David Moyes amnesia after his ridiculous Declan Rice U-turn excuse for West Ham failings. It is a case of David Moyes amnesia after he saved his worst excuse until last with that ridiculous Declan Rice U-turn on West Ham’s failings.
West Ham fans could barely believe what they were hearing while Arsenal’s lapped it up. But David Moyes found plenty of sympathy among his media pals and journalists.
The Scot has done a wonderful job in east London over the last four-and-a-half years. He pulled a sorry West Ham bunch up by their bootstraps, made them run, work and restored some professionalism to keep the club up again.
Everyone knows the success that followed as he built a very decent first XI around Declan Rice. But the football has also been dire at times over the last couple of seasons in the Premier League. And had it not been for the unforgettable Europa Conference League win, West Ham would have parted ways with Moyes last summer.
This season started really well, even if the Hammers did get more than a touch fortunate with many of their wins – Chelsea, Brighton and Spurs being three that instantly spring to mind.
The second half of the campaign has been woeful, though.
Four wins in 23 matches since the turn of the year and 17th in the Premier League form table in that time.
The latest thrashing, 5-0 at Chelsea, made it 70 goals conceded for the season – the worst ever in the top flight for West Ham and indeed any Moyes team.
One West Ham humbling too many
That humbling was not a one-off following closely behind the 5-2 at Palace a few weeks back. Both games could and should have been by seven.
There have been others at Fulham, Liverpool, Villa and the 6-0 at home to Arsenal where Rice poured salt in a gaping wound by scoring a magnificent sixth.
After Chelsea, Moyes was asked why the Hammers have suffered so many heavy defeats away from home this season, simply replying: “Declan Rice.”
He continued: “You get the best midfield player in the country, protecting, making sure the moments and times you limit maybe 50 per cent of the attacks and the moments, when you get that then it makes you a much better defensive team.”
‘He’s right’ declared the Scot’s media chums and goading Gunners fans. West Ham fans have been accused of having short memories when it comes to Moyes. But the manager has displayed a very short memory himself with those comments.
It’s a case of Moyes amnesia after the ridiculous Rice U-turn excuse for his West Ham failing. Cast your minds back to the start of the season.
Rice was telling anyone who would listen how much better the football is at Arsenal.
How much he loved working with Mikel Arteta and how he ‘sees football in a completely different way’ than under Moyes. That was just two weeks into the new season.
Rice repeated the sentiment on so many occasions in various interviews, he provoked a response from the Scot during West Ham’s strong start to the campaign.
James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alavrez and Mohammed Kudus were signed with the bulk of the £105m fee West Ham received from Arsenal for Rice.
And all had hit the ground running as West Ham established themselves in the top six mix.
Many observers noted how well the Hammers had spent the Rice funds to improve their team. None other than Moyes himself too, who declared West Ham had become a better side without their former captain.
In separate interviews with The Daily Mail and Sky Sports, Moyes did praise his former captain. But he insisted he felt West Ham’s midfield and team were stronger following the post Rice rebuild.
“Could be, I do think that (our midfield is better),” Moyes said.
“We’ve tried to get players in who could do certain jobs for us and do well. Dec was a super player, and if we can get anywhere close to being that level with Declan then we’ll have done a good job in that recruitment department.”
In a separate interview with Vicky Gomershall for Sky, Moyes doubled down on that claim. I don’t think we’re weaker, I feel we’re stronger’
“I don’t think we feel weaker, I actually feel we’re stronger because of what’s happened…
“Obviously changes happen at every club and we’re no different from anybody else…
