David Moyes says West Ham United’s back-up players have proved something to fans with their recent displays.
It’s been a pretty miserable start to the new year for West Ham all things considered.
The Hammers are yet to win a game, were dumped out of the FA Cup by a mid-table Championship side, have suffered a glut of injuries and have lost Mohammed Kudus and Nayef Aguerd to AFCON.
Having so many key players unavailable has exposed West Ham’s lack of strength in depth in certain areas.
But it has also given certain players plenty of opportunity to show what they can – and in some cases cannot – do.
Moyes says back-up players have proved something to fans
Large sections of West Ham fans have been critical of David Moyes’ management of the squad this season. Even at Sheffield United some supporters reportedly chanted ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ at the at the manager when he substituted Maxwel Cornet, who – his goal besides – put in another poor display.
Supporters have been vocal in questioning the Scot over his selection and non-selection of certain players such as Cornet, Danny Ings, Divin Mubama, Pablo Fornals and Ben Johnson.
Of course fans are entitled to their opinion.
But Moyes says West Ham back-up players have proved something to fans with recent displays.
And not necessarily in a positive way.
After describing West Ham’s performance in the 2-2 draw at Sheffield United as ‘probably the worst’ in his Hammers tenure, Moyes was not holding back when assessing his back-up players.
‘Have their opinion’
And the Hammers boss believes fans have now seen why he hasn’t been giving certain players more game time.
“Every club will have to do that (play back-up players) some time in the year,” Moyes told West Ham’s website.
“You just don’t have everybody fit (for the whole season). And if you only had your best players then other players wouldn’t want to be here, so we need to give other players opportunities.
“They had their opportunity in the last couple of games and it’s given all the supporters the opportunity to see some players and have their opinion as well as me as the manager.”
What it has also showed some supporters is that a couple of players – namely Ings and Johnson – are not quite as bad as some have portrayed.
The big positives for the Hammers are that they remain sixth in the Premier League table with a home game against Bournemouth next up.
Hopefully by the time that game rolls around, Moyes will have key stars such as Edson Alvarez back and Lucas Paqueta on his way too.
There may even be an outside chance Kudus will be following close behind for the crunch game at Man United a few days later.
And Moyes will be hoping he will have some new signings to help out too.
Because as we have all seen of late, many of the back-up players simply will not cut it if West Ham are to sustain their challenge for the top six.
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