Hammers boss David Moyes gives reporter short shrift over Liverpool question he was asked in West Ham press conference.
The pressure of the January transfer window can do funny things to those involved in football.
West Ham manager Moyes is under pressure to dip into the transfer market to add to his squad.
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And reporters are under pressure to ask him about transfers.
The problem is the rules and acceptable etiquette – both written and unwritten – forbid managers talking about players at other clubs regarding transfers. Whether you are the boss of Liverpool or West Ham it makes no difference.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is famous for his colourful interviews and a fair few run-ins with reporters.
Stern Scot Moyes is more akin to a brick wall when it comes to the way he deals with delicate questions.
West Ham and Liverpool have both found themselves linked with one another’s players of late.
The Reds are being talked about as a possible future destination for Hammers star Jarrod Bowen.
And West Ham have been linked with Liverpool striker Divock Origi and his fellow Anfield benchwarmer Nat Phillips.
Reporters will always try to push the boundaries in press conferences, particularly during transfer windows, in a bid to glean some information from managers.
David Moyes gives reporter short shrift over Liverpool question he was asked in West Ham press conference
But Moyes gave one of them short shrift over a Liverpool question he was asked in his West Ham press conference ahead of the game at Manchester United.
Moyes was asked directly about his interest in Liverpool defender Nat Phillips.
And he completely shut the question down.
“I don’t know why you would ask me about a player directly,” Moyes said in his pre-match presser (Football.London).
“Because I cannot give you an answer whether I was or I wasn’t.
“So you can take that as whatever answer you like.”
Don’t mess with Moyesie.
The reporter was just doing his job but you’re not going to catch a wily old fox like Moyes out when it comes to asking about another club’s player.
And it is easy to see why he was a touch cheesed off.
Ten more days and it will all be over.