MOYES’ SUBTLE RISE TO CL SPOT

YOU have to admire the way David Moyes has gone about his business at West Ham.

It’s almost under the radar, quietly getting results and staying around the top four, without ever really getting mentioned in the Champions League conversation.

It’s all been about which one of the Big Six will fill that final spot behind Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea. But there’s no doubt West ham figure in those calculations.

What Moyes has done is create a real sense of a team – and a real sense of a purpose at the London Stadium.

They were so close to the top four last season and, after missing out like that – one bad result against Everton late in the campaign cost them so dearly – it would have been easy to drop off.

But they have regrouped, and, even if they have a couple of bad results, they always seem to respond to put together an impressive run.

That’s the mark of a side who know what they are doing, who have a plan and are comfortable with it. They know they can get results against the best – the win over Liverpool was one of the games of the season – and they know they deserve to be up there.

I think what Moyes (left) has done deserves not only credit, but backing now, too. They were bloody good in qualifying for the Europa League knockouts and I know sides will fear them in the competition.

Can they win it? Of course, they can. No team will enjoy going to the London

Stadium and they are now adept at getting good results away from home.

With a couple of smart signings in the window, I actually think they can compete in Europe and stay in the top-four race.

And if they do, then Moyes will deserve the freedom of the borough!