On 6th May 2024, it was announced that David Moyes was leaving from his position as manager of the club at the end of the season. Moyes would depart the club after four and a half years in charge at the London Stadium, during which time he secured two top-seven Premier League finishes, runs to the UEFA Europa League semi and quarter finals, and victory in the UEFA Conference League in 22/23.
Despite these achievements, there were various reasons as to why this decision was made.
In the 23/24 season, West Ham were really poor. Their defence was leaky, their attack was lacklustre and one of the main reasons behind this was the gaffer David Moyes.
Moyes’ teams like to set up defensively, withstanding a lot of pressure without the ball and hitting teams on the counter with quick build up play to the forwards.
West Ham were very good at this but began to get found out tactically with statistics that are nothing short of shocking for a Premier League side.
On average, last season West Ham were projected to concede 1.95 goals per game, the lowest under any manager since Avram Grant in the 2010/11 season.
Conceding nearly two goals a game under a manager with a defensive philosophy is disgraceful, therefore led the fans to turn on the manager.
Another reason why Moyes was let go was his poor man management of certain players, like fan favourite Pablo Fornals and silky winger Said Benrahma. More notably for West Ham fans, the two players who played major parts in their European success the previous season.
Benrahma scored the opener in the final against Fiorentina and Fornals put the nail in the coffin with a goal away from home against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
Moyes’ poor man management came to fruition in the January transfer window in the 23/24 season, letting both players leave for next to nothing. Fornals went back home to his native Spain to play for Real Betis under former West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini while Benrahma went to play for West Ham’s previous Europa League opponents Lyon.
Moyes not only let two of his most important players leave, he didn’t manage to replace them which left a sour taste in the mouths of West Ham fans throughout the rest of the season with the club sitting 16th just one point from the relegation zone, and being in the round of 16 in the Europa League.
Another big factor as to why David Moyes’ contract wasn’t renewed was the results. Last season West Ham lost by five goals on four occasions, which for a Premier League side isn’t good enough.
Firstly, West Ham lost to Fulham at Craven Cottage 5-0: it was Fulham’s biggest ever victory over West Ham, and only the sixth time that the cottagers have beaten the hammers in the Premier League.
A decent run of form followed with wins over Arsenal at the Emirates, Man United and Wolves at home but what happened in the new year was even worse for West Ham and Moyes.
In 2024 however, West Ham were the team you wanted to play if you needed three points. Arsenal came to East London and beat them 0-6, Crystal Palace would beat the hammers 5-2 and a poor Chelsea side would smash West Ham 5-0.
These defeats cemented the fans’ decision on David Moyes come the end of the season.
The decision to part ways with David Moyes was the best for the club, despite the recent success, if they wanted to try and progress even further.
The results were nothing short of disgraceful and laughable. Moyes did bring many West Ham fans memories they will cherish forever but it all fell apart towards the end due to toxicity within the fanbase and poor ownership.
Moyes was sailing an already sinking ship due to the gutless owners and did an outstanding job at it, but eventually the wheels fell off him and he was also a problem.
Only winning four league games in 2024 is a sackable offence for any club and the board made the decision not to give him the new contract that they initially offered him in December 2023.
The club then announced that Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui would take the reins and carry on the legacy that Moyes left behind.
