David Moyes has worked wonders at West Ham United, but he has had varied success with individual players.
West Ham appointed David Moyes as manager for the second time way back in December 2019, and he has done an unbelievable job at the London Stadium.
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The Hammers are currently enjoying our third successive European campaign, and Moyes guided us to our first major trophy since 1980 last season.
The Scot has had plenty of criticism during his second stint in charge at West Ham – I was one of those who wanted him sacked during the World Cup break.
And back in February, the 60-year-old was very close to being moved on by the Hammers board, only for the Scot to save his job with a 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Thankfully, the West Ham owners kept faith in the experienced manager. Moyes has really turned things around this season after making some terrific summer signings following Declan Rice’s exit from the London Stadium.
One of the best things the gaffer has done since returning to the club is the way in which he has helped certain players improve beyond all recognition. However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for him…he has ruined some players as well.
3 current West Ham players David Moyes has improved and 3 he has ruined
The Scot seems to have his favourites, there is no doubt about that. And it’s usually those who possess incredible work-rates.
Here are three current Hammers who Moyes has unequivocally improved:
The 33-year-old has reached an entirely new level since Moyes took over at the London Stadium in 2019. The West Ham boss converted Antonio as a central striker and he has gone on to establish himself as an absolutely vital cog in Moyes’s system. He has scored 48 goals for the club since Moyes was handed the reins and he will undoubtedly go down as one of our best players in recent history whenever he leaves or hangs up his boots.
The forward joined the club as a 23-year-old in January 2020. Since then, the Hammers boss has transformed him into one of England’s most deadly attacking players. He has bagged 44 goals and 33 assists in 166 games for West Ham (Transfermarkt). Bowen has earned four international caps for England and has just be recalled to the Three Lions squad for the upcoming fixtures. He has evolved into a far more direct player rather than just a one trick pony who cuts inside onto his favoured left foot. I’m excited to see just how far he can go in the game under the guidance of Moyes.
Now, this might be a slightly controversial one. Paqueta arrived at the London Stadium as an exceptional player already. However, I firmly believe that Moyes has improved him as an all-round player. The 26-year-old has unbelievable technical ability but he seems to have improved his strength over the past 12 months and is highly focused now on his defensive responsibilities. Before he arrived in East London, the Brazilian had the reputation as someone who would infuriate managers with his penchant for showboating during games. And whilst Paqueta still does that at times, he puts the hard yards in first and earns the right to showcase his outstanding quality . What a player we have on our hands.
And now for three West Ham players David Moyes has ruined…
The 27-year-old joined the Hammers from Burnley in the summer of 2022 for around £17.5 million. He arrived with a big reputation as an explosive left winger who could also be deployed as a left wing-back. However, things haven’t worked out for the Ivory Coast international at the London Stadium whatsoever. Sure, the injury that he sustained last season didn’t help him one little bit but I’m not sure Moyes has helped his situation either. The Scot barely gives Cornet any minutes whatsoever. He has missed some great opportunities to get him on the pitch for more than 30 minutes but has refused every single time. Listen, if Moyes doesn’t rate the Ivorian then fine, but if that is the case then he should have moved him on in the summer. Cornet has gone backwards under Moyes as far as I’m concerned.
The 31-year-old striker has undoubtedly regressed since swapping Aston Villa for West Ham in January of this year. I don’t see who else is to blame for his decline other than David Moyes. Ings is painfully ill-suited to the system that the Scot deploys. Not once has the Hammers boss played two up front – a system where Ings would flourish, and he has given him just 804 Premier League minutes action since he joined the club (Transfermarkt). Ings has lost any kind of pace he once had, and looks like a complete shadow of the player who performed so well with Southampton and Aston Villa. The sooner we sell him the better for both the player and the club.
The 28-year-old arrived at West Ham with the reputation of being an enigmatic match-winner. He made his first Premier League start for the Hammers away at Leeds in January 2021. The Algerian put in an enthralling display and was a real live-wire. However, Moyes chose to criticise him after the match, highlighting how he needed to improve his ball retention and decision making. This was a theme that continued throughout the season and Moyes eventually transformed Benrahma into a winger who never beats his man and more often than not plays it safe. I just don’t see the point in using him as that kind of player – Moyes may as well just stick a hard-working midfielder out on the wing, someone like Pablo Fornals. Benrahma is the kind of player who needs to be given a free role or not played at all. I believe he has regressed badly under Moyes and should join a club with a manager who places more emphasis on individual brilliance and freedom for their attacking players.
So it’s clear to see that Moyes has had some hits and misses since returning to the London Stadium. What I will say is that he’s had far more hits than misses. We wouldn’t be in the midst of our third successive European campaign if he hadn’t. There has to be honourable mentions for Emerson Palmieri, Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal and Lukasz Fabianski who were all unlucky to make the top three players who Moyes has improved list.
Hopefully David Moyes continues to get the best out of the West Ham players as time goes on, and I have every faith that he’ll do exactly that. It’s time for us all to get behind the Scot.
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