'I would be surprised if': Chris Sutton issues verdict as West Ham make announcement on David Moyes' future
06/05/2024 22:45
Chris Sutton has issued his verdict on the news that David Moyes will leave West Ham United at the end of the season, amid reports that Julen Lopetegui is waiting in the wings to become the club’s next manager.
After what feels like months of uncertainty, West Ham have now confirmed that David Moyes will be leaving the London Stadium at the end of the campaign.
Of course, Hammers fans enjoyed one of the greatest nights in the club’s history at the end of last season, but there has been a feeling that Moyes has now taken the side as far as he can.
West Ham have now lost three of their last four games, and they have conceded 14 goals in that run. And there appears to be a very good chance that they will not be playing in Europe next year.
Chris Sutton issues verdict as West Ham confirm David Moyes will leave club
Lopetegui has an impressive CV and he did well to keep Wolves in the Premier League last year, so he is certainly not a stranger to the English game.
Nevertheless, Chris Sutton has told The Monday Night Club (broadcast on 6/5; 19:25) that he thinks that West Ham may live to regret their decision.
“I think he’s been a phenomenal manager for them, I just think that they may have got this badly wrong and there’ll be West Ham fans expecting the world next season, expecting them to push on, expecting them to be more expansive,” he said.
“And I would be surprised if it’s any better than it has been under David Moyes.”
Julen Lopetegui will have a point to prove
Lopetegui is maybe not going to bring exhilarating football to the Irons. And there will be concerns that his tenure will go the same way as Manuel Pellegrini, who struggled after taking over following Moyes’ first spell.
But Moyes’ time at the club had reached the stage where something surely needed to give, with many fans feeling that a change was needed.
Ultimately, it can be true that Moyes has done an outstanding job with West Ham and will be forever remembered for delivering a European trophy, and that his time was probably up and the Hammers will need to go in another direction if they hope to kick on further.
Whether Lopetegui is the right man for the post remains to be seen.
