Claret and Hugh’s Manchester-based northern correspondent Terry Robbins has been following the David Moyes scenario at West Ham very closely. Having worked for the mainstream media at the time the former United boss was at Old Trafford, he explains here how his transfer policy was worked at the club before his eventual departure. Here he presents a special, and informed comment, on that and what he is now seeing at the London Stadium.
Special Comment by CandH northern correspondent Terry Robbins
Some would say that was no bad thing, certainly a few Premier League chairmen, sick of paying crazy transfer fees for sub-standard players.
Moyes in his Old Trafford days
Moyes is of Glasgow stock, someone who has always known the value of a pound note, and, such is his proud Scottish background, he refuses to be ripped off.
That’s all well and good when you are buying from the bargain bucket, as he was forced to do at Preston, and even Everton, regularly turning water into wine.
Legendary former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was also of Glasgow stock, and could easily identify with Moysie’s tartan traits, when nominating his fellow countryman to follow in his footsteps at Old Trafford.
Not that Fergie was scared of splashing the cash and breaking transfer records during his 25 years at the helm – he knew when to use United’s financial backing to ensure he stayed at the top of the tree.
Hammers boss Moyes
And that’s where Moyes is said to have struggled during his United tenure, backed by mountains of cash but without the alleged decisiveness to really get after a target, preferring to bide him time, reassess other targets before, ultimately, choosing not to push the button.
He wanted Toni Kroos, he decided to wait until deadline day and ended up paying £28m for his former Everton player Marouanne Fellaini – United fans failed to live that one down.
Perhaps Moysie wanted to show United’s owners the Glazers that he was his own man – not a Ferguson clone – but the writing was quickly on the wall and the Manchester club continued to miss out on top targets.
One United insider recalled: “David knows a player, he knows how he wants them to play, he knows how to improve them. He arrived from Everton and many felt he spent too much time second-guessing himself when it came to targeting players. It was as if he was using his own money.”
Which brings us up to the present day.
The Irons are armed with the £105m from the Declan Rice sale, cash on the hip, supporters crying out for much-needed additions.
There is no doubt Moyes wants Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay from United in this window.
If they are the players our manager thinks will take Hammers to the next level (plenty will think otherwise) then there needs to be complete decisiveness from top to bottom.
When Pep Guardiola wants a player at Man City, he gives an opinion on the type of player he needs, and then their director of football Txiki Bergiristain identifies three potential targets and helps Pep arrive at a decision.
The arrival of Tim Steidmen as technical director at the London Stadium should see things working the same way but clearly that is not the case.
Moysie clearly doesn’t have the City cash mountain at his disposal, but he could do worse than take a lead from the best manager in the world, who just wants to concentrate on the football side and empower other people around him to help him spend the money wisely.
Moysie isn’t shopping in Harrods like the Treble winners, but nor is he looking for sell-by dates in the Pound Shop.
We have the money this summer to at least shop at Sainsbury’s and the gaffer needs to treat himself to the Taste the Difference range, without feeling guilty it might leave him with a bad taste in his mouth.
