David Moyes has heaped praise on West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic, but has suggested that he is a bit “strange”.
The former Hammers boss was the first manager to deploy the Austrian in a control role, a move that has largely reignited the forward’s career, and has made no bones about how highly he rates him.
Speaking on talkSPORT (May 2nd, 9.50am), he said: “He’s really fast, he’s powerful.
“He’s a top player and I think he could play for any of the top teams because of what he’s got.
“He’s a good type, he just needs some tough love. At times he’s a strange character but a good boy.”
OPINION
Moyes has a real soft spot for Arnuatovic, and it’s easy to see why. The ex-Hammers boss managed to get the Austrian playing in the form of his life, and turned him into the game changing centre forward that we all know he can be. That being said, Arnie’s head has clearly gone this season, and he’s about as much use as a chocolate teapot when he he isn’t in the right frame of mind. Much is made of Moyes’ tactical alteration of his role in the side, but perhaps his influence was a lot more basic than that. Moyes got the best out of the forward because he knew how to manage the character behind the talent. Manuel Pellegrini perhaps hasn’t go to grips with him in quite the same way. Admittedly, he has had a much bigger task given the whole Chinese transfer debacle back in January, but the Chilean could maybe learn a thing or two from his predecessor’s call for some “tough love”.