SHAMMERS SLAMMED
Moyes stunned by big-name flops
DAVID MOYES laid into West Ham’s big-name flops and accused them of living off their reputations.
The Hammers remain marooned in the bottom three after goals from Will Hughes and Richarlison condemned the Londoners to a morale-sapping defeat in Moyes’s first game in charge.
Furious fans turned on owners David Gold, David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady and shocked Moyes did not hide his frustration.
The Scot said: “I thought this was a big job but there were some players with big reputations who disappointed me.
“There were some who I thought would show me more and why they play for the team regularly. They need to show me, ‘If that’s your reputation, show me why you’ve got it’.
“Overall that level of performance will not be good enough.”
Friday night’s home game with Leicester at the London Stadium could turn toxic if the Hammers suffer another setback.
Moyes said: “It’s tough for the players – I could sense that – but I didn’t enjoy our performance in the end. I didn’t enjoy us giving the ball away too cheaply, too many times and I expected us to do better.
“The better team won the game, although we did have three big opportunities to make it 1-1. And we need things like that to go our way to build confidence and a togetherness at the club.”
Travelling fans chanted “Sack the board” and turned on England discard Andy Carroll, who had been critical of supporters for leaving early in last month’s home defeat by Liverpool.
Moyes admitted he hooked Carroll midway through the second half because he feared his combustible striker was going to collect a red card.
Carroll had left Watford debutant Marvin Zeegelaar with a bloody nose in an aerial challenge after just seven seconds and the Hammers manager said: “I don’t know the history or the reasons for it (hostility towards the board).
“The fans were supportive of me and I’m thankful for that but I can understand their feelings because we didn’t play well enough.
“At half-time I had to make a decision because I wasn’t sure whether Andy was going to get himself sent off.
“I thought we defended okay but then we gave away cheap goals by getting bundled off the ball and we didn’t really deal with it. We didn’t do well enough in all departments at different times.”
Vibrant Watford ended a run of three consecutive defeats – but head coach Marco Silva still refused to say whether he would stay at Vicarage Road amid Everton’s persistent attempts to poach him.
Silva said: “I thought we controlled the match more or less and what I can control in terms of my future is to plan the next session and prepared for our next game.
“Some people have been doubting my commitment but today me and my players gave a very good answer.”
Watford fans serenaded Silva with a chant of “We want you to stay” and he added: “It’s good when the fans enjoy what we are doing.”
Everton are set to return with a third approach for Silva this week.
But Hornets owner Gino Pozzo has no intention of granting them permission to seduce his manager with £4million a year – and a £70m transfer kitty in January.