So the inevitable has happened and Slaven Bilic has been sacked. I'd like to thank him for getting the West Ham Way and understanding what the fans wanted – as exemplified by his tears after the final win against Man United at the Boleyn. He gave us a great season in 2015-16 but faced a massive task adapting the side to the London Stadium.
In truth it's been going wrong ever since the catastrophic signings in the summer of 2016 and then the new signings not gelling quickly enough this season. The side has looked lacking in fitness and pace and disorganised defensively. We didn't get close to competing with Brighton or Liverpool, while letting in a 97th minute equaliser at Palace had all the marks of a relegation side. But Slaven is a decent man and watching his agonies on the touchline wasn't enjoyable. He looked dejected and needs a break.
Which brings us to the likely appointment of David Moyes for the rest of the season. It's a high-risk strategy for both sides. If Moyes fails he may not work again. If we get the manager who did so well at Everton for a decade he will at least organise the defence and bring some discipline to the club. At his best he spotted the likes of Cahill, Coleman and Fellaini. He can be excused for failing to succeed when following Sir Alex Ferguson and not many British managers do well in Spain.
But his relegation at Sunderland is much more worrying; he looked tired and made a big error by admitting they were in a relegation struggle after two games. Admittedly he wasn't given money in the transfer window, but his side went down too tamely. Pardew or Koeman might have been a better manager to choose out of those available. Moyes will at least be hungry to prove he is still a top manager. But West Ham are staking an awful lot on him getting his mojo back.
4 comments:
Surely though they will be fitter, maybe even as fit as the rest of the league?
What a shambles the team are in! I had hopes that Bilic would turn things around after the first season, but quickly lost confidence. I'd like to think that it was the London Stadium, but I actually just think that Bilic is not such a great coach. Like-able guy, but not able to instil enough discipline in the team. And the fitness stats were a real shocker.
As for Moyes...what a painful story he has been...it's been like watching a slow-motion car crash over the past three years. I hope he gets back to his Everton roots and has had a good enough break since his last gig to be able to turn the Hammers around. Will be interesting to see how the talent on the team responds to him. Yet another painful season. Gotta keep the faith!
A friend text me this morning, he is a season ticket holder at Real S, pains Basque...... 'Moyes? Was the most boring year of football when he was here, I stopped going....'
As a great man once said, 'Ambition is critical' something severely lacking at the board level! #boardout
It now looks like Bilic was helped by a world class player and inheriting a sound defence in his first season. Great man, but maybe too nice to the players? Moyes is a huge gamble now…
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