Mickey Ambrose looks at the Hammers’ changing fortunes in recent weeks
Just a few weeks ago West Ham fans were booing their manager and calling for David Moyes to go, but the Board stood firm and instead offered him a new contract which he has yet to sign.
However, West Ham’s fortunes away from the boardroom have vastly improved. A 4-2 home win against Brentford, was backed up by a magnificent 3-1 away win at Everton, and a 2-2 draw at home against Burnley (Danny Ings saving the Hammers’ blushes in the 91st minute).
There was a slip up, however, with the 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the Europa League Cup against SC Freiburg, but it didn’t dampen spirits because in the second leg they routed them 5-0, to set up an in interesting Quarter Final tie against Bayer Leverkusen, the German league high-fliers. The Hammers fans will be hoping to emulate last season’s historic European cup run.
The games are coming thick and fast though and West Ham then took on an Aston Villa side eyeing up a Champions League spot next season.
London Stadium was jubilant after Michail Antonio scored with a diving header to put the Hammers ahead only to be pegged back by Nico Zaniolo’s late goal that saved Villa from defeat and moved them three points clear of Tottenham. West Ham had two goals disallowed for handball after VAR checks.
West Ham fans and their manager couldn’t believe it. During one of the checks that lasted around six minutes (time enough for me to make a cup of tea and do the dishes) I wondered if they were looking for video evidence of handball or searching for fingerprints! West Ham had seen an earlier goal from Michail Antonio also ruled out for handball. Things were clearly not going their way.
Moyes said after the game: “As I’ve said, we’ve had four in a week now where handball situations have not gone in our favour..” but, he admitted, “In the second half, Villa stepped it up, they were the better team for periods. I was really pleased with how we performed overall.”
But if there was one Manager in the Premier League who David Moyes can take comfort from and who has been through the mill and came out the other side intact it’s Unai Emery the Villa manager.
Emery was sacked by Arsenal following a disastrous run mid-way through his second season. Results were poor and Arsenal had not won for seven games, their worst run since 1992. Emery was also blocked from signing Wilfred Zaha from Crystal Palace at the time and was sacked.
He then joined Villareal and then he decided to leave Villareal for another Villa – Aston Villa who are currently lying in fourth place in the Premier League.
His story shows how a manager can turn a club’s fortune around by doing it his own way. The point against West Ham could prove key for Villa in their quest to qualify for the Champions League next season.
There were boos from the fans, but not against David Moyes but for the match officials and the VAR system. I’m not a big fan of VAR, not least because it slows the game down.
Come the end of the season, though, there will only be one question – will David Moyes sign his new contract, or will he be singing that Frank Sinatra classic, I Did It My Way, not The West Ham Way as he lifts the Europa Conference League Cup 2024.
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