West Ham’s run of late winning goals may have spawned talk of Moyesie time.
But David Moyes claims he would much prefer it if his team were avoiding dramatic conclusions by finding the net early. Czech midfielder Tomas Soucek has scored in the 88th minute or later in the Hammers’ last three games.
And ahead of today’s meeting against Crystal Palace at London Stadium, Moyes thinks comparisons with the knack Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United had for grandstand finishes are not quite yet deserved.
“Alex Ferguson was special at getting it,” the West Ham boss said. “He had special teams at the time. I would rather we got them earlier in the games - I'm sure he did as well - but if we have to win games at the end so be it. The last couple of games have been that way, let's hope we can keep it going. We just have to stay focused, concentrating.”
Attentiveness will be required in abundance across a hectic eight-game December that also sees a final Europa League group stage match against Freiburg in addition to an EFL Cup quarter-final away to Liverpool. Although the trip to Anfield, on December 20, is the only match West Ham will need to leave the capital for.
“We're running into a really tough and intense batch of games,” Moyes added. “The next three midweeks are Tottenham, Freiburg and Liverpool and that's just the midweek games.”
But first up is a Palace team that are in a rough run of form, losing four of their past five. They are also without the injured Eberechi Eze and Cheick Doucoure, both of whom came off in defeat to Luton last weekend.
Yet Palace have enjoyed their recent visits to London Stadium, taking two wins and a pair of draws from the previous four. “Always a tough team to play against,” Moyes said. “They are always incredibly well organised and well prepared.”
It is also a game that pits the Premier League ’s two oldest managers against each other for the 16th time. Palace’s dip in results has created more speculation about the future of Roy Hodgson, 76, but Moyes, 60, is certain that he does not want to become known as the top tier’s elder statesman.
“I hope he stays because it means I’m not the oldest,” the Scot added. “Roy’s doing a fine job, let’s hope he continues.
“But hasn’t he been an incredible ambassador for football? The teams he has managed, the way he’s gone about the job. He’s a gentleman. And to continue doing it at his age shows how much love he has for the game. I see that as hugely important if you’re going to stay in management.”