West Ham manager David Moyes has offered a candid evaluation of Danny Ings, sparking questions about the rationale behind signing him in the first place.
Despite Ings’ arrival being hailed as a solution to West Ham’s goal-scoring woes, the reality has been far from ideal for the striker since his £15m move from Aston Villa last year.
Ings found himself thrust into a struggling West Ham side, grappling with a lack of goals and flirting with relegation last season. His acquisition during the January transfer window was viewed as a potential remedy to their attacking shortcomings.
However, the 31-year-old has struggled for consistent playing time, and when given opportunities, has often failed to make a significant impact or convert chances.
His recent goal against former club Burnley, albeit a lone bright spot in a string of underwhelming performances, reignited discussions surrounding his limited game time.
When questioned about the possibility of finding a way to incorporate Ings alongside Michail Antonio in the team, Moyes displayed visible frustration. The manager downplayed Ings’ contribution against Burnley as a singular occurrence rather than a sustainable performance.
Moyes expressed dissatisfaction with Ings’ inability to consistently contribute to the team’s success, particularly in matches where West Ham aren’t dominating possession or creating numerous scoring opportunities.
Given West Ham’s typical style of play under Moyes, characterized by ceding possession and employing a counter-attacking approach, the question arises: why sign Ings in the first place if his strengths don’t align with the team’s tactical ethos?
“I think we’ve always planned for Danny to have a big role to play,” Moyes said of Ings, as per the club’s website.
“Danny knows he’s come into a game which suited (him). We were the team on top, lots of penalty box entries and opportunities and who had the tidy finishes and who could finish well. Well everybody knows Danny Ings is great at that part of the game.
Begs the question why sign Ings in the first place?
“There’s been other games where we’ve not had as much of the ball and not had as much around the box where I don’t quite see Danny giving us quite as much as we require there.
“But he done a great job coming on, it’s what we hoped that he’d score goals coming on or when he starts. But they’re probably his first goals for a while. I’m pleased for him and he was probably unlucky not to get more than the one that he got.”
Moyes acknowledged Ings’ proficiency in the penalty box and his ability to finish chances but emphasized the need for broader contributions beyond scoring goals.
While pleased with Ings’ goal against Burnley, Moyes hinted at a disparity between Ings’ performance in that specific game and his overall suitability for West Ham’s style of play.
The assessment from Moyes casts doubt on Ings’ prospects of securing a regular spot in the starting lineup. With West Ham typically relinquishing possession and favoring a more defensive approach, Ings’ skill set may not be optimally utilized within the team’s tactical framework.
Moyes’ honest evaluation of Ings raises pertinent questions about the alignment between player recruitment and team strategy at West Ham.
Despite Ings’ goal-scoring prowess, his fit within the team’s tactical setup remains uncertain, prompting scrutiny over the decision to sign him.