Have West Ham turned the corner under David Moyes?

Very little was expected of David Moyes when he was first appointed in the Hammers hot-seat. His initial arrival was met with jeers and complaints among fans and pundits alike, each casting the former Everton boss in something of an unwanted light.

 

On the back of his recent failure at the Stadium of Light, many West Ham supporters began to fear the worst when Moyes was first ushered in at their club. His predecessor, Slaven Bilic, was always considered a rather popular character down in the East-End, someone who left big shoes to fill despite the obvious shortcomings of his tenure.

 

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7 points, 3 clean sheets. David Moyes, Football genius. pic.twitter.com/vhTkHLJ9Py

— Coral (@Coral) December 16, 2017

 

Now however, West Ham currently find themselves free from the reaches of the dreaded relegation zone. They have kept three clean-sheets in their last four league appearances, conceding only to the might of Manchester City as Guardiola’s side go about their quest for Premier League dominance.

 

But have the Hammers really turned the corner under David Moyes? Or is it only a matter of time before those elusive good times begin to come crashing down once again at the London Stadium?

 

Never once did i doubt the appointment of David Moyes and thanks to the ability to delete tweets you will never be able to prove me wrong.

— J.O'B (@chanceig) December 16, 2017

 

Much was initially made of Moyes’ supposed inability to inspire the current squad of players on offer at the London Stadium. He was, perhaps unfairly, presented as a bland and prosaic sort of character. A leader who lacked the passion and sentiment to successfully ignite the East-End faithful.

 

Yet after watching his side turn out a string of improved performances in recent weeks, it’s fair to suggest that those early proposals may have been somewhat wide of the mark. West Ham have simply looked a different team to the side that seemed to struggle indefinitely under Slaven Bilic, and much of that has come as a direct result of Moyes.

 

David Moyes take a bow son, take a bow!!! ⚒⚒

— ExWHUemployee (@ExWHUemployee) December 16, 2017

 

Certain players seem to be displaying far more fight and determination under their new manager. Marko Arnautovic acts as a prime example. Whilst he initially failed to set the West Ham crowd alight during the opening stages of the 2017/18 campaign, the 28-year-old Austrian international currently represents one of the most standout players under Moyes, with two goals in his last three outings.

 

Arnautovic is fighting for his place in the team with distinct fervour, but he is not the only Hammers player to exude such devotion to the cause in recent weeks. Angelo Ogbonna and Pedro Obiang seem to be making great strides in turning their own individual seasons around, helping to improve the ongoing situation at the club.

 

Everyone slating Palace & West Ham for appointing Hodgson & Moyes are now feeling a bit silly. These old boys keep getting the gigs because they’re the best at doing what they do.

— Darryl (@Juppopovic) December 16, 2017

 

Adrian is another standout feature within the current Hammers XI that deserves his due recognition. Under the Spanish shot-stopper, West Ham have conceded as little as two solitary goals in four league games, a stat that would have been unheard of at the London Stadium prior to Moyes’ appointment.

 

Although Joe Hart was not entirely to blame for his team’s previous inability to keep a clean-sheet among the English top-flight, few could ignore the recent turnaround in fortunes created as a result of Adrian’s latest resurgence.

 

I am delighted to confirm that David Moyes is in fact a football genius

— Cartlon Cole (@_CarltonCole9) December 16, 2017

 

Whilst a few good results against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Stoke City will hardly save West Ham from the clutches of relegation this season, the club are clearly heading in the right direction under David Moyes. He has made his team harder to break down, without completely sacrificing the need to score goals in the attacking third of the pitch.

 

It may amount to little more than a glorified honeymoon period for the Scotsman as he continues to install a newfound sense of discipline among his new team, but if West Ham can keep climbing the Premier League table in their attempts to avoid relegation under their new manager, few could justifiably discredit David Moyes as a supposed has-been with nothing more to offer.

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