Lopetegui coming in

The Times is reporting that West Ham have agreed personal terms with Julen Lopetegui. Some certainty is welcome after the debacle at Chelsea yesterday and the players will have to perform to impress the new boss. He's won the Europa League with Sevilla and managed Spain and Real Madrid, so comes with quite a track record, as well as having guided Wolves to safety last season, even if they struggled to score goals and he left in a huff over a reduced transfer budget.

It's sad and rather ironic that David Moyes is being let go because his team can't defend, even though he's never won some fans over because of his defensive approach. I didn't have a problem with counter-attacking football if it was done well, but without a solid defence since Christmas the team has served up great entertainment in lots of games, as the anti-Moyes fans demanded, but mostly through high-scoring draws and a few thumping defeats. 

But overall we should thank Moyes for his record at West Ham. What's David Moyes ever done for West Ham apart from saving us from relegation twice, finishing sixth and seventh, reaching Europa League semi-finals and quarter-finals, winning the Europa Conference League and achieving a probable top half finish this season? He's let things drift with a too small squad and tired players since Christmas, but Moyes has also been let down by the players at times. I'll be giving him a farewell cheer on Saturday. Now let's see what Lopetegui can do.

Let Moyes concentrate on the final three games

Too many stories are leaking from West Ham at the moment. The latest, that Tim Steidten is unofficially banned from being around David Moyes and the first-team for the rest of the season, at least means that Moyes can get on with his job without having to deal with the man who could be tasked with finding his successor. It could be Moyes has decided to move on already or perhaps the board are not going to offer him a contract. But the pursuit of Julen Lepetegui, who the Guardian reported fancied Milan over Romford Market though the BBC now claim might be back in the frame, and Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim, who says talks with WHU were a "mistake", has been very public. Can't the club negotiate in secret? Results against Chelsea and Luton could still see a respectable finish. Let's leave the intrigue till the last ball is kicked. And Rishi Sunak might be available by then.

Managerial merry-go-round

Plenty of speculation in the press about West Ham talking to potential new managers. The Guardian reports that the club has held successful talks with Julen Lopetegu, the former Wolves manager. The Spaniard has previously managed Real Madrid and Spain so might be able to cope with West Ham, though he's probably never had several thousand geezers from Essex calling him a muppet.

Another name mentioned is the Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim who has a buy-out clause in his contract of £13m. Yes, it might be good to have a manager who uses subs more proactively (though interestingly Pep Guardiola also likes to make late-ish subs) and goes for all out attack. But flash foreign managers don't always succeed, and we should remember Manuel Pellegrini arrived having won the title at Man City. A cheaper option might be WHU's former player Gary O'Neil who has performed really well at Bournemouth and Wolves, while Tomas Frank at Brentford has produced a quiet miracle and there is also Graham Potter to consider.

It's hard to know if the club really have decided to part with David Moyes. A strong finish in the final four matches might save him, and finishing eighth would still be a good season for West Ham in historical terms. Whether he stays or goes Moyes can know he's done a fine job overall and made real progress, keeping the club up twice, finishing sixth and seventh, winning the Europa Conference League and reaching the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the Europa League. He certainly hasn't deserved some of the insults directed at him.

But whatever happens with the manager, a rebuilding job is now required. Cresswell and Ogbonna will be out of contract and leaving, Zouma's knees are creaking, Antonio is 34 and the squad is looking dangerously old, while the defence is far too leaky. It's going to be a very important summer for the club and Sullivan and Tim Steidten have to get their decisions right.

Who is in control of transfers?

Rather a worrying piece by Jacob Steinberg in the Observer on the lack of a coherent transfer strategy. He cites tensions between David Moyes and new technical director Tim Steidten, with Moyes wanting proven PL performers and Steidten preferring younger players from Europe. Plus the input from Sullivan and Noble further confuses things. Add in Sully's tendency to underbid and West Ham have problems, with no Rice replacement signed as yet. 

Mind you, to read some online comments from West Ham fans you'd think we were relegated before a ball has been kicked. If we can get James Ward-Prowse then he would be a good signing, and you can understand the club not wanting to pay over the odds to a relegated team who should be desperate to sell. My hunch is the £30m bid will be increased. There was a similar keyboard panic when we failed to sign Onana last summer and we ended up with a trophy. Let's see where the club is at the close of the window.  

