David Moyes West Ham Manager (Again) | European Champion

stevoc

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Fergie had it planned for years. He had groomed him for a long, long time (which may explain Moyes’ funny walk), no matter what he says these days.
I actually agree with you there I think Moyes was his first choice to succeed him as misguided as that was.
 

LawmanMan

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Pity for him he didn't do it at United, Sociedad or Sunderland.

At the end of their respective careers who do you expect will have won more trophies Moyes or Rodgers?
Depends if Moyes pads his stats by managing Celtic like Brendan.
 

Sarni

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Pity for him he didn't do it at United, Sociedad or Sunderland.

At the end of their respective careers who do you expect will have won more trophies Moyes or Rodgers?
Well considering Rodgers has won the league with Celtic and FA Cup with Leicester already, and is 10 years younger, it won’t be much of a competition.
 

Sarni

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Depends if Moyes pads his stats by managing Celtic like Brendan.
Well he’s won FA Cup with Leicester too. Moyes has managed for 20 years at the top level with zero trophies. Not a single one.
 

Sarni

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I actually agree with you there I think Moyes was his first choice to succeed him as misguided as that was.
Isn’t it quite well documented that he met with Guardiola to try and convince him to take the job? Or do we reckon he would have chosen Moyes ahead of him anyway?
 

Paul_Scholes18

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They are in a tricky position now where they are way too close to top 4 and at the same time to close to dropping out of European spots altogether to go light in the league, but at the same time Europa League is probably their best shot at securing Champions League football for next season.

I don’t really have much trust in Moyes being able to win the trophy seeing as he hasn’t won a single one in his entire managerial career though.
I think they should go for Europe heavily.
 

stevoc

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Isn’t it quite well documented that he met with Guardiola to try and convince him to take the job? Or do we reckon he would have chosen Moyes ahead of him anyway?
That's a bit of a myth mate, in his book Fergie says he didn't even know he was retiring when he met Guardiola (this was before his sister-in-law's death) so he couldn't have offered Pep the job. Also in his book he says he told Moyes in February 2013 not to renew his Everton contract so in his words it would ''make it easier for United''.
 

stevoc

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Well considering Rodgers has won the league with Celtic and FA Cup with Leicester already, and is 10 years younger, it won’t be much of a competition.
Indeed, I really have never liked Moyes but he has been a good manager at Everton and now West Ham. So it is really strange that over his 20+ year career he has never managed at least one League Cup.
 

Il Prete Rosso

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Not really. Ferguson wanted Mourinho, Klopp or Guardiola, they just weren’t available. Fergie isn’t an idiot, he knew we needed a top quality manager to succeed him to remain competitive but the timing of his departure was just awful with all the top managers being completely unavailable.

He basically got the job because he was available and had Premier League experience, doing decent job on limited budget with a mid-table team punching above its weight. These appointments very rarely work out and this one was the worst any top club did in the last two decades.
I disagree with this. In my opinion, I think Fergie picked Moyes because he could have seen a long term project at Utd, with Moyes being at the helm. He did well at Everton with little resources compared to Utd and it seemed like he thought the club would back Moyes. What Fergie failed to realize was what he was leaving behind...A title winning squad, a massive club fan base used to winning and most importantly he misjudged the patience of the club with a long term project with Moyes. We all knew the results would not have been the same but what Moyes failed to do, was instill HIS own culture at the club. He tried to continue what Fergie left in the short term and he clearly wasn't ready for that kind of toxicity when things got bad, after all, it's Manchester Utd...NOT Everton. If he came in and said..."I need to rebuild this squad, change the culture to what I think is suitable to these changes, and start looking to youth"...I think he would have given himself more buffer or room for mistakes and bad results. Also remember that a lot of players were on their way out and that would have been the perfect time for him to mold the club in his image.
 

stevoc

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I disagree with this. In my opinion, I think Fergie picked Moyes because he could have seen a long term project at Utd, with Moyes being at the helm. He did well at Everton with little resources compared to Utd and it seemed like he thought the club would back Moyes. What Fergie failed to realize was what he was leaving behind...A title winning squad, a massive club fan base used to winning and most importantly he misjudged the patience of the club with a long term project with Moyes. We all knew the results would not have been the same but what Moyes failed to do, was instill HIS own culture at the club. He tried to continue what Fergie left in the short term and he clearly wasn't ready for that kind of toxicity when things got bad, after all, it's Manchester Utd...NOT Everton. If he came in and said..."I need to rebuild this squad, change the culture to what I think is suitable to these changes, and start looking to youth"...I think he would have given himself more buffer or room for mistakes and bad results. Also remember that a lot of players were on their way out and that would have been the perfect time for him to mold the club in his image.
Juts to point out that according to Moyes himself the club lodged a world record bid for Bale in 2013 as well as large bids for Fabregas among others while signing Fellaini and Mata for a club record fee. So you can't say the club weren't willing to back Moyes financially.
 

