Flynn Downes has leapt to the defence of David Moyes and says he needs time to get his new-look West Ham side fizzing.
It all feels a bit like after the Lord Mayor’s show for West Ham this season.
Not only off the back of two seasons of rapid progress and that exhilarating run to the Europa League semi-finals, but also the unprecedented and exciting summer transfer window.
Over £170m was spent in that window on eight quality players so hopes were high West Ham would challenge for the top six again.
There was even talk Moyes’ boys might perhaps go one better having missed out on Champions League qualification by a solitary win in 2020/21 and having spent three times as long in the top four than Spurs – who eventually took fourth spot – last season.
But it is fair to say thus far the Hammers are struggling to meet raised expectations in the Premier League.
West Ham have been struggling to score goals in the league this season and are lacking an X factor to their play, especially when they’ve been without new record signing Lucas Paqueta.
There has been little excitement for Hammers supporters in the Premier League so far this season after an unforgettable couple of years.
Moyes has called for time on several occasions recently and reports last month claimed he could face the axe if results didn’t improve.
They did in the main but performances and Moyes’ approach are still not hitting the spot for many supporters.
Some fans want to see a more front foot, attack-minded style especially having signed a number of quality players. West Ham showed they are capable of it in the second halves of games at the likes of Man United and Liverpool but often take far too long to get going.
One of the big success stories from the summer window has been boyhood Hammer Flynn Downes.
He has emerged as a real star in the first time over the last month or so. But Moyes has raised eyebrows by playing the ex Swansea man as part of a three-man defensive midfield.
Now Downes has leapt to the defence of Moyes and says he needs time to get his new-look West Ham side fizzing.
Flynn Downes leaps to the defence of David Moyes and says he needs time to get new-look West Ham side fizzing
“Yea big time (it feels like we’re starting to kick on),” Downes told West Ham-supporting Sky Sports reporter Bianca Westwood for Soccer Saturday.
“I think you can see in the performances as well we’re starting to really play well, do you know what I mean?
“Early on we made what six/seven (new) signings. It’s going to take time, do you know what I mean? Sometimes I don’t think people realise that.
“They see a club spending a lot of money and they just think ‘oh go out there and do your thing’. But it just doesn’t work like that. The gaffer has been brilliant with everyone and I think we’re really starting to put some performances together. We’ve got to take this form into the Premier League now and just start racking up the wins.”
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