Football
Is the Moyes era over? West Ham’s search for a new coach includes two star names
West Ham are said to be considering Nuno Espirito Santo and Rafael Benitez as potential replacements for David Moyes. The Scot has come under serious pressure this season after a string of poor results which have seen the Hammers struggle to stay in the Premier League.
Saturday’s defeat to Wolves plunged them into the relegation zone as Julen Lopetegui’s men leapfrogged their fellow Premier League strugglers. And Moyes is looking to hire Nuno or Benitez as a replacement after their latest loss to West Ham, reports the Daily Telegraph.
The club are considering short-term and long-term options, with both managers being considered as candidates to take over by the end of the campaign to try and salvage the Hammers’ season. The report adds that West Ham dream of being able to appoint someone like Mauricio Pochettino or Thomas Tuchel, but also recognise that getting such a coach would require a Herculean effort.
However, the appointment of Nuno or Benitez is not expected to go down well among fans who want an attractive brand of football – something that is not commonly seen with these two coaches. But the Hammers are looking to give Moyes a fighting chance to turn the season around after he has performed small miracles during his time at the club, including a European placing in 2021. Yet this term has been nothing short of a disaster and they have not won the Premier League since the age of 24. and Moyes insisted he is desperate to bring back the good times at the London Stadium after the defeat to Wolves at home. “What we have given the West Ham fans over the last few years, I hope they will give back to us in this difficult period,” the 59-year-old said. I hope that continues.”West Ham will take on Everton, who are in a crisis of their own after a home loss to Southampton that left them fighting to stay in the Premier League.
The last two seasons West Ham United have been excellent and have fought their way into the European Cups. But the current one is a disaster. David Moyes’ charges are in a relegation position in the Premier League and there is already media speculation about his successor. Two star names are also in the mix.
David Moyes is West Ham’s hero. Not long ago he managed to keep it among the elite. However, there was no subsequent extension of his contract, yet he returned to the club after a year and a half and started doing an excellent job.
The native of the Scottish city of Glasgow managed to take the Hammers to a great sixth place in the first full season, a year later the London club finished seventh. But this season, it just hasn’t worked out.
In the Conference League, Moyes’ selection may be 100 per cent, but in the Premier League it’s a different story. After nineteen rounds, he has only 15 points, lost 12 games and won only 4. He has won only once in his last ten games.
What’s next?
No wonder there is talk of a change of coach in England. Moreover, there are interesting names available and the club’s management should have plenty to choose from. The list that West Ham have drawn up, according to the Daily Telegraph, looks like this.
The most probable is the engagement of Rafael Benitez or Nuno Espirito Santo. But there are also big names like Mauricio Pochettino or Thomas Tuchel without a commitment.
All these four names West Ham have on the aforementioned list who could take over the Hammers during the season. However, the club is aware that it would take a huge amount of effort and probably finances to get both Pochettino and Tuchel.
It’s just that the first two names won’t be so well perceived by the fans again. Neither Nuno nor Benitez are exactly pioneers of attractive football. So it is not impossible that Moyes will still get a chance to turn the situation in his favour.
West Ham face a rescue battle with a floundering Everton at the weekend.
Source: Daily Telegraph, Premier League, Transfermarkt
