Speaking on a recent episode of the Football Writers Podcast, Adrian Clarke praised the job that West Ham United manager, David Moyes, is doing at the club.
Taking over as manager of the club for the second time in December of last year, Moyes guided a West Ham side that sat just one point above the relegation zone prior to his arrival, to Premier League survival, with the Hammers eventually finishing in 16th place last season, five points above the drop zone.
So far this term, after a rather ropey start, losing 2-0 at home to Newcastle United and 2-1 away at Arsenal, in their two most recent league fixtures, Moyes’ side have impressed, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 and Leicester City 3-0, leaving the side in 10th place in the Premier League table.
And, the club were one topic of conversation on a recent episode of the Football Writers Podcast, in which Clarke gave credit to the former Manchester United boss for appearing to have turned things around in east London.
He said: “I’ve been very critical of Moyes in the past, but credit where it’s due, he is making some really good decisions at West Ham. They are playing with an aggression that I saw in Moyes’ Everton team.
“I just [thought] that his teams [had] lacked intensity in recent seasons. He’s got that back now, and I think part of it is he’s made some really big decisions. He’s left [Mark] Noble out of the team, which is not easy to do. He’s left some star talent [out of the team], Felipe Anderson – he’s let him go, he’s sacrificed him.
“He got hardworking players that want to buy into what he’s asking [of them]. And, by making those tough calls, he’s getting a tune out of his players. Look, I don’t think he’s amazing as a manager, but credit where it’s due he’s having a very good season so far.”
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TIF Thoughts on Adrian Clarke’s praise of David Moyes…
From Clarke’s comments, while it is clear that he does not overly rate the West Ham boss as a manager, he does credit the 57-year-old Scot for the east London side’s impressive recent results.
However, with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Liverpool coming up in their next three league fixtures, who finished sixth, second and first respectively last season, it would seem that Moyes will have his work cut out for him if he is to carry on his side’s recent fine form.