DULL ONE? MORE LIKE DULL YIN
Top class Moyes finally getting credit he deserves.. and proving he’d be the perfect fit for Scotland in future
DAVID MOYES was once the manager of Manchester United.
If he hadn’t been, various people would currently be putting David Moyes’ name forward to be the manager of Manchester United.
It’s not that long ago fans of Scotland rolled their eyes and cast dismissive glances when he was being talked of for the vacant post after Alex McLeish’s departure.
Not that they deserve a hard time.
There were plenty of West Ham punters who did precisely that when Moyes walked in the door.
One famous caller to a radio channel claimed he was outdated, out of touch and a dinosaur. Now they are all forever blowing bubbles up his backside.
Moyes is doing a brilliant job. At the age of 58, he’s not old for a manager.
But he’s experienced and teaching some of the new guard old tricks. West Ham are third in the Premier League.
They are top of their Europa League section with designs of winning the trophy.
They are in the quarterfinals of the League Cup.
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool were the latest to suffer at his hands last weekend.
It’s almost funny that his own club hierarchy didn’t really act as if they totally trusted him to start with.
After spells at Old Trafford, Real Sociedad and Sunderland following his successful days at Everton, Hammers chiefs only gave him a short-term contract in 2017 to save them from relegation.
Moyes did the job asked of him and was rewarded with the non-offer of another deal.
Getting all glamorous again, the Irons went for former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Joint chairman David Sullivan saying they wanted to appoint a high-calibre figure... aye, very good. It didn’t take long for the Chilean to flop and for the Londoners to go cap in hand back to Moyes at the end of 2019.
How ironic those same owners gave him a guard of honour in the boardroom after he ended Liverpool’s 25-game unbeaten run.
They’ll get lynched if they try replacing the Glaswegian any time soon. West Ham broke their transfer record twice under Pellegrini, paying £36million for Lazio attacking midfielder Felipe Anderson and £45m for striker Sebastien Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt.
They spent £155m in fees and the pay-off was getting roasted 4-0 by Oxford United in the same EFL Cup Moyes is now sending both Manchester clubs out of in successive rounds. The Scot has spent a fraction of that but gets it done by getting the best out of players and being tactically switched on.
Playing to strengths, basically.
Moyes had a reputation for dull football. That’s not the case now.
They are an exciting watch as well as winning games.
He’ll be the first to admit he’s not doing this alone. His coaching staff of Stuart Pearce, Billy McKinlay and Kevin Nolan are all experienced and excellent operators who can get in and around the players as well, plus provide top ideas.
Enlisting Rob Newman as West Ham’s new head of recruitment is another sharp move with the future in mind given he spent more than 12 years with Manchester City as an international scouting and recruitment manager.
Throw in the fact he should now have mega millions to play with after yesterday’s investment announcement and all the ingredients are there.
Now his critics are all forever blowing bubbles up Moyes’ backside
But Moyes is top of the shop and deserves every accolade and piece of respect he is now getting.
One day Steve Clarke will not be the Scotland manager. He will have done his time and will move on to a new position.
Hopefully that’s not soon given the impressive job the 58-year-old is doing.
But, when it inevitably happens, Moyes would surely have to be a top candidate.
And no one would be rolling their eyes this time.