West Ham’s four-man shortlist to potentially replace under-fire David Moyes as been revealed according to reports on Monday morning.
The 59 year old is expected to be in charge of West Ham’s crunch relegation clash with Everton on Saturday, but pressure is mounting at the London Stadium following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat away to Wolves.
This saw the Hammers drop into the Premier League relegation zone and without a win in their last seven league matches.
Now it’s claimed that Moyes is on the brink of being sacked and according to the Telegraph, West Ham have already drawn up a four-man shortlist of candidates to takeover from Moyes.
It includes former Tottenham Hotspur boss Pochettino, along with ex-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, the experienced Rafael Benitez and old Wolves man Nuno Espirito Santo.
The club are said to be working out whether or not to opt for a short-term appointment until the end of the season.
The report does add however that the Hammers board could end up having no choice but to give Moyes more time to turn their form around due to his record since being appointed in December 2019.
Moyes has underwhelmed this season, taking many by surprise especially having guided the Hammers to back-to-back top seven finishes and oversaw a run to the semi-finals of the Europa League last season.
His side win just one of their last 10 Premier League matches, showing just how big the game against fellow strugglers Everton next weekend is.
Saturday’s loss to Wolves has left West Ham one point from safety and only off the foot of the table on goal difference following the latest set of matches.
It’s understood that Pochettino and Tuchel are the preferred candidates amongst supporters, as opposed to Nuno and Benitez.
Nuno is the only shortlisted manager currently attached to a club, having been appointed at Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad in July.
Player ratings (via Sky Sports)
Wolves: Sa (7); Semedo (7), Collins (7), Kilman (7), Bueno (7); Neves (8), Nunes (7); Hwang (6), Moutinho (7), Podence (8); Cunha (6).
Subs: Jimenez (6), Ait-Nouri (6), Traore (6), Lemina (6), Toti (n/a).
Away Team: Fabianski (6); Coufal (6), Aguerd (6), Ogbonna (6), Cresswell (6); Rice (7), Soucek (6); Bowen (6), Paqueta (6), Fornals (6); Antonio (6).
Subs: Benrahma (6), Scamacca (6).
Man of the match: Ruben Neves.
Moyes said via the club website post-match: “I think we could have taken more out of the game.
“We probably should have but ultimately we are not clinical enough in the final third. We did a decent job and we played much better in the second half than we had in the first half.
“But overall, I could not fault the players for their effort, we might fault them for the real quality we needed to get the goal.
“We should have done better on the counter-attack [for Wolves’ goal] as we were the ones with the corner.
“And then they scored on the break, which is not good enough from our point of view.
“Even that took a deflection off Aaron Cresswell and goes into Podence’s path to finish. Those small bits that you need to break for you, did not go for us today. And then, we had opportunities, we had chances with some headers, with crosses coming to the box but we never made them count.
“It’s what we have been saying a lot this season, I don’t think we have been playing terribly badly.
“But we have not been able to turn our good play [into goals]. We have not been able [to finish our chances].
“The players from our point of view have been great. But because of the standards we have set, the expectations we have set, it does not feel good.
“We need the supporters to stick with us.
“I know they have been used to a lot better over the last years. If ever we need them it is now. We need all the supporters to stand up and be counted and help us now.”
David Moyes speaks to West Ham TV following today’s match at Molineux. pic.twitter.com/fFAPjXkcXh
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 14, 2023
He added, as per football.london: “Look, we’ve probably risen expectations greatly in the last few years, being in Europe, sixth and seventh in the Premier League. I can understand disappointment and their frustration that they can’t really understand why it’s like this. But sometimes it’s the journey you have to take when you’re trying to climb the tree and trying to get better. Every so often you get little bits of blip and we’ve certainly got one at the moment. But what we’ve achieved in the last couple of years, avoiding relegation three years ago and then building, probably means everyone’s a bit disappointed, which they should be.”
On if he can see a light at the end of the tunnel: “I’ve got to say, I don’t think we deserved to lose. We didn’t play that well in the first half but there wasn’t an awful lot in the game. Second half we played a lot better, probably created a lot of chances, made a lot of opportunities where maybe we could have scored but we don’t look as if we’re clean or clinical in the final third at the moment, whether that was a strike of a ball or a header. And then we concede a goal where we’re caught on a counter-attack. I don’t think today’s been a day where we’ve come here and been well outplayed, I thought we played pretty well in the second-half and warranted getting something. But at the moment, the same story is that we’ve been struggling to score goals and get those results.”
