West Ham sold captain Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105m in the summer and David Moyes was able to sign three replacements with the money.
They say football fans can be fickle.
And those accusations have been aimed at some West Ham fans for their reaction towards Declan Rice since his big money move to Premier League rivals Arsenal in the summer.
But those within the game can be just as fickle it seems – including Hammers boss David Moyes.
Let me take you back to earlier this season.
Whether merely an honest assessment or an attempt to charm his new club, Rice raved about how much better the training and football was at Arsenal way under his new boss Mikel Arteta.
Moyes said West Ham were better without Rice
Rice even said he was ‘already seeing football in a completely different way’ just weeks into his time with the Gunners.
In response Moyes came out and boldly stated that West Ham’s midfield was stronger and the team better following the signings he and Tim Steidten made to replace Rice.
“Could be, I do think that (our midfield will be better),” Moyes said a the time.
“We’ve tried to get players in who could do certain jobs for us and do well. Dec was a super player, and if we can get anywhere close to being that level with Declan then we’ll have done a good job in that recruitment department…
“I don’t think we feel weaker, I actually feel we’re stronger because of what’s happened (in the window).”
Hammers boss performs big Rice U-turn
West Ham signed Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and Mohammed Kudus with much of the Rice money.
Now the tables have turned. West Ham are struggling and Moyes is under intense pressure.
And it seems the manager has very much changed his tune.
Because Moyes has completely backtracked on Arsenal star Rice in a West Ham U-turn.
In a new interview with Sky Sports, Moyes now claims West Ham are missing Rice and that it is starting to show in performances and results.
Moyes: ‘We’re feeling the Rice effect’
“We are feeling a wee bit of the effect (or losing Rice) at the moment,” Moyes said.
“We’re missing Declan because of his consistency, his form, his defensive prowess.
“We’ve suffered a little recently because of not having it.”
That’s some U-turn from Moyes.
And many fans will see it as a rather convenient excuse.
Perhaps Moyes is just calling it as he sees it. West Ham did look better earlier this season.
But then the manager has to take much of the blame for his failure to get his new-look midfield functioning fluidly and on a consistent basis.
Now he’s running out of time to prove he can as his contract ticks down.
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