Alan Pardew, reflecting on David Moyes’ current situation at West Ham United, has shared his perspective on whether the Scotsman should be offered a new contract. Pardew, who experienced managerial challenges at West Ham in 2006, understands the pressures Moyes is currently facing.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Pardew addressed the question of Moyes deserving a new deal by pointing out West Ham’s current position. He highlighted their seventh-place standing in the league and expressed optimism about their European game, suggesting they could overturn the 1-0 deficit.
Pardew compared Moyes’ performance to other managers like De Zerbi, Pochettino, Silva, and Thomas Frank, emphasizing the club’s respectable position above others who are praised for their style of play.
Pardew challenged the notion that the statistics support the “David Moyes Out” sentiment among fans. He acknowledged the journey West Ham has been on, winning the Cup, and suggested evaluating the decision at the end of the year.
Pardew advocated offering Moyes a new contract and proposed leaving the decision to Moyes himself, considering whether he feels it’s time to move on or continue with the Hammers.
However, the surprising aspect for some fans is that Pardew, known for setting up his teams with an attacking mindset, seems to miss why some Hammers supporters have issues with Moyes.
“West Ham are seventh. They are 1-0 down, right, in the European game, and I think they will turn them over on Thursday actually. He is above De Zerbi, Poch, Silva, Thomas Frank, everyone is going, ‘Oh, they are lovely, how they play’. Brighton haven’t won for six games, Brentford haven’t won for a while. There they are sitting seventh, West Ham, and above them are Man United, Tottenham, okay Aston Villa, Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal. That is probably them top of the league. You could argue they should be above Villa. So, stats-wise it doesn’t add up – David Moyes Out. It doesn’t add up to me. You know, this journey that they have been on, they have won the Cup, let’s see where that decision is at the end of the year. They should offer him the contract, and, in my opinion, it should be down to David Moyes and whether he feels it is time to move on to a new agenda for himself or to stay at the Hammers.”
The concern expressed is that Moyes may have reached his ceiling at West Ham, and while his contributions are appreciated, his style of football might not lead the team to genuine progress and the ability to challenge for a top-six finish.
The fans’ frustration with Moyes stems from the perception that his tactical approach is not sustainable and may hinder the club’s ability to advance to the next level. Despite acknowledging Moyes’ achievements, there’s a belief among some supporters that a change in management might be necessary to propel West Ham to new heights.
In the end, the debate around offering Moyes a new contract is multifaceted, involving considerations of current standings, style of play, and the club’s long-term ambitions.
The contrasting opinions within the fanbase and even among former managers like Pardew reflect the complexity of the decision West Ham faces regarding Moyes’ future at the London Stadium.