David Moyes sends a clear message to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky and West Ham United’s owners over his January transfer wish after the win at Villa.
West Ham made it five wins in a row in all competitions and consolidated their place in the top four with a 4-1 victory at Aston Villa on Sunday evening.
Moyes’s side went into the game off the back of five consecutive wins while Dean Smith’s Aston Villa had lost their last three.
And it showed for long spells despite Villa showing some fight.
Hammers academy graduates Ben Johnson and Declan Rice twice gave West Ham the lead either side of an Ollie Watkins equaliser.
Then Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen eventually put the game to bed late on after Villa saw Ezri Konsa sent off.
There was a spell in the game where West Ham allowed the 10 men of Villa off the hook, though.
And it nearly saw the depleted home side equalise through Watkins.
Speaking before and after the game Moyes said there were elements of West Ham’s attacking play that need to improve, particularly being more clinical.
In his post match interview on Sky Sports, the Scot then made a point of saying West Ham are operating without a true striker in the squad having previously admitting finding it difficult to sign one in the summer (Independent).
It is the first time Moyes has made such comments on the striker situation.
Moyes sends a clear message to Daniel Kretinsky and West Ham owners over January transfer wish?
And that could be construed as a clear message to West Ham’s owners David Sullivan and David Gold as well as new investor, Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, who will be on board by the January window.
Reports have suggested Kretinsky’s investment will enable West Ham to spend in January.
“Getting four goals, from four different goalscorers (pleased me the most about the Villa win),” Moyes told Sky Sports.
‘I don’t think we have an absolute out-and-out striker’
“Bits of the game were really good, there was other bits of the game I wasn’t so pleased about – I thought we didn’t quite pass the ball as well as we have in recent games…
“I think it’s important (we share the goals around), I don’t think we have any absolute out-and-out striker (in the squad). You know Micky Antonio is a new-born striker and doing a brilliant job at it – I just praised him there for making a goal, passed it for the third or fourth goal and it really helps us…
“I don’t want West Ham to become that flaky inconsistent team a lot of people would remember West Ham for probably over a period so I’ve got to make sure I change that.”
What a job this man is doing.
And Moyes is choosing his words brilliantly. His use of carrot and stick with the players is the perfect blend to maintain the high standards the Hammers continue to set.
After Moyes’s interview, pundit Jamie Redknapp was asked how West Ham can get better.
He felt a striker is needed in case they are ever without Michail Antonio if West Ham want to continue building and challenging the top sides.