A ‘yes man’, a ‘pushover’, the ‘cheap option’ and a ‘board puppet’ were just some of the accusations levelled at David Moyes when he returned to West Ham United for a second spell last year.
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Well after the the January window slammed shut earlier this week, Moyes has disproved such nonsense.
Moyes has is leading West Ham to their best season for 35 years.
That continued with the brilliant 3-1 win at a strong Aston Villa side in midweek.
Moyes moving on from the West Ham way when it comes to recruitment
And Moyes is doing it HIS way.
The Scot has been very outspoken on West Ham’s failings in recruitment and the transfers over the years.
The incoherent, scattergun approach to signings with a poor scouting and analysis networks meant West Ham were always taking chances.
Moyes has changed the entire philosophy and it is already paying dividends, even if he admits there is still much more to be done (Evening Standard).
The West Ham boss proved his strength of character in January when he resisted calls from fans and the apparent wishes of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold to sign a striker.
The next forward to arrive at West Ham will be the 50th of the Sullivan and Gold era (Daily Mail).
Hammers boss showed strength of character to resist striker being forced on him in January window
And Moyes wants to do everything in his power to get it right.
When all around him were saying he must sign a striker in January, Moyes stuck to his guns and sealed the deal for Lingard.
The Hammers boss insisted he wanted to wait to get the striker HE wanted in the summer rather than rush a signing ‘just to appease people’ (talkSPORT).
Lingard’s performance suggests Moyes has made the right call.
But speculation persists that West Ham are in the market for a number of free agent strikers.
The likes of Diego Costa, Daniel Sturridge, Ahmed Musa and even former West Ham forward Diafra Sakho have been linked.
Stubborn Scot won’t accept any old random striker free agent now
Surely Moyes would not entertain bringing in a random freebie now after taking such an admirable stand against the West Ham ways of old.
Those forwards may provide an extra body.
But signing any one of them would undermine the recruitment mantra Moyes is putting in place.
Stranger things have happened of course. And if Michail Antonio was to pick up an injury, West Ham would look toothless up front.
West Ham do have the untested Mipo Odubeko as back-up. Ironically many of the Hammers fans wanting to see a new striker signed are the same ones who have been calling for Odubeko to be given his chance.
Moyes is not one for changing.
And that should be the free agent striker talk to bed as West Ham look to the summer to get the right man, Moyes’s man.
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