All change at West Ham

A lot going on behind the scenes at the Hammers. Mark Warburton has left (rumour has it he was more attack-minded than Moyes) and now Paul Nevin has gone to Strasbourg with Patrick Vieira. Having already lost Alan Irvine and Stuart Pearce last season Moyes will be wanting to get some of his own men in quickly. Meanwhile Tim Steidten the new Technical director of football has arrived from Bayer Leverkusen. Transfers will apparently be decided by Moyes, Steidten, Noble and David Sullivan, which sounds rather an unwieldy system.

Meanwhile the Guardian's Jacob Steinberg reports that Southampton are interested in Flynn Downes, who might be a good makeweight in any deal for James Ward-Prowse. The Irons are also said to be interested in Everton's Onana, Fulham's Palhinha, Man United's Scott McTominay and Denis Zakaria from Juventus as possibly replacements for Declan Rice - whose transfer is taking several millennia. Please just get it over with. 

Tactical rift?

Jacob Steinberg, who normally knows his stuff, writes in today's Guardian that some of the West Ham players questioned David Moyes' defensive tactics for the game at Spurs. To be fair Moyes played a much more attacking side against Forest and saw the side win 4-0. He played that same side against Brighton, which should have been quite attacking on paper. But with Paqueta and Benrahma out-muscled and Rice and Soucek bypassed, with Ings isolated up front, it just didn't work. A defensive horror show ensued with Ben Johnson being at fault for the first three goals. You can't really blame Moyes for Johnson's 'mare, but it is worrying if the players are questioning his tactics. 

However, there is surely no point in changing the manager now as there is no obvious replacement and no transfer window to work in. We have to hope Moyes uses his experience to get us out of trouble - but to keep his job next season, having spent £160 million, he has to give the fans something to be optimistic about from the final 12 matches.

Half the season left — is it time to panic?

Well, the Everton game is looking vital to David Moyes' future. There's no doubt he's done brilliantly for West Ham in the past, steering the club clear of relegation twice and then finishing sixth and seventh and reaching the Europas League semi-finals, as well as winning all six games in the Europa Conference this season. It's also worth noting that most of those online critics who now call him an outdated dinosaur were also praising him last season. But having said that, this bad run is massively worrying. A loss to Everton would mean one point from eight games. This season it seems other teams have rumbled Moyes' system of a deep defensive block with West Ham scoring on the break or from set-pieces, while the expensive new signings are floundering.

Ideally we will beat Everton and retain Moyes. Having allowed him to spend £160 million it makes sense to allow him time to change tactics, get his new signings firing and avoid the upheaval of a new manager wanting to change the squad yet again. There is half a season left, and if the side's luck can turn Moyes would surely have enough know-how to keep the side up.

Should we lose to Everton and fire Moyes then what are the options? Pochettino and Tuchel are out of WHU's league. Sean Dyche has the most impressive PL record of the unemployed gaffers and can certainly motivate players, though would the crowd take to his route one style and can he deal with star players? Benitez would be very defensive and Wolves' former boss Nuno Espirito Santo did well in the Midlands but was very reliant on an influx of Portuguese talent and failed at Spurs. And there's always the risk Sullivan would go for Big Sam again. Our best hope might be if Chelsea lost patience with Graham Potter.

Stick or twist, it's not going to be easy. Though in a perverse kind of way I've missed relegation struggles. We're back to the bad old days of really pepping it up and making it mediocre. Twenty five more points and we're safe!

Moyes still has credit left but needs to turn it round fast

After saving West Ham from relegation twice and then steering the club to sixth and seventh-placed finishes and a Europa League semi-final David Moyes deserves time to turn things round. But the next four games are vital after five defeats. Should West Ham fail to get a win against any of Leeds, Wolves and Everton and fail to progress in the FA Cup against Brentford then the board would surely have to act. Premier League managers tend not to survive winless runs of eight matches.

The stats against Brentford show that the Irons had 63 per cent of possession, 20 shots to Brentford's nine and eight corners to Brentford's one. It was a game WHU should have won but  lost through basic defensive errors and lack of creativity in the final third. Moyes tried playing Paqueta in a deeper role and later pairing Scamacca and Antonio together but it didn't work on the night. The team is trying to transition from a counter-attacking side to a possession outfit, but the suspicion remains that Moyes has bought too many Rolls-Royce players who won't fancy a relegation fight. 

After a great start to last season the Hammers haven't played really well in the league since January last year, scraping some home victories and underperforming away. The return of Zouma and Aguerd might help. The talent is there but the players need to realise the seriousness of the situation and fight for every ball at Leeds on Wednesday.

