MOYES’ BOYS ARE TV STARS
DAVID MOYES is thrilled his West Ham high-fliers are small-screen hits this season.
The Hammers head to Aston Villa today for their SIXTH live Premier League TV clash of the 2021-22 campaign.
Throw in three Europa League games as well as a Carabao Cup win at Manchester United and Moyes’ men will have featured TEN times on the telly by tonight.
And it does not stop there. They have two more dates this week, including next Sunday’s visit of Liverpool.
Good job, then, his Irons are not only producing results but also entertaining the armchair fans with their displays.
No wonder Moyes is loving the wave of positivity and attention surrounding his East Londoners.
The ex-Manchester United and Everton chief, in his second spell at the London Stadium, said: “It makes me feel really good and I feel we’re playing in a good style.
“I’m hoping it makes West Ham more interesting and that the people think we’re moving in the right direction. To think that we’ve had eight, nine, ten TV slots already, that gives us the idea we’re becoming more fashionable.
“I’ve always said I want to be the best and hardest team to play against.
“But I was brought up at Celtic, where it was about winning, first and foremost, then winning with style and, when you got that, they wanted lots of goals. So I feel like my whole background has been in that.”
If raised on a free-flowing, goals-galore philosophy, Moyes insists deploying such tactics is often dictated by the quality of player and financial resources available.
“At the moment, I’m really fortunate. I have a talented group,” said the Scot, whose coaching days began at Preston.
“We’ve brought in some players who’ve helped that, some who have revived their careers and some who are in the best form they’ve ever been in.”
Worryingly for rivals, Moyes believes Declan Rice and Co are only just realising their huge potential together.
West Ham currently head their Europa League group, are into the Carabao Cup last eight and were fourth in the league heading into the weekend.
Yet Moyes added: “I’ve said to the players recently we have a long way to go to reach the levels we really want.
“I’m looking to be much better, clean, crisper in all our play. I don’t think we’re anywhere near our top level – and I feel we’ll continue to improve.”
That may explain why Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is keen to buy a 27 per cent £150million stake in the club now – with a view to a future £600m takeover.
Moyes was tight-lipped on that speculation. He said: “There are a lot of good noises around the club at the moment – whether it be the crowd, the investment or bigger stadia. “