HUMILIATION PUTS MOYES’ FUTURE IN JEOPARDY

THE jury is still out on David Moyes at West Ham.

The Hammers’ humiliating 6-0 defeat to Arsenal has only served to kick-start the debate about whether Moyes (left) should stay or go, with his contract up in the summer.

At the turn of the year, all the talk was about the Scot getting a new deal on the back of what he described as his best year in management.

West Ham had won a European trophy, had just beaten Arsenal and Manchester United. Moyes was flavour of the month and West Ham had rarely had it so good.

They are currently eighth in the league and in the Europa League’s last 16. But talk of a new contract has gone ominously quiet.

It begs the question: what exactly do West Ham fans want? They definitely do not want a six-goal humiliation, which led to a mass walkout at half-time against the Gunners.

Post-match, Moyes admitted they had been weak and said he “understood” fans leaving early.

But there was also a pointed reminder that, not so long back, they were celebrating European success.

You can’t criticise the fans for leaving early. But they do want more expansive football. They want to be entertained.

With that, comes risk and defeats. Fewer guarantees of mid-table security and some memorable wins each season.

Moyes is a brilliant football manager who deserves respect.

He also deserves better performances from those who let him down against Arsenal.

It’s hard to see West Ham being able to make a managerial upgrade. Brighton made a bold appointment with Roberto De Zerbi. But the Hammers are above Brighton.

Whoever comes next will be a risk compared to Moyes’ guarantees.

But once fans turn, it’s incredibly hard to get them back and, ultimately, they are the ones who decide.