Moyes has plenty of credit in the bank

Some pretty absurd speculation in the media and among some fans about David Moyes being under pressure. They seem to be forgetting that he has saved WHU from relegation twice and has then taken the club to sixth and seventh-placed finishes and reached the club's first European semi-final since 1976. 

It's also strange to merge the results of two seasons. A slump was always expected towards the end of last season as the small squad tired and the side concentrated on Europe. What matters is this season's results, which haven't been great. But the side isn't getting tonked every week like Leicester and only an absurd VAR decision deprived WHU of a point at Chelsea. If we're still in the bottom three after ten games it will be more worrying, but home games against Wolves and Fulham are winnable. 

Yes, the effort of two near misses at the top four can be demoralising and some players have probably gone as far as they can with Moyes, and he recognised this last season, which is why he has bought in the new signings. The gaffer could certainly be more adventurous (maybe he should play Scamacca and Antonio together?) but right now he needs a bit of patience and time to get the new signings up and running.

Moyes tests positive as Hammers thrash Hull

West Ham 5 Hull City 1 (Carabao Cup)

The big news is that before the game David Moyes, Issa Diop and Josh Cullen all tested positive for Covid-19, though all three are asymptomatic at present. Let's hope the trio are fine and back in action soon. On the pitch it was a satisfying night against Hull. Best goal of the night was Snodgrass's opener, a fine volley from Yarmolenko's cross. Haller tapped home the second after more good work from Yarmy and the Ukranian scored the third with a penalty.

Credit has to be given to the defence which included youngsters Jonson, Ashby and Alese, marshalled by captain Balbuena. Another kid, Longelo, had to come on when Ashby was crocked. There was a slight scare when Hull pulled a goal back, but late efforts from Haller, who rounded the keeper in style, and Yarmolenko made it five. In other strange news, even Jack Wilshere made it through the game.

As my pal Fraser wryly remarked, a brace from both Haller and Yarmolenko should ensure they are dropped for the next league game. Still, it was good to see Yarmolenko, Haller, Lanzini and Anderson playing with some enjoyment and as goals breed confidence it's surely time to give Haller a run in the league.

Thin end of the veg

Today's Guardian reveals that David Moyes has been delivering fruit and veg as a volunteer driver in his home town of Lytham, Lancashire. "It was beautiful big boxes of fruit and veg, really colourful. I was enjoying it, going back to the shop to get another lot and then filing the car up," Moyesy told Jacob Steinberg. 

My pal Nigel quips that we've had quite a few turnips and has-beans at West Ham, while Matt suggests we've also had the odd overpriced Swede. Perhaps Moyes is a fan of root one football, even if he remains very worried about defensive leeks. And at least West Ham have some history with fruit and veg, having selected Tony Kale, Robert Greens, Florin Radishoiu and Michael Carrot... 

Moyes and Brady do the right thing

This is going to be a difficult time for all football clubs with no match revenue, no live TV payments and players on massive wages. Perhaps more so for the Hammers, who have spent a lot on players in the last two seasons. So it's good to see that David Moyes has agreed to take a voluntary pay cut of 30 per cut during lockdown and Karren Brady has tweeted that she is doing likewise. Another encouraging sign is that Mark Noble is one of the players administering the fund through which players plan to make voluntary donations to the NHS. 

Meanwhile the Guardian reports that the club is having a £30m rights issue to cover revenue shortcomings, which is "an invitation to existing shareholders to buy additional shares". Shares could then be offered elsewhere, which might perhaps be an opportunity for a potential new owner to get a stake in the club. It would be interesting to hear what financial/football journalists like David Conn have to say about this. The other positive news is that none of our players have as yet been caught in a "lockdown sex party" like Kyle Walker or illicitly training in the park like Jose Mourinho at Spurs.

While in the latest development the whole squad has agreed to take a reduction in wages and David Sullivan and David Gold have agreed to waive the interest on their loans. After all the ructions of the season so far it's good to see the club pulling together.

The start of something at West Ham?

There was a thoughtful piece on West Ham in the Sunday Times last week by chief football writer Jonathan Northcroft. He recalls once being told by Martin Jol that, "Nothing in football is ever as it seems" and despite the club's position he finds an air of optimism at West Ham's training ground. 

Northcroft writes of Kevin Nolan raising morale with his Scouse humour and an air that this could be "the start of something" around Rush Green. He talks to David Moyes, whom he writes seems to get West Ham, with the Scot sensing something of Everton about the club. The new boss talks about changing West Ham's DNA through signing hungry young players and not losing games they are expected to win. Northcroft might have got it wrong of course, but it's good to see something vaguely positive in the press. 

