David Moyes has made a staggering admission about why he’s been reluctant for West Ham to sign a new striker.
It seemed almost certain West Ham would look to sign a striker in the last two windows.
But David Moyes elected not to despite the sale of Gianluca Scamacca and the fact Danny Ings has simply not worked out.
West Ham were linked with a plethora of strikers last summer and in the winter window.
But in the end none arrived.
It’s difficult to say whether signing a striker would have made the difference this season.
There is a niggling feeling, though, that the right one certainly would have. And who knows what West Ham might have been able to achieve given how achievable top six or five has looked this season.
Moyes makes staggering and selfish striker admission
A forward was desperately needed during that period the club went without winning at the turn of the year – when they were without Michail Antonio, Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen for spells.
Playing Bowen up front has had mixed results and he looks happier and more dangerous from his preferred position on the right.
West Ham fans look around at other clubs signing strikers and wonder why not them.
Well now we know why.
Because Moyes has admitted the staggering reason he’s reluctant for West Ham to sign a striker.
And it’s a very selfish one which underlines exactly why the owners have brought in Tim Steidten to head up transfers.
‘It puts a manager under pressure’
“Every time I’ve sat in this seat, most people have asked, ‘When are you buying a striker?'” Moyes told the press, as reported by The Evening Standard.
“But the problem is over the last three, four years there’s been a lack of strikers, availability and trying to get players at the right value.
“Buying a centre-forward nowadays is such difficult business, to get one who you think can come in and make a difference. To get the right one at the right price is so difficult.
“I often think that it puts a manager under pressure, signing a centre-forward. My experience tells me that. If you buy a centre-forward and he doesn’t score the goals, you probably lose your job. That means unless you’re going to buy one at top money that you know is proven, it becomes very difficult for managers.
“We’ve tried for years to find people that we believed might be right. If you look back over the last two or three years at the number of centre-forwards [people have] named that might be coming here, there might be quite a lot of them that have failed and they wouldn’t have been any good.”
Admission shows why club brought in Steidten
Fans should appreciate Moyes’ honesty. But that is a very risk averse and selfish way to approach such an important area of the team.
The manager does make a valid point. But with all his experience surely he would back himself to make the right call?
The fact he is admitting he hasn’t done that is a prime example of why Sullivan and co have brought Steidten to the club.
But if Moyes does not feel comfortable signing off on a striker of his own choosing, imagine how he feels about someone else picking one for him?
Perhaos that’s also a little indication into his thinking as he allegedly stalls on signing that new deal after Hammers News exclusively revealed he will lose full control and the power of veto on transfers as part of the terms of any new Hammers contract.
One thing is for certain, with Antonio turning 35 next season and Ings likely to leave, West Ham simply must sign a new forward this summer.
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