Cracks are beginning to show as under pressure David Moyes bizarrely denies making comments about West Ham players which are clearly on the record.
Moyes has come out fighting over talk he could face the sack at West Ham amid conflicting reports this week.
West Ham face Wolves in what is a crunch game after a dismal start to the season for the Hammers.
It was reported earlier this week that Moyes could have just five games to save his job, starting with the huge match against fellow strugglers Wolves this Saturday.
Telegraph journalist Matt Law claimed Moyes is skating on thin ice and must oversee a sharp upturn in West Ham’s results to avoid the Hammers axe.
The Scot was always going to bring more pressure on himself after spending an unprecedented £170m on eight new signings in the summer.
Results have been poor this season with just one win and five defeats from West Ham’s opening seven Premier League matches.
But as most West Ham fans are well aware, the current malaise is nothing new.
West Ham’s form fell off a cliff around 10 months ago bar a couple of memorable European nights.
The Hammers have a points per game ratio in that time among the bottom three in the Premier League with just 37 points from their last 34 games.
West Ham go into a jam-packed October in the relegation zone and face Fulham, Southampton, Liverpool and Bournemouth after Wolves.
Some West Ham fans are becoming increasingly restless with Moyes’ tactics and team selection.
And the strain may just be beginning to show.
Speaking after the turgid defeat to Everton before the international break, Moyes told Sky Sports his old guard of players had let him down.
“Today we found out little bits (about West Ham’s new signings),” Moyes said on after the 1-0 defeat.
“But it was mainly about the players I know about, they were the ones in the main who let me down at different times with poor play overall.
“The players who played last year are down on their levels as well as us trying to introduce new players.”
Those comments were put to the Hammers boss in his press conference before the Wolves game.
And cracks begin to show as Moyes bizarrely denies making the comments about his West Ham players which are clearly on the record.
“I don’t think any of my players have ever let me down, I don’t think I ever used those words,” Moyes said in his pre-match presser, despite his comments being there for all to see from the last game.
“I may have said I was disappointed with some of the players who have performed before. But I’d never (say that). None of the players here have ever let me down.
“They’re really good players, great lads. So no, I think they’ve done a great job here over the two years.”
Football is an emotional game. Managers and players say things in the heat of the moment at times, especially when they are feeling the pressure.
The comments will not have gone unnoticed in the West Ham dressing room.
And Moyes may well regret his choice of words.
But for Moyes to come out and deny having made those comments is nothing short of laughable.
He should have owned them and the situation. It’s there on video and down in black and white after all, hence being asked the question about those comments by the reporter in the press conference.
Players see right through this kind of thing from managers and the Scot is treading dangerous ground.
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