If or when the Barclays Premier League season opens up for business again, David Moyes will have his work cut out instilling the same type of siege mentality that he had encouraged prior to the sudden suspension of the season. The team seemed to be turning the corner as they bought in to Moyes' playing philosophy, the last match against Arsenal should have ended up with three points to the Irons, and everyone at the Emirates Stadium knew it!
The problem for Moyes will be to 'crank up the volume' and motivate the players once more for what will hopefully be the last hundred yards of the Barclays Premier League survival race, one would assume motivation would hardly be an issue, but footballers are a different breed and some will come back stronger, whereas others will not. From a plus point there will be players who have had constant 'niggles' that have will now have had the time for complete recovery, however the lack of match fitness will be an issue and is something the medical team will need to keep an eye on.
With the possible exception of Jack 'always injured' Wilshere the entire squad will be available, that is assuming Ryan Fredericks doesn't break down following surgery on his shoulder. Hammers' paper thin squad has been remorselessly exposed this season, the balance, or lack of it, is plain for all to see and the suspension of football as we know it might well have brought the club just enough time to give it a real go should the season be restarted.
Having 'got out of jail' Moyes will certainly appreciate the extra time he has been given in order to avoid the drop, but then again, all the other managers of clubs in peril will have had the same amount of time to rally their troops and will approach their battle for survival with renewed vigor. The number crunchers think West Ham will survive whether the season is actually played out or resolved by algorithmic formula, but this last season has been a wake up call, and is a classic example of 'be careful what you wish for' syndrome, perhaps the Hammers' hierarchy will have learned from their lessons.
We are talking about West Ham after all, not Barcelona! - Asst Ed
