Moyes appointment a leap of faith by West Ham

David Moyes begins his new job as West Ham United manager intent on reviving his floundering career by resuscitating a club mired in relegation trouble.

Many observers view the 54-year-old former Everton manager as fortunate to get another chance to prove himself after being sacked from his past three jobs at Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland, which was relegated from the Premier League last season after losing 26 of his 38 games in charge.

It was his demeanor and his record that was held against him, and Moyes appeared to get his excuses in early by predicting Sunderland faced a difficult season after the second game.

But the Black Cats’ current plight – they are bottom of the second-tier Championship – suggests their problems are more structural and West Ham’s owners have looked beyond that unhappy spell in charge to appoint a highly experienced coach who knows he may not get another chance if West Ham fails to stay up.

A banner declaring Moyes “The Chosen One” did him no favors during an insipid season in charge at Old Trafford and his subsequent spell at Real Sociedad also ended in disappointment, with the Spanish Liga club flirting with relegation.

Now he faces a similar fight at West Ham, with little in Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat by Liverpool – Slaven Bilic’s final game in charge – to offer immediate hope of a revival. West Ham is currently 18th place, with nine points from 11 games.

Like Crystal Palace, which earlier this term turned to another seasoned manager in 70-year-old Roy Hodgson, the Hammers believe Moyes can turn their fortunes around.

No more transfer dealings can be done until the window opens in January so Moyes must work with what he has until then. Both manager and team need to learn how to win again, which makes his appointment an intriguing leap of faith by the owners.