Interviewer: How damaging was it to drop into the bottom three with that result?
Moyes: There was always a chance we could be there, you always can be. We have to get ready for the next one and move on. I think the players today tried, they gave their lot to try and get the result, they were at it right until the end. There’s lot of things I’m really pleased about, their attitude, their commitment. What we’ve got to try and do is tidy up on quality again and find a way of getting some goals because that’s a problem.
Interviewer: Do you fear the atmosphere next week against Everton, considering how big that game is?
Moyes: No, but I think what we’ve given West Ham supporters in the last few years, I hope they’ll give us back when we’re in a difficult period. They gave us back everything the players and the staff have given the club in the last couple of years, I am sure that will help us because you always want the backing of your home support mainly We’ve always had it, so let’s hope that continues.
Interviewer: Do you still feel you are the right man to keep West Ham safe?
Moyes: It happens. If you said we had been well beaten, well out of the game, then you might have a different story. But it was incredibly close. Premier League games are really close. Nip and tuck. And it looks like whatever way it goes, it goes one way or the other. Today is goes against us. I thought we warranted more than a defeat today.
Interviewer: Are you fearful of your position, considering your recent support from the board?
Moyes: When you’re in this industry, you’ve got to win games and I’m not winning enough games. I’m not stupid.
Interviewer: Do you still feel you have plenty of credit in the bank after the success you have previously had here?
Moyes: I would never look at myself and say, “I’ve got credit in the bank”. I know you have to earn the right to be in football management. To manage in this league is a big, big thing. Lots of people are after jobs in this league. I’m not daft. I’ve got enough games in it (my career) to understand you’ve got to do well enough to keep your job and we have to try to do better than we’re doing at the moment.
Interviewer: Last time West Ham went seven league games without a win was during your time. You managed to keep them up. Is that in your mind? You’ve done it before.
Moyes: I definitely know we can do it. We are definitely good enough to stay away from it. But, I am getting to the point where I am saying “this is happening too often” if you said we were getting beaten and out of our depth, but that’s not the case. What we are finding is we are not being able to take opportunities and turning them into goals. Today was another one of those occasions.
This is what fans said as reports claim West Ham’s four-man shortlist to potentially replace under-fire David Moyes has been revealed…
@Paul_M__H: And if my wife leaves me, I’ve drawn up a shortlist of Margot Robbie, Kiera Knightly, Natalie Portman and Heather from eastenders.
@RICHYBUTTON: What this means is if the cheap short term option keeps us up they will get the job full time. Rather than go & get someone now who might cost a bit more but will progress the football club long term
@GarySmithJnr: I’d say West Ham are in a similar place to us, arguably with a better squad of players, but not as good owners. If we couldn’t attract Poch or Tuchel, I can’t see how they will. Unless both managers are desperate to get back into the game, if true, seems very optimistic.
@waccyman: Dyche everyday of the week. Benitez is a big no for me. Would still prefer Poch or Tuchel, but don’t think they would come. Really do think Dyche would do a good job, and I think the football would be entertaining as well.
@woodxrs98: Nuno for me. He did a great job with Wolves. He left Wolves to try for better things but didn’t get it to work at Spurs. That’s because we all know of the egos in their squad.
@WitlessWolrab: “Welcome to West Ham Sean Dyche”
@_WestHamReport: Hard one… I think Nuno would be the better option. I’m not gonna judge his stint at spurs too harshly seeing as Conte isnt doing much there either 😂
@liam_siddons: Sean Dyche, he knows how to bring teams out of relegation, he fits our style of players, he may not be in it for the long term but for what we need NOW he’s perfect
@GameRiotArmy: I mean Conte went to Spurs. Anything is possible
@SeanHalloran15: Can I offer our east London friends a 15m a year Italian gentleman?
@TheLawless: They should have done this weeks ago
@SoucekSublime: Benitez played shit, defensive football with an Everton side full of overpriced and overrated players. Did well as Newcastle before and left for Chinese money. Nuno played shit, defensive football with Kane and Son.
@Aaronjytbarnard: Rafa Benítez will be the better choice for me
@KevinSk45653020: I think Dyche would be decent. Is so hard to judge him based on literally having to defend and keep a team in the league with money found under the couch. I think he would do ok with better players
West Ham trying to contact either of those 2 …. pic.twitter.com/CDrAjKQ6ji
— Super Hans (@no_context_Hans) January 16, 2023

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