Former player and club legend Tony Cottee has given his honest thoughts on David Moyes’ future as West Ham manager following a difficult season so far.
West Ham have struggled in all departments to date in a campaign which now sees us in the midst of a relegation scrap which many would have imagined being the case, especially after a summer of heavy investment.
However, former Hammers striker and club ambassador Cottee believes that this season was always going to be a tough one with the level of change inherited due to various players and staff moving on, and feels David Moyes is the right man to get things back on track as all connected with the club desperately hope that good times will return again soon.
“There`s been a lot of talk since the restart about David Moyes,” Cottee stated in his exclusive column for The West Ham Way Patreon. “I like David as a person and as a manager. Has he been perfect this season? Of course not but, as I’ve already explained, this was going to be a strange season for everyone. There`s been lots of calls to replace him but my question is always the same….who with ?
“Benitez? Absolutely no thank you! Bielsa, one trick pony, in my opinion. Poch, would love him but he ain’t coming here. Tuchel, no chance! I’d love Eddie Howe but that`s not happening either. Can anyone do better than Moysie now? At the moment, I think the answer is no.”
Understandably the pressure is very much on the manager David Moyes to turn things around, and the trip to Pride Park tonight to face League One side Derby County in the FA Cup presents a big opportunity to build momentum following the victory last time out against Everton in the Premier League.
Cottee feels that tonight is paramount for Moyes, with the manager needing to progress and start lifting the mood in East London, with many fans now questioning whether Moyes should remain in the hot seat this season.
“To keep his job, Moysie has to beat Derby and have a good FA cup run,” added Cottee. “Climb to mid table in the Premier League and most importantly, win the Europa Conference League in Prague in June – the equivalent of finishing 5th!
“I believe all this will happen and he will be our Manager next season, although things can change quickly in football but sometimes it`s better to have a cool head and talk at the right time.”
