An Appreciation of the Cracking Job David Moyes Is Doing at West Ham

When Manuel Pellegrini was sacked on 29 December last year, West Ham looked like a team who had bought a one-way ticket to the Championship.

A 2-1 defeat at home to Leicester was the Hammers' ninth defeat in 12 games, leaving the club just a point above the relegation zone in 17th, and rightfully signalled the end of Pellegrini's 19-month reign in charge.

The Chilean's failure to elevate the club to the next level was not only disappointing, it was potentially catastrophic given the financial ramifications that relegation from the Premier League could bring. West Ham looked devoid of ideas, bereft of inspiration and a disgruntled fanbase - long since unhappy with the ownership of David's Sullivan and Gold - were inhaling a smorgasbord of toxic fumes that were engulfing the club.

Then, West Ham re-appointed David Moyes, the man they had cast adrift in favour of Pellegrini in May 2018, as manager on a 18-month deal.

Rewind the clock and there had been initial joy when the Scot was replaced after his initial six-month jaunt in the hot seat, owing to Pellegrini's previous title winning credentials with Manchester City and the fact he'd managed Real Madrid.

But it quickly became apparent, even though his presence likely persuaded luxury players Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko to join the club, that Pellegrini was out of practice with improving a squad who obviously needed coaching and technical development. His tenure was up and down to put it politely, offering short periods of positivity but always retaining that soft underbelly that has been associated with West Ham sides for as long as anybody can remember.

One other thing you never really got the sense of is that Pellegrini fully got it. In press conferences, he'd remain pleasant in his demeanour, would churn out the old 'we've got to focus on winning the next game' line and was always pristinely turned out; but he seldom appreciated the fact that West Ham - for all of the nice pretty football they could play by stroking the ball from side to side - were often outthought and outlasted by teams who were hungrier for success.

Furthermore, Pellegrini - in the end - only seemed to know one way, and the glaring deficiencies in West Ham's squad were laid bare in his final months in charge, as a relatively promising start to the 2019/20 campaign soon descended into total chaos.

Now all of this isn't to say that Moyes is the messiah, or a naughty boy for that matter, nor is it to say his return was a popular decision - in truth, it was anything but. But what we've witnessed over the past 11 months under his stewardship is an evolution of West Ham.

It's taken time, evidenced by the slow start the Hammers made after his return, but what Moyes has gradually been working out, and working on with the players, is an identity and style of play that suits what's at his disposal and helps shores things up.

Recruitment wise, he's been spot on. Many comparisons are made between Tomas Soucek and Marouane Fellaini, simply because they are 6'5 bullies in the box, but who the hell cares? The Czech is an accomplished box-to-box midfielder, and adds a bit of spring, dynamism, and most importantly, threat in the opposition area.

There's also the rapid progression of Championship upstart Jarrod Bowen, who was initially earmarked as a player who could - and perhaps should - step up a level and score goals. Those haven't flowed in spades full, but the 23-year-old has started to find his shooting boots in recent weeks and his direct running and pace in the channels - as well as his tenacity and defensive work-rate - have helped West Ham improve in areas where they were previously weak.

There's also the masterstroke decision of Moyes to make Michail Antonio the second coming of Marko Arnautovic. Way back when, the Austrian was morphed from a left wing misfit into one of the Premier League's most feared centre forwards, owing to an incredible work rate (never seen before, incidentally) and desire to get in behind.

Antonio wasn't exactly a misfit, but he was a player who had previously been shoehorned into playing in several different positions - infamously as a wing-back, out of choice, by Slaven Bilic. Now he's the focus of West Ham's attacking endeavours, and the belief of Moyes - as well as the inclusion of hard-working players like Bowen and Pablo Fornals around him - has made him one of the Premier League's biggest threats.

For what feels like the first time in an eternity, West Ham have a coherent plan. Angelo Ogbonna is the leader of a sturdy three-man defence, Vladimir Coufal - another fabulous signing - and Arthur Masuaku look perfect fits in the wing-back role, and the high-intensity press, led by Antonio and supplemented by the likes of Soucek and Declan Rice, has been relentlessly good.

West Ham are far from the finished article, everybody knows that. But a record of eight wins, five draws and five defeats - three of which have come against Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United - since the insipid post-lockdown defeat to Tottenham back in June show the progress that has been made.

The weekend defeat against United hurt, but shouldn't be confused with West Ham sides of old who are unable to cope with the pressure. This is not only a functional side who are now good to watch, but one that can take the knockdowns, strengthen their resolve and bounce back.

For that, Moyes deserves great recognition - this is a truly astonishing turnaround from a team who had hit rock bottom under Pellegrini.

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