West Ham boss David Moyes now has the oldest squad in the entire Premier League but it begs the big question – is it really an issue?
Since his return to West Ham over two and a half years ago, Moyes had made it clear he wanted to rebuild the club around young, talented, hungry players.
The Hammers boss had spoken glowingly about the Red Bull model he had spent time studying. Moyes even visited the Red Bull clubs in Austria and Germany to gain a deeper understanding of how they operate.
His West Ham version has been built around the likes of Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen.
There are undoubtedly unearthed gems and bargains to be had around Europe and the lower leagues.
But clubs are now demanding top dollar for potential and in many cases it is pushing clubs, like West Ham, to pay similar prices for more proven stars.
Moyes had warned since January that West Ham faced a major rebuild in the summer.
West Ham boss David Moyes now has the oldest squad in the entire Premier League but it begs the big question – is it really an issue?
With a raft of departures and eight new arrivals he wasn’t kidding.
Many assumed that rebuild would follow his recruitment philosophy in a bid to lower the average age of the Premier League’s joint second oldest squad.
Well West Ham boss Moyes now has the oldest squad in the entire Premier League but it begs the big question – is it really an issue?
According to transfermarkt, West Ham have the oldest squad in the top flight with an average age of 27.6.
Arsenal have the youngest with an average age of 23.8.
For many fans it is a source of frustration. But we must ask ourselves why.
There is a famous old football saying ‘You’ll never win anything with kids’.
And while Alan Hansen was proved wrong by Man United when he uttered those immortal words, more often than not it bears some truth.
Many people look at the likes of Tottenham and the perception is that Antonio Conte is building a team to challenge long term.
But Spurs actually have the third oldest with an average age of 27.
Perhaps most reassuring of all, though, is where champions Manchester City, and two of their closest rivals Chelsea and Liverpool place.
They sit 14th, 15th and 16th respectively in this particular table with ages of 26.5, 26.7 and 26.9.
Moyes has previously stated that West Ham’s rapid rate of progress since his return has meant he has to try and go for a better quality of player in order to sustain the improvement or – at the very least – maintain the levels the Hammers have reached.
West Ham have – on the whole – signed players ready to go now. Supporters will have noted the manager consistently saying he only wanted to sign players who improve on what he has.
West Ham may now have the oldest squad and oldest manager. But the evidence shows the Hammers are in good company.
And having a group with a greater nucleus of peak-age players may not be a bad thing if West Ham are to have any hope of ending a major trophy drought stretching back over four decades anytime soon.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
‘Top source’ inside West Ham delivers exciting news from Rush Green.
Steaua Bucharest boss pleads with West Ham fans to fill the London Stadium.
Ogbonna posts defiant message after scandal ahead of Europe and Newcastle.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