Mickeza

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Juts to point out that according to Moyes himself the club lodged a world record bid for Bale in 2013 as well as large bids for Fabregas among others while signing Fellaini and Mata for a club record fee. So you can't say the club weren't willing to back Moyes financially.
The club were willing to back him but we had absolutely zero modern infrastructure in terms of identifying targets for a club of our size - it was all about the manager, his contacts and his scouts. Moyes went from shopping in Aldi to Waitrose so didn’t have a preset list of targets outside of muller/bale/Fabregas/baines/fellaini and because he wanted to be thorough in signing players refused Thiago who Fergie had lined up for him as he didn’t know enough about him. It’s taken 9 years to get that infrastructure/committee in place where it isn’t all on the manager and even know I have my doubts - so I’m not sure Moyes is solely to blame.
 

stevoc

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The club were willing to back him but we had absolutely zero modern infrastructure in terms of identifying targets for a club of our size - it was all about the manager, his contacts and his scouts. Moyes went from shopping in Aldi to Waitrose so didn’t have a preset list of targets outside of muller/bale/Fabregas/baines/fellaini and because he wanted to be thorough in signing players refused Thiago who Fergie had lined up for him as he didn’t know enough about him. It’s taken 9 years to get that infrastructure/committee in place where it isn’t all on the manager and even know I have my doubts - so I’m not sure Moyes is solely to blame.
Yes the club did back him but Moyes wasn't prepared for the job. The club had a scouting network and targets lined up the majority or all of which Moyes nixed in favour of his own. Fair enough but that's how lot's of clubs work especially a decade ago. So he really had no complaints on that front, the club backed him in whatever he wanted to do.
 

Classical Mechanic

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Great win for Moyes last night. They got pretty much the hardest draw in the round and deservedly beat the Europa League specialists that have a fantastic record against English sides. I thought that West Ham might tank in the Europa given their lack of European experience but they've had a great campaign.
 

Mickeza

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Yes the club did back him but Moyes wasn't prepared for the job. The club had a scouting network and targets lined up the majority or all of which Moyes nixed in favour of his own. Fair enough but that's how lot's of clubs work especially a decade ago. So he really had no complaints on that front, the club backed him in whatever he wanted to do.
Nah I totally disagree. The entire club was built around one man who left. That why we completely overhauled our scouting department over the next 5 years. Yes he failed and yes signing fellaini and mata shows how we had zero idea of how he wanted to play but the structure in place at the club was absolutely not conducive for anyone to succeed - we’re nearly a decade on and there’s no proof it still isn’t.
 

led_scholes

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Even if he wins the Europa League with WH, and I hope he does, it doesn't mean that he was ever suitable for us. He has been to Europe 10 times and this is the first time he has made a good run. Hodgson and McLaren did also amazingly in Europe for a season, but that doest make them world class.
He is the perfect manager to get you top 10. We knew it then. However he is not, and will never become, a serial winner.
 

stevoc

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Nah I totally disagree. The entire club was built around one man who left. That why we completely overhauled our scouting department over the next 5 years. Yes he failed and yes signing fellaini and mata shows how we had zero idea of how he wanted to play but the structure in place at the club was absolutely not conducive for anyone to succeed - we’re nearly a decade on and there’s no proof it still isn’t.
Fair enough. And I'm not disagreeing that the club relied heavily on SAF but I'm not buying that the club being a bit behind the times was the reason Moyes failed. He primarily failed because he didn't have the right mentality to manage a massive club and while being a good manager he isn't a great one.
 

Cloud7

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I don’t get why people still talk about what he could have achieved at United. Moyes wasn’t cut out for a top club, and that’s entirely okay. Some managers do their best work at clubs in the level below that. We’ve seen that with Emery and now we’re seeing it with Moyes.
 

Smores

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Yes the club did back him but Moyes wasn't prepared for the job. The club had a scouting network and targets lined up the majority or all of which Moyes nixed in favour of his own. Fair enough but that's how lot's of clubs work especially a decade ago. So he really had no complaints on that front, the club backed him in whatever he wanted to do.
He didn't turn down lined up talent they just fell through so he had to scramble for the likes of the big man late on.

Post Fergie we needed a perfect squad already in place for someone to just step into for a season and bed in. Instead we fecked up and left behind a project that needed immediate attention.

It was always going to be tough for anyone taking over. We made it far harder than it should have been.
 

stevoc

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He didn't turn down lined up talent they just fell through so he had to scramble for the likes of the big man late on.
Well it was widely reported by Rio Ferdinand among others that Moyes vetoed a move for Thiago, we have direct quotes from Graham Hunter who was close to Moyes that he also vetoed the idea of going after Herrera early in that window before we got desperate on deadline day and went back in for him.

