Hammers boss David Moyes could use the ongoing Kurt Zouma saga to West Ham’s advantage for the season’s run-in.
West Ham are entering the business end of the season and are still fighting on three fronts.
Moyes’s boys have a big chance to consolidate fourth position when they travel to Leicester this evening.
West Ham also play in the last 16 of the Europa League next month and have a tricky but winnable FA Cup fifth round tie against Southampton.
Let’s face it there is never a good time for a club to be engulfed by controversy. But ahead of such an important run-in to a potentially memorable season is probably about as bad as it gets.
West Ham fans, like everyone else, were disgusted with Zouma’s actions after video of the defender emerged showing him kicking and slapping one of his pet cats.
The Hammers condemned the Frenchman’s actions. And the player apologised saying it was an ‘isolated incident’ that would ‘not happen again’.
West Ham have been lambasted by all comers in an unprecedented media storm that has seen the world and its wife have their say on the Zouma situation.
Many Hammers supporters – while in no way condoning Zouma’s actions – feel things have gone too far now. The cancel culture of modern day society has seen calls for Zouma to be sacked and even jailed.
Hammers fans feel there is an agenda against their club.
West Ham’s players such as Michail Antonio feel all sense of perspective has been lost in the over the top reaction to the incident.
There are reports that the West Ham squad are rallying around Zouma behind the scenes.
West Ham’s reputation has taken a battering off the pitch.
David Moyes could use the Kurt Zouma saga to West Ham’s advantage for the run-in
But Moyes could now use the Zouma saga to West Ham’s advantage on the pitch for the run-in.
When Chelsea won the Premier League in 2005, it was very much Jose Mourinho and his players against the world.
The Portuguese is famed for cultivating a siege mentality to foster a tight bond between his players in their bid to be successful.
And while he and Moyes are two completely different characters, the Scot could do exactly the same thing here with the fallout from Zouma.
All eyes were on the France international when he played against Watford on Tuesday night. There was a clear willingness from outside West Ham for Zouma to struggle and crumble under the pressure.
But it had the opposite effect, he was one of the best players on the pitch.
West Ham’s squad is already very much together and team spirit is not an issue.
Moyes could drive the Hammers to new levels if he fosters the hate towards his club and uses it to motivate the team.
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