MOYES HAS THE METTLE HIS IRONS NEED FOR STEEL CITY AND BEYOND

THERE are a number of Premier League managers who are only ever a few defeats away from being under serious pressure.

Pep Guardiola is not one of them. Jurgen Klopp is not one of them. Obviously. And neither is David Moyes (below).

The West Ham boss is never ‘a few defeats away’ from being under serious pressure… he is always ONE defeat away from being under serious pressure.

If the Hammers get turned over by Sheffield United at Bramall Lane today, radio stations will, no doubt, field plenty of calls from West Ham fans – genuine or otherwise – calling for Moyes not to be given a new contract.

His current deal expires in the summer.

Stoic character that he is, Moyes would never let on that criticism – particularly of the way his teams play – can become wearisome, that it can bug him. But it is hard to believe that the frequent sniping about his style does not rankle.

In his second spell with the club, Moyes has delivered a sixth-place and a seventh-place finish, a European semi-final and a European trophy.

If they win this afternoon’s contest against the Blades, West Ham will move to within three points of fifth-placed Tottenham, having played the same number of matches. Yes, the cup exits, particularly the FA Cup defeat at Bristol City last week, have been disappointing, but the run to the Europa League knockout stages has been authoritative.

However, even though Moyes might move his men to within one win of Spurs, he is no Ange Postecoglou, loved by the entire fan base.

He is not as cuddly as big Ange, his football is not as alluring. You could say he is not as funny as big Ange, but Moyes has a waspish sense of humour.

In other words, Moyes – who turns 61 in three months – has, in a way, become too familiar.

His largely counter-attacking style? Too familiar.

His non-reliance on possession, having had the majority of it only five times in the Premier League? Too familiar.

His pragmatism? Too familiar.

His straight-talking? Too familiar.

Moyes is just a familiarly good elite football manager, simple as that.

And West Ham would be plain daft to listen to those who think it is not a good idea to give Moyes the new two-and-ahalf year deal – one that was reported to be heading to the table a couple of weeks ago.

If the injuries to key players get sorted fairly quickly, West Ham will, I suspect, have a strong second half of the season.

If I had to have a wager, my money would be on Moyes again securing European football for the club next season.

And you never know, he might then have a moment when he sits back one night and thinks, ‘OK, my standing in the game is secure, respect from my peers is total... let’s see if we can have a crack at this gung-ho stuff now’.

In the unlikely event he keeps all of the attacking talent at his disposal over the next two transfer windows – and even possibly adds to it – he has the players to adopt a more front-foot approach.

His team might get a few beatings and he will then go back to that more familiar pragmatic approach, but he will have satisfied his and the fans’ curiosity. All that is for another day. Right now, ignore the noise – West Ham and Moyes are the perfect fit.

And one defeat should not change that.

If I had to have a wager, my money would be on Moyes again securing European football