Attractive players only please

Today's Guardian quotes David Moyes as saying that, "We are looking to bring in young, attractive and hungry players." Which sounds rather like recruiting a boy band after they haven't eaten all day — and certainly rules out Iain Dowie. What the gaffer seems to mean is that he wants young players with a resale value who aren't bought just "to fill a gap". The same article also mentions Joe Cole's comments on BT Sport when he said he'd played at West Ham with players who regarded it as the place to take a nice holiday in London.

At least Moyes has a vision and that would seem to involve adding a bit of height to the side. Likely new signing Tomas Soucek is 6ft 4ins and the club is also bidding for 22-year-old right-back Rasmus Kristensen, another six-footer. The club has wasted far too much money in the last decade. Buying potential is surely the right way way to go.

It's time to panic! Signings are needed urgently

Saturday's defeat demonstrated just how poor the current West Ham squad is and the club desperately needs at least three signings to survive. Of the current squad Sanchez and Ajeti aren't good enough, Wilshere is surely finished, Zabaleta is a great pro but now too slow for the PL and Yarmolenko is struggling after last season's career-threatening injury. Even Noble is 33 in May and as he says, the side can't keep relying on him forever.

Assuming the strongest WHU side is say Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Snodgrass, Rice, Noble, Anderson; Antonio and Haller that leaves a bench of just Randolph, Fornals, Lanzini, Masuaku, Balbuena and possibly the recovering Winston Reid. That would be if we had no injuries, something that never ever happens with the Irons. So effectively we're trying to survive with a 16-man squad.

Moyes desperately needs midfield cover for Rice and Noble, another striker to cover for the injury-prone Antonio and a right-back to cover for Fredericks. The only problem is West Ham's recruitment process is in disarray with Mario Husillos having been sacked. While today's Guardian reports that the sons of both Husillos and Pellegrini were useed as scouts, which hardly inspires confidence. We can already imagine David Sullivan panicking at the thought of paying more cash for Cash from Nottingham Forest.

But something should be possible. Moyes has spent a year and a half looking at football and must have some ideas, while our owners have to realise that their investment and stadium will diminish hugely in value if West Ham go down. Loan deals would also offer more bodies and a fairly risk-free option. It's a bad time to buy, but if the club don't gamble then relegation awaits.

Keeping it simple has paid off for Moyes so far

So far David Moyes has delivered simple instructions well. Mark Noble is never going to criticise a West Ham manager, but he was pretty fulsome in his praise in his Evening Standard column, writing of Moyes: "He tells you what you need to do well, but also how you can improve. He is direct but never personal. He's the best I've ever experienced at telling you exactly how it is — but not belittling you."

The players had clearly been told that more commitment and pressing from the front was required. It was heartening to see Anderson, of all people, eagerly closing down centre backs along with a rejuvenated Haller. Playing Felipe behind Haller was good tactics and what many of us wished Pellegrini had tried. The side also looked more solid defensively with Snodgrass and Fornals tracking back, while WHU were still able to use Fredericks on the overlap.

If Moyes wants to build on his good start he should name a strong side at Gillingham today and aim to get a run going in the FA Cup. Survival is undoubtedly his first priority, but he also needs to remember that winning is a good habit — and that Pellegrini's woes began with the 4-0 capitulation at Oxford in the League Cup.

Back to the future with David Moyes

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. As predicted it's David Moyes. Firstly, let's be clear, the main problem is not the managers but owners who make populist (and sometimes unpopulist) decisions and have no long term strategy for West Ham. They veer from ultra-pragmatists such as Allardyce to managers who don't believe in defence like Pellegrini. The owners react to situations rather than pre-empt them. Sullivan, Gold and Brady also wildly over-promised on how good the London Stadium would be.

As for Moyes, I would have much preferred Eddie Howe as the manager to build a side, though it must be remembered that we are deep in the mire and are never going to attract an A-list gaffer like Ancelotti or Pochettino. 

Personally, I thought Moyes did reasonably well in his last spell at the club. He saved the club from relegation and more importantly instilled some discipline and work ethic into the players. He certainly made a difference to Arnautovic's game. One advantage is that he will already know half of the West Ham squad.