By the way we were making bods for Baines and Fellaini early on in that window so Fellaini wasn't a back-up option. Moyes just said he didn't want him to be his first signing as it would have put too much pressure on him.

Post Fergie we needed a perfect squad already in place for someone to just step into for a season and bed in. Instead we fecked up and left behind a project that needed immediate attention.

It was always going to be tough for anyone taking over. We made it far harder than it should have been.
Is any squad ever perfect though?

I assume the reason Ferguson prolonged the careers of the likes of Scholes, Giggs etc instead of going big in the transfer market to replace them was that he knew he wasn't going to manage for ever and wanted to let his successor build his own side. In fact I can vaguely remember an alleged conversation between Moyes and Ferguson during the course of that season where SAF apparently said as much when Moyes complained about the squad.
 

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Fair play to him. They've beaten a favourite to win it and there are some beatable teams still in it. Could get to a final if they're lucky.
 

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Ran out of Everton and they're going down.

Ran out of United and they're in the brown.

David Moyes, he runs this town!
 

Oranges038

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Interesting to see this thread has 40 pages and Lego Pep has more than three times that. He has been nothing short of brilliant for West Ham.

Had we stuck with Moyes we would have been miles ahead where we are now. But then, fans know more about football than Alex Ferguson!
Probably would to be fair, would definitely be well in the top 4 hunt every year at a minimum. You can see that once he gets his setup running he's capable of putting good squads together and he's able to get the best put of his players.

What he did wrong at Utd was trying to change too much too soon. That left him floundering because all the players, staff and fans immediately started questioned his decisons. It was all downhill from there and was only going to end one way.
 

United in sin

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Not really. Ferguson wanted Mourinho, Klopp or Guardiola, they just weren’t available. Fergie isn’t an idiot, he knew we needed a top quality manager to succeed him to remain competitive but the timing of his departure was just awful with all the top managers being completely unavailable.

He basically got the job because he was available and had Premier League experience, doing decent job on limited budget with a mid-table team punching above its weight. These appointments very rarely work out and this one was the worst any top club did in the last two decades.
Mourinho would've left Chelsea and taken the role after Fergie left. Fergie respected Mourinho but in my opinion he didn't want him at United. You can strike Mourinho's name off that list and add Ancelloti to it and it will make more sense
 

Pretzels81

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Well it was widely reported by Rio Ferdinand among others that Moyes vetoed a move for Thiago, we have direct quotes from Graham Hunter who was close to Moyes that he also vetoed the idea of going after Herrera early in that window before we got desperate on deadline day and went back in for him.

By the way we were making bods for Baines and Fellaini early on in that window so Fellaini wasn't a back-up option. Moyes just said he didn't want him to be his first signing as it would have put too much pressure on him.



Is any squad ever perfect though?

I assume the reason Ferguson prolonged the careers of the likes of Scholes, Giggs etc instead of going big in the transfer market to replace them was that he knew he wasn't going to manage for ever and wanted to let his successor build his own side. In fact I can vaguely remember an alleged conversation between Moyes and Ferguson during the course of that season where SAF apparently said as much when Moyes complained about the squad.
Moyes is not a scout. He only knows the players he trains/has trained, and his staff. He probably doesn't care (much) about non-English football. That's why he signed Fellaini, of all people. Moyes' "Everton United" didn't work, simple as that. The 14-15 season would have been even worse, without even worse signings.

If somehow Levy called him to manage Tottenham, he would sign 3-4 WH players, you can bet your life on it.
 

shamans

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Moyes is not a scout. He only knows the players he trains/has trained, and his staff. He probably doesn't care (much) about non-English football. That's why he signed Fellaini, of all people. Moyes' "Everton United" didn't work, simple as that. The 14-15 season would have been even worse, without even worse signings.

If somehow Levy called him to manage Tottenham, he would sign 3-4 WH players, you can bet your life on it.
You know nothing about him then. It's not about being a scout. It's about having an eye for young unknown talent. Moyes is world class as that. Whether that skill is something that is important for a mega club nowadays is debatable but no doubting how good he is. Check out some of his budget transfers on transfer market. In fact, he's better at bargain signings than big money ones.
 

Strootman's Finger

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Not really. Ferguson wanted Mourinho, Klopp or Guardiola, they just weren’t available. Fergie isn’t an idiot, he knew we needed a top quality manager to succeed him to remain competitive but the timing of his departure was just awful with all the top managers being completely unavailable.

