The international break will be a somewhat relief for David Moyes as he looks to turn around a disastrous start to the Premier League season.
The Hammers boss is arguably experiencing his most testing period as manager following his return to the club almost 3 years ago.
Despite delivering back to back positive seasons which have both resulted in European football qualification, Moyes’ Irons are in the mire with only 4 points from the opening 7 league matches.
A break from the domestic schedule following a poor loss to Everton last time out will give the Scot time to reflect on what has gone wrong, and more importantly how to rectify it.
Moyes is likely to be given time to turn things around but ultimately he is not immune from scrutiny. The success he has overseen has been incredible, but West Ham are not a club willing to sit still.
The £170m investment outlay by the board this summer on player recruitment shows this, with the ownership expecting a real push again on the top 6 in the Premier League.
Despite Moyes laying on a somewhat relaxed persona in the face of another disappointing showing last weekend, he will know that the powers above his head are watching this situation closely.
West Ham operate differently these days. Gone are the days of David Sullivan calling the shots over his golden dining room table indoors, we’re now run by a functioning board, with shareholder Daniel Kretinsky joined alongside a former JP Morgan executive.
This is a board that expects results and fast, there will be very little sentiment for what was achieved yesteryear and Moyes isn’t naive enough to think otherwise.
The mood has certainly been lifted around the club in the knowledge that Mark Noble will be rejoining West Ham in the new year as a Sporting Director.
The announcement even felt slightly as if it was brought forward to do just that, lift the mood and distract from the Premier League table.
Come next Saturday though all eyes will firmly be back on Moyes to see what he has conjured up to get his side firing once again. Make no mistake, that match against Wolves is a cup final.
Anything but a win won’t do. Moyes and his side must deliver 3 desperately needed points to kick start what has so far been a dreadful season.
If a victory isn’t achieved, the pressure will intensify greatly, with the worlds media sharpening their knives to sink into a manager who is failing despite colossal investment.
Moyes though, for now, has the backing of most. The club and fans recognise what he has achieved has been remarkable, but these memories only go so far.
The ice is getting thinner for our Hammers boss, and many will hope the stubbornness with team selection will be realised next Saturday, if not, it could well spell the beginning of the end.
