There are mitigating circumstances for West Ham but David Moyes can’t have it both ways after the 5-0 drubbing at Fulham.
Everyone can have a bad day at the office and West Ham are no exception.
West Ham’s performance took ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ to new levels following the comeback victory over bitter rivals Spurs just a few days ago.
Speaking after the game David Moyes has, in fairness, been pretty honest in his assessment.
He pointed out the illness which has swept through the side past week or so. Key midfielder Edson Alvarez was not in the squad for that reason and Emerson was on the bench with both players suffering with illness.
Sick-ening performance in more ways than one
Apparently others played with that bug – and it was clear for all to see.
West Ham fans have been left feeling sick after watching the shocking and uncharacteristic collapse.
Hammers supporters are realistic, though. And after the club’s best return from the opening 15 games of a Premier League season, it’s frustrating but there is credit in the bank after six games unbeaten – albeit many of them with some fortune.
But you can’t kid a kidder and West Ham fans are not easily fooled either.
So when Moyes bleated on after the defeat at Fulham about the hectic schedule and the toll the Spurs game has taken on his side it sticks in the craw. And it cannot go unchallenged.
Mitigating circumstances but Moyes can’t have it both ways
There are mitigating circumstances for West Ham but Moyes can’t have it both ways.
The Scot has for the most part managed his squad between competitions really well over the last three seasons.
But the simple fact of the matter is Moyes has used the fewest players this season so far in the entire Premier League, as you can see on Transfermarkt.
The Hammers boss has used just 22 players across the first 16 games – the fewest bar none.
And West Ham have also suffered the fewest injuries in the top flight too.
Yes Moyes will feel he has to field his strongest XI as often as possible in the Premier League.
Scot has used fewer players than any other manager
But he can’t complain about the toll the games are taking when he is not rotating his team adequately to give players rest and keep others sharp.
He decided to sell Gianluca Scamacca and not replace him. He decided to let Flynn Downes go out on loan. Moyes is the one not giving Maxwel Cornet, Thilo Kehrer, Angelo Ogbonna and a host of others a sniff.
The boss is making less changes between domestic and European action this season.
And the real reason is the manager has assembled a squad where the drop off in quality is too steep between first choice and back-up players. In some areas – such as up front and at full-back – there is simply no depth at all. And that’s on him.
The players may well be tired. No doubt they are. But that’s because the manager is running those same players into the ground three-game week after three-game week.
Even when Moyes does make substitutions they are rarely before the 65th minute and often as late as the mid-80s.
You can’t have it both ways Mr Moyes.
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