Does Moyes go for European glory or domestic success?
Occasionally in football, managers are faced with problems they could only dream of having. Trying to fit three world class and in-form players into a system that only allows for two for example. Deciding on which competition to concentrate on is another and that is exactly the dilemma that David Moyes is facing.
Getting into next season’s Champions League has to be the number one target for Moyes, and incredibly his team are fighting on two fronts to achieve it. He is unlikely to admit it publicly, but at some stage he will have to decide which basket to throw all or the majority of his eggs into, otherwise he, and West Ham, could be in danger of missing out on both fronts.
Fixture congestion is a very real thing, something that affects the quality of the football as well as potentially derailing a team's season. The festive period, often as season defining as it is congested, could very well sway Moyes’ hand one way or the other, as when they come out of it, he will have a clearer picture of where they sit in the league and what their realistic chances are of clinching that fourth place.
The League Picture
There were always going to be bumps in the road, and the defeat against Arsenal was certainly that. It is essential that those bumps don’t turn into full scale poor runs of form however. Hammers’ competition for that fourth spot are Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United. Arsenal have found something resembling a decent run of late, but are always likely to struggle to maintain that. Tottenham look a slightly better proposition under Conte, but unless he can get Kane firing, and loosen Levy’s purse strings in January, they are looking like the outsiders in the race.
That leaves Manchester United, another club with a new man at the helm. Rangnick’s biggest issue is the same one facing Moyes. They will go into the new year fighting on two fronts, having secured a place in the next stage of the Champions League. As an interim manager, plus swelled with the arrogance that comes with being the head man at Old Trafford, it is very likely he will see the Champions League as a better way to make a name for himself and to secure the role long term.
The Europa League
The Hammers are in a good position having been seeded for the last sixteen round of fixtures. Eyebrows were raised when Barcelona dropped into the Europa League, but they face a tough play-off against Napoli and are by no means favourites to progress. Even if they do, they are the same club as we have grown up watching in name and colours only.
There are certainly some good teams left in the competition, but no one who West Ham – on their day – should fear. No one as good as the likes of Liverpool or even Leicester who both have been sent packing this season. The problem could be if injuries take their toll, and the depth of the squad is tested. That depth is way deeper than most people gave the club credit for, almost to a man predicting that the rigours of regular Thursday night football in far flung European destinations would wreak havoc on the team’s league performances. That has been proved to be way off the mark, but it is still a factor.
It is likely that Moyes will see where the club are in February, the state of his squad, and then privately decide which way he will go. Of course, the season has been so unexpected so far, he may well choose to concentrate on both and pull it off. And we haven’t even mentioned the FA Cup yet…
