NEW SIGNINGS ESSENTIAL FOR WEST HAM TO SURVIVE
THE 900 or so who marked a decade of the Davids with a protest find themselves needing the men they want out to spend the money that will keep them in. What a very West Ham kind of pickle.
As ever, there is an uneasy balance at that club — off the field, where a section of the supporters cannot stomach David Gold and David Sullivan, and in the squad, where there are simply not enough players who can turn matches.
The former was well established long before Saturday’s remonstration, but the latter was illustrated so neatly by David Moyes’ post- match reflections. He spoke of pondering an aggressive second-half substitution at 1-1 only to look at a bench comprising five defenders, a goalkeeper and a single striker in Albian Ajeti, about whom he admits he knows little.
At 16th in the table and with games against Liverpool (twice) and Manchester City among their next five, the feeling is growing that new signings this month are essential if West Ham are to survive.
Moyes has already received a new stand-in goalkeeper — Darren Randolph — but he wants at least one more. Such are the issues in the squad, he could use help at any of right back, central midfield or attack, where the burden on Sebastien Haller was significant in the 1-1 draw with Everton.
The difficulty, according to Moyes, is exacerbated by the breadth of the relegation fight.
Moyes said: ‘ You could probably say there could be nine or 10 teams in it. Because there are so many in that position nobody wants to let people go.’
Gold and Sullivan will back Moyes — they have spent £ 210.4million net since the controversial stadium move in 2016 — and so far he seems a sensible investment.
While Saturday’s game was generally lifeless other than the goals for Issa Diop and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser, it is notable that Moyes has made West Ham far more robust. Indeed, they often had the better of Everton, who have taken 10 points from 15 under Carlo Ancelotti but are yet to show any great coherence.
Moyes said: ‘I knew when I took the job that January and February looked tough and if we didn’t get ourselves away from the bottom, then picking up points could be hard. What’s given me a bit of hope is that results are a bit unsure and you wouldn’t know who is going to win.’
Hope is good. New signings might be better.