FATHER TIME
Moyesie: We’re bossing late, late shows like Fergie I don’t want to be Prem’s oldest boss...stay on, Roy!
WEST HAM’S run of late winning goals has spawned talk of ‘Moyesie Time’.
But David Moyes claims he would much prefer it if his team were avoiding dramatic conclusions by finding the net early.
Czech midfielder Tomas Soucek has scored in the 88th minute or later in the Hammers’ last three games.
And before today’s meeting against Crystal Palace at London Stadium, Moyes thinks comparisons with the knack Sir Alex Ferguson (right) had at Manchester United for grand-stand finishes are not yet deserved.
“Alex Ferguson was special at getting it,” said the West Ham boss. “He had special teams at the time.
“I’d rather we got them earlier in the games – I’m sure he did as well – but if we have to win games at the end so be it.
“The last couple of games have been that way, let’s hope we can keep it going. We just have to stay focused, concentrating.”
That will be required in spades across a hectic eightgame December that also sees a final Europa League group stage match against Freiburg in addition to an EFL Cup quarter-final away to Liverpool.
But the trip to Anfield on December 20 is the only match West Ham will need to leave the capital for.
“We’re running into a really tough and intense batch of games,” added Moyes. “The next three midweeks are Tottenham, Freiburg and Liverpool, and that’s just the midweek games.”
But first up is a Crystal Palace team in a rough run of form, losing four of their past five. They are also without the injured Eberechi Eze and Cheick Doucoure. It is also a game that pits the Premier League’s two oldest bosses against each other for the 16th time. Palace’s dip has created more speculation on the future of Roy Hodgson, 76 (below). But Moyes, 60, is certain he does not want to become known as the top tier’s elder statesman. “I hope he stays because it means I’m not the oldest,” the Scot added. “Hasn’t he been an incredible ambassador for football? The teams he has managed, the way he’s gone about it. “To continue doing it at his age shows how much love he has for the game.”