Yes, Moyes was defensive, but arguably had little choice with a side leaking so many goals. Playing five at the back again might free up Fredericks and Cresswell or Masuaku as wing backs and get some more crosses in to Haller. He'll also surely realise that you can't play Lanzini, Anderson and Fornals in the same side. You would also hope that Moyes and Pearce (if he comes too) give Haller some Arnautovic-style tough love and tell him to put himself about a bit. 

If Moyes is still the same manager who had Everton in the top eight every season we might show some signs of progress over his 18-month contract. Though if he is, as some maintain, an outdated dinosaur who failed at Man United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland then it might prove terminally unwise to have returned to our ex.

There is a lot of noise on social media, but knowing football fans, there would have been outrage whoever West Ham appointed. Let's remember we all welcomed Pellegrini when he arrived and that didn't work out too well. 

Short term, Moyes has to up the work rate of the squad, which is too talented to be in its current position. West Ham fans will forgive most things if they see the players trying on the pitch and a few tackles flying in. He then has to play the transfer window effectively and get some pace and midfield strength in the side. The return of Moyes is either brave or stupid, depending on your viewpoint, but if it doesn't work out then we will be playing in the Championshiop next season.

Back to the future with Moyes?

So according to the media, David Moyes is being seriously considered as a candidate to replace Manuel Pellegrini should West Ham keep getting beaten. It's not news to please many of our more excitable fans, but in some ways it might make sense.

Personally I thought Moyes deserved a chance to continue after he stopped West Ham going down and steered the club to 13th place. He was replaced by a 'next level' manager who played the West Ham Way, but it isn't working. We're not going to challenge for the top six any time soon and could head into the Championship. Moyes would know the club and what needs changing (the scouting system for a start) and how to deal with David Sullivan. 

Yes, I'd rather have Benitez in terms of stature, or Eddie Howe based on what he's done at Bournemouth, but realistically, particularly after a massive pay-off to Manuel, our owners will go for the cheap option. Moyes would have to be more attack-minded, but if he could deliver a few rollickings (it worked with Marko Arnautovic) and get us anywhere near to his Everton record of several years of top eight (and one fourth-place) finishes it would be progress compared to the current struggles. We have to hope Pellegrini can turn it round, but if he doesn't we need a manager who can sort the team out quickly.

Arguing among ourselves

Things are continuing to implode at West Ham. The Evening Standard reports that Andy Carroll left the bench for the dressing room when he wasn't used as a sub against Man City. While the Daily Telegraph claims that Carroll snd Moyes had a row at the training ground yesterday with the striker being sent home. Carroll wouldn't have made any difference at 4-1 down, so it's hard to see what his beef is beyond a bruised ego. 

Meanwhile Chicharito looked completely uninterested when he came on, which is another problem as he obviously doesn't want to play for Moyes. While Moyes seems intent on picking a fight with Manuel Lanzin, West Ham's most creative player, having subbed him for losing the ball before City's fourth goal. 

Moyes at least sounded fairly keen on keeping Lanzini onside when he told the Standard: “The players here have got to understand, we play players to keep the ball, to defend. Manu had a great chance to keep the ball for us and we end up losing the fourth goal for it. But hey, no problem – it happens.” Yes, we want to retain possession, but there's always a risk with creative players and by the time the fourth goal went in the game was lost.

Moyes was right to clamp down on discipline when he arrived but is now the right time to play the hard man? Carroll is a player who could make the difference in the last half an hour of our remaining three games.

Meanwhile, with Carroll annoyed and Chicharito dreaming of a move should West Ham perhaps do the unthinkable and play Hugill alongside Arnautovic? He might not have a great touch, but he'll run all day and put himself about. What we need more than ever is a team who will battle for the shirt.

Moyes has to call out mistakes

One or two West Ham fans have been critical of David Moyes for singling out Declan Rice for public criticism after the Arsenal match, but I think he has to be honest about mistakes. It would be pointless to claim that it wasn't an error by Rice that lead to the second goal. What Moyes said was reasonably positive, in that he stated that a young player had made a mistake and that's how young players learn. He also said that Joe Hart had made a mistake after the Stoke game so he's been consistent. If Moyes had glossed over the error he would also have got huge amounts of stick on social media, where everyone is permanently outraged.

Declan otherwise had a sound game, but he'll have learned a valuable lesson, that if there's any doubt put your head on it even if you think you hear the goalkeeper call. Had he headed it clear we might have held on for a draw. Rice has played really well in the previous two games and with great maturity for a 19-year-old — he's got a big future at West Ham if he keeps learning.