last 16 of the Europa League and sixth in the Premier League after the win over the Red Devils.
Moyes absolutely deserves praise for what he has achieved at London Stadium, and he definitely deserves to see out his contract at the very least.
However, the club must soon decide whether it is best to stick with Moyes and the stability he brings, or possibly look at bringing in a fresh face in the hope of taking United to the next level.
Keys is not wrong in saying it is a “huge gamble”, and it is one that will split the fanbase either way. Whichever way they go, this is a decision that would ideally be made sooner rather than later.
In other West Ham news, Simon Jordan mooted a “kiss of death” for Moyes after comments he made on talkSPORT this week.