David Moyes, the manager of West Ham United, has recently voiced concerns to the club’s owners regarding the lack of depth in the squad, highlighting the issue firsthand.
Comparatively, West Ham possesses one of the smallest squads in the Premier League, sharing this distinction with Manchester City. However, while City’s roster boasts top-quality players, Moyes feels that West Ham’s squad falls short in this regard. Additionally, the team has cultivated the second oldest squad in the league, trailing only behind Fulham.
Moyes has previously received praise for his management of the West Ham squad across various competitions in past seasons. However, this season has seen a noticeable reluctance on Moyes’ part to utilize his backup players, evident in the limited appearances of players like Danny Ings, Maxwel Cornet, and Ben Johnson.
This hesitancy can be attributed to the observable drop in performance levels and results when West Ham has been forced to make several changes to the starting lineup. Consequently, the same core group of 11 or 12 players have been heavily relied upon, leading to fatigue and diminished performance levels, particularly evident in matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and Bayer Leverkusen.
Fans have long recognized the inadequacy of the squad in key areas, and Moyes’ recent comments indicate a desire to ensure that the club’s hierarchy acknowledges this deficiency. In a press conference preceding the crucial match against Fulham, Moyes hinted at the disparity in squad depth between West Ham and other teams like Bayer Leverkusen and Fulham, emphasizing the need for reinforcements.
The manager’s remarks regarding Leverkusen’s utilization of 16 or 17 players throughout the season serve as a pointed message to the owners, suggesting that West Ham lacks a comparable level of depth. To address this issue, Moyes suggests that the club needs to invest in at least five quality players during the upcoming transfer window, especially considering the number of players set to become free agents.
While West Ham possesses the financial means to make strategic signings, Moyes’ future with the club remains uncertain. Despite his control over the squad’s construction in recent years, it remains to be seen whether Moyes will continue as the manager next season to oversee the implementation of these necessary changes.
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