In David Moyes we should’ve trusted as West Ham fans now see why he was so desperate for unpopular signing of Harry Maguire.
West Ham boss David Moyes spent much of the summer transfer window pursuing Manchester United outcast Harry Maguire to no avail.
And it is fair to say the move was not universally popular among Hammers fans at the time.
Indeed the bid for Maguire was not hugely popular within West Ham if reports are to be believed that new technical director Tim Steidten was not keen.
In David Moyes we should’ve trusted as West Ham fans now see why he was so desperate for unpopular signing of Harry Maguire
Everybody knows West Ham tried to sign Maguire in the summer and last January.
The England defender admitted as much himself in a press conference recently where he declared West Ham to be “a massive club”.
Many questioned whether Maguire would even get into the West Ham side when the club looked to be closing in on a £30m deal.
In the end Maguire remained at Old Trafford and West Ham signed Konstantinos Mavropanos.
But Nayef Aguerd’s below par performances have seen his place – and even his future – at West Ham questioned this season.
Maguire starting to prove doubters wrong as question marks hang over Aguerd
In Moyes we should’ve trusted as West Ham fans now see why he was so desperate for the unpopular signing of Maguire.
Many were critical of Moyes for pushing to sign Maguire, saying it was a short-sighted move.
But Maguire looked back to something like his best in Man United’s win over Sheffield United.
And Erik ten Hag – who was desperate to offload him to the Hammers in the summer – has even said how much he impressed him.
Meanwhile Aguerd – although not the only one – put in another poor performance which has sparked fresh calls for him to be dropped. Moyes lambasted his team for their defending in the 4-1 defeat at Villa and rightly so.
Maguire situation had echoes of Dawson
The fact of the matter is Maguire would have perfect for Moyes’ style of play and defensive structure in that low block. He’s a better defender than Aguerd and when fit and in form he can carry the ball out of defence better than most too.
And what a threat he would be attacking James Ward-Prowse’s set-pieces.
The Maguire situation had echoes of when Moyes signed Craig Dawson. Most West Ham fans were up in arms about signing relegated Watford’s fifth choice centre-back. And look how that turned out.
There is some good news, though. Because Maguire made it clear during the international break that he refuses to sit on the bench at Man United much longer.
So Moyes will undoubtedly be monitoring that situation ahead of the January transfer window. Particularly as Aguerd continues to be linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League.
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