He basically got the job because he was available and had Premier League experience, doing decent job on limited budget with a mid-table team punching above its weight. These appointments very rarely work out and this one was the worst any top club did in the last two decades.
Klopp was gettable at the time SAF left, my #1 reason for being so utterly disappointed when Moyes was hired was the fact that we didn't hire Klopp. Sure Moyes was known for dreadful football and finishing fourth was his CL victory, but missing out what was obviously the next great manager in world football was criminal and a decision we have paid for, in a number of ways, for a decade now.
 

Strootman's Finger

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You know nothing about him then. It's not about being a scout. It's about having an eye for young unknown talent. Moyes is world class as that. Whether that skill is something that is important for a mega club nowadays is debatable but no doubting how good he is. Check out some of his budget transfers on transfer market. In fact, he's better at bargain signings than big money ones.
Moyes signed Fellaini twice, nuff said
 

stevoc

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Moyes is not a scout. He only knows the players he trains/has trained, and his staff. He probably doesn't care (much) about non-English football.
Yeah no doubt he's probably only ever watched it uno, dos or tres times.

That's why he signed Fellaini, of all people. Moyes' "Everton United" didn't work, simple as that. The 14-15 season would have been even worse, without even worse signings.

If somehow Levy called him to manage Tottenham, he would sign 3-4 WH players, you can bet your life on it.
Yeah from where he was after that Everton defeat it was similar to Solskjaer after the Watford game this season. He'd completely lost the squad and looked a broken man, from there there was no way Moyes was ever turning it around at United. It took him 6 years and 3 jobs in between to get back to his pre United Everton level.
 

LawmanMan

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Yeah no doubt he's probably only ever watched it uno, dos or tres times.



Yeah from where he was after that Everton defeat it was similar to Solskjaer after the Watford game this season. He'd completely lost the squad and looked a broken man, from there there was no way Moyes was ever turning it around at United. It took him 6 years and 3 jobs in between to get back to his pre United Everton level.
People read far too much into a manager's demeanour after a game. He had already put plans in place for the following season and had lined up the transfer of a guy who turned out to be one of the best midfielders in the world. Good old Louis didn't like the guy, so canned the transfer.

We had a weak CEO who simply couldn't handle the job and who has set the club back years due to his knee-jerk behaviour.
 

stevoc

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People read far too much into a manager's demeanour after a game. He had already put plans in place for the following season and had lined up the transfer of a guy who turned out to be one of the best midfielders in the world. Good old Louis didn't like the guy, so canned the transfer.

We had a weak CEO who simply couldn't handle the job and who has set the club back years due to his knee-jerk behaviour.
We also had a manger that couldn't handle the job of managing Manchester United on basically any level. He had no idea how to handle the pressure, had no idea how to handle the squad, the media or the size of the club. I don't mean he looked sad after the Everton game, I mean by the time that Everton game was over he'd lost the players they had no confidence in him and he had to go, he was broken to the point he wasn't the same manager for years when you look at the disastrous spells at Sociedad and Sunderland. Had he stayed on at United I honestly wouldn't have been surprised if he'd dragged us into flirting with a relegation battle.
 

LawmanMan

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We also had a manger that couldn't handle the job of managing Manchester United on basically any level. He had no idea how to handle the pressure, had no idea how to handle the squad, the media or the size of the club. I don't mean he looked sad after the Everton game, I mean by the time that Everton game was over he'd lost the players they had no confidence in him and he had to go, he was broken to the point he wasn't the same manager for years when you look at the disastrous spells at Sociedad and Sunderland. Had he stayed on at United I honestly wouldn't have been surprised if he'd dragged us into flirting with a relegation battle.
I dunno. He did OK at Sociedad when you actually look at the results of the first season and then got the bullet after a bad start. Wasn't exactly Bobby Robson, but wasn't a debacle. Sunderland was a debacle but the Sunderland Netflix documentary shows that the club was basically in administration when he came in as the owner was looking to sell after throwing good money after bad.
 

Pretzels81

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You know nothing about him then. It's not about being a scout. It's about having an eye for young unknown talent. Moyes is world class as that. Whether that skill is something that is important for a mega club nowadays is debatable but no doubting how good he is. Check out some of his budget transfers on transfer market. In fact, he's better at bargain signings than big money ones.
An eye for young unknown talent? That was SAF or Wenger for me.
 

Chipper

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If that's all you got from it doesn't surprise me how quickly fans turned on Moyes.
It isn't. Was set up perfectly for that jokey answer and I couldn't resist.

Mind you, we weren't even as high as that under him were we?
 

stevoc

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I dunno. He did OK at Sociedad when you actually look at the results of the first season and then got the bullet after a bad start. Wasn't exactly Bobby Robson, but wasn't a debacle. Sunderland was a debacle but the Sunderland Netflix documentary shows that the club was basically in administration when he came in as the owner was looking to sell after throwing good money after bad.
I don't know mate his win ratio at Sociedad was only 28% mate, he lost more games than he won.