Mickey Ambrose looks forward to West Ham’s Everton reunion with David Moyes

On Saturday 15 March West Ham travel to Everton to meet up again with one of the most successful managers of their time, David Moyes, who has sensationally rejoined the Toffees after leaving West Ham.
The question I want to ask is what position in the Premier League table will either club be in around this time. West Ham, building on a reasonable start from new manager Graham Potter, will hope to be in good standing.
As expected, Julen Lopetegui was sacked by the West Ham board early this year, following a disastrous set of results and performances that left the fans bewildered, with many asking who hired him in the first place!. Who didn’t do their homework?
In my opinion when you hire a manager for a football club or even a business there are a number of factors to take into consideration. Firstly, is that person a good fit for the company? Is the manager a good fit for the way the supporters want the team to play?
West Ham fans are crying out for entertaining, strong professional performances but what they got against Crystal Palace was a disgrace, even though they were down to ten men. Not a single shot on target in all of the 90 minutes. It was embarrassing, and extremely poor for highly-paid players on a four-day training week.
The Hammers are in desperate need of a striker due to Michail Antonio and summer signing Niclas Fullkrug being out with long term injuries.
As the January transfer window was closing on 3 February, new manager Potter had just one recognised striker available, Danny Ings. That’s not a good situation, even with star man Jarrod Bowen in the squad.
Potter had a difficult time at Chelsea, where others have succeeded and failed, like ‘The Special One’ Jose Mourinho. Potter was aptly nicknamed ‘The Project’ – but his project failed and he did not make the grade in the way the Chelsea board envisaged, so they sacked him. Even so, as West Ham have decided, it doesn’t make him a bad manager!
Going back to my predictions from last month, I said West Ham would beat Brighton 1-0 but they drew 1-1; that they would beat Southampton 2-0, but they beat them 3-0; and that they would lose at home against Liverpool 3-0, but they lost 5-0. Away to Manchester City I was hoping for a draw, but in the event they got humbled 4-1.
This was followed by a 2-1 cup loss to Aston Villa, and the 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Graham Potter made three changes from this defeat. Lukasz Fabianski lost his place to Alphonse Areola in goal. Vladimir Coufal and Carlos Soler were the other two changes in a West Ham side who were looking for some credibility amongst fans on their Premier League visit to Aston Villa.
Things didn’t start well for the Hammers as the hosts took the lead after only eight minutes when Jacob Ramsey slotted home. Although, West Ham again could not muster a single shot on goal, they did find the net when Emerson’s fine header secured the Hammers a well-earned draw in the end.
Let’s hope this could prove to be a turning point in a difficult season, but how desperately do West Ham need a striker?
I would like to thank Loveleen Kaur, a sixth-form student at Harlington Secondary School who I work with, for the help in drafting this article as work experience. Loveleen has desires of being a journalist – well done Loveleen and thank you.
Finally, by the next edition the name of the Chair of the Independent Football Regulator will be known, as the Football Governance Bill passes through Parliament. Watch this space.
Mickey Ambrose is a former Chelsea and Charlton player who lives in Stratford.
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