David Moyes criticises West Ham transfer business as he redefines irony. Former West Ham boss David Moyes has criticised the club’s transfer business since his departure, redefining irony in the process. West Ham have impressed fans – not just of their own club either – pundits and journalists with their summer transfer business.
Eight new signings have arrived at West Ham, many of them eye-catching. And more could yet follow before the window closes next week according to new head coach Julen Lopetegui himself.
The Spaniard is under pressure to succeed where his predecessor David Moyes failed – by combining style with substance. Further pressure has been heaped on the shoulders of the 57-year-old by West Ham’s flurry of transfer activity.
Things have got off to an inauspicious start with the 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa.
Moyes criticises West Ham transfer business as he redefines irony
But there were glimpses of progress in West Ham’s superior possession and passing stats. Virtually unheard of against teams outside the relegation spots under Moyes let alone against a Champions League outfit. West Ham’s squad has been overhauled thanks to the work of the technical director Tim Steidten.
So much so many observers have remarked that they feel for the man Lopetegui replaced as they watch the club’s wonderful transfer window unfold.
One man has not been impressed with the club’s activity, though. Certainly not the volume of it anyway. Moyes has criticised West Ham’s transfer business as he redefines irony.
‘We never really wanted to bring in eight players’
West Ham have signed a real mix of young, exciting prospects and experienced stars ready to go now.
It is the kind of business Hammers fans have longed to see for years. Moyes did a fantastic job for West Ham and will never be forgotten.
But in reality West Ham simply would not have pulled off a window like this if he was still the manager. Not least because the Scot has himself admitted on multiple occasions he preferred to work with a small squad.
Moyes did not like having unhappy players around as he saw it as detrimental to team spirit. And he has reiterated that when speaking about West Ham’s eight signings alongside another former Hammers boss, Sam Allardyce.
“When you think back over time, as football managers we never really wanted to bring in eight players,” Moyes said when asked what he thought about West Ham’s transfer business on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, which you can see in full below.
“You didn’t want your squad changing so much.
“I think that’s completely changed like lots of things in football have. Bigger squads means more players not playing, so it means more players unhappy, who want to play or move on…
“And at the end of the season I think that’s why there’s now bigger turnovers than there has ever been.”
Moyes is the reason West Ham needed such a big rebuild. Moyes is redefining the definition of irony with these comments.
The Hammers will be forever grateful to their former boss. But he – by his own admission – was the reason Lopetegui inherited the smallest and second oldest squad in the Premier League.
Had he been a stronger manager, who could handle a larger squad, West Ham would not be in the position of having to go out and sign eight or nine players in one window. Lopetegui has already remarked it is far from ideal when trying to get everyone to gel.
But Moyes resisted technical director many of Steidten’s targets and ideas. Instead he insisted on signing Kalvin Phillips. Relations grew so strained Moyes even banned Steidten from being around the first team at the end of last season.
Now West Ham’s squad is bursting with quality and depth, perhaps like never before in the Premier League era.
Key to West Ham’s window success has been the clear structure in place whereby Steidten is in full control of recruitment. Whether that translates to success on the pitch for Lopetegui remains to be seen.
But one thing is for certain, this summer rebuild was not only necessary but a direct consequence of the transfer approach of the very man now criticising it.
Moyes’ successor has a completely different take on transfers. So much so Lopetegui aimed a dig at Moyes over his transfer arrogance this week.
