West Ham United boss David Moyes was in bullish mood going into today’s game against Manchester United.
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Empowered by West Ham’s amazing turnaround since football returned from the first national lockdown, Moyes was taking on all comers.
And he’s probably earned the right too.
Many West Ham fans did not want Moyes back when he was re-appointed as Hammers boss at the turn of the year.
Many Hammers fans did not want Moyes back
Some West Ham supporters saw it as a backward step. Moyes had been out of work for 18 months before the club appointed him the first time.
And he was jobless for another 18 months when the Hammers let him go after a short spell at the helm.
Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold decided he was not progressive enough for their plans. They sent Moyes on his merry way despite the Scot keeping West Ham up.
West Ham fans respected the job Moyes did in difficult circumstances. But with the dark clouds gathering around the club after the failed tenure of Manuel Pellegrini, many doubted he was the man to push West Ham forward.
But after a difficult start he did it again last season. And now West Ham are flying high sitting fifth in the Premier League table.
Emboldened Moyes praises under fire owners for helping Hammers survive and now thrive
Not only that, West Ham know a win against the Red Devils will push the club up to third – a third of the way through this wide open season.
Clearly emboldened by West Ham’s success, Moyes was in defensive mood yesterday as questions were fired at him about his reputation and redemption.
And Moyes praised under fire co-owners Sullivan and Gold – who continue to be the subject of a protest campaign from a large section of fans – for enabling the club to survive and now thrive.
Moyes says West Ham would have been relegated without the acquisitions of Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen.
“I have to give so much credit to the boys we’ve brought in, the owners for supporting me and bringing two or three players in in January – I don’t think we’d have stayed up without that,” Moyes told the press (as reported by Claret & Hugh).
“The squad and the way we’ve improved has been immense, we’ve stuck with it.
“We’ve had to come through some difficult times but overall a lot of the credit has to go to the players for making the job easier by getting the results.”
It was not all sweetness and light, though, from the man who has been labelled a football dinosaur and given the moniker ‘Dithering Dave’.
‘Dithering Dinosaur Dave’ hits back at doubters and critics
Moyes took aim at supporters – not just West Ham fans – who have questioned his managerial credentials and compatibility in the modern game.
“I shouldn’t even have to defend myself. I feel more sad for the people who say that because it shows their lack of intellect,” Moyes said when asked about the ‘dinosaur’ tag used by some supporters – as reported by The Daily Mail.
“Maybe on the field it’s not been as noticeable as it should be. Ultimately as a manager you have to prove yourself. Some occasions, it’s not been as good as I’d like but I took on difficult jobs.”
It really would be the ultimate redemption if Moyes can oversee a fourth straight win against the Man United.
They were the club that set his career on a downward spiral by dumping him after just 10 months.
Moyes has turned his reputation around, though. Widely considered one of the hardest working managers out there, nobody deserves it more.
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