Moyes and West Ham fiddle while Rome burns as direct rivals go all out
David Moyes and West Ham play while Rome burns while their direct relegation rivals do everything they can to survive.
If West Ham are desperate to avoid a catastrophic and costly relegation then they showed it in a funny way in the January transfer window.
All of West Ham’s rivals in the eight-team battle for drop-bar disaster club Everton have – and are – busy making some impressive signings.
Everton aside, it could be argued that West Ham are the only club in the relegation battle to have a weaker squad now than when the window started.
Yes, Danny Ings, 30, was signed as a panic signing.
Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
But Moyes and West Ham are messing around as Rome burns, while our direct rivals do everything they can to survive.
West Ham have sold their most consistent defender Craig Dawson to direct rivals Wolves, who today completed their SIXTH signing of talented Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes.
West Ham are also on the verge of selling young star and contract rebel Harrison Ashby to Newcastle for £3million after growing tired of being left without opportunities under Moyes.
Dawson wanted to leave for personal reasons. But that’s been the case since the summer, so why did the Hammers allow it to come to this? Imagine him proving the difference in keeping Wolves up at West Ham’s expense because Moyes had no plans to sign a replacement. He has had five months since the summer window closed to rectify this situation.
While West Ham hesitated about sacking Moyes when most felt he should have left after losing to Brentford, Everton have managed to bring Sean Dyche, Hammers’ reported leadership target, on board – many of whom believe he will keep up the toffees now. Again, West Ham had better hope the decision doesn’t come back to bite them.
Everton are now also expected to use Anthony Gordon’s money to make some final signings – namely West Ham target Conor Gallagher.
Leeds will complete two more signings today, one of which is reportedly the target of West Ham and USA international Weston McKennie. They have already signed young stars Georgino Rutter and Max Wober this month for a combined £35million.
Nottingham Forest are on the verge of three more signings, including Jonjo Shelvey, PSG goalkeeper Kaylor Navas and defender Felipe from Atletico Madrid.
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Southampton added five players this month including talented young Argentinian midfielder Carlos Alcaraz and Croatian talent Mislav Orsic. And the Saints are also said to be banking on former West Ham striker target Moussa Dembele.
Bournemouth signed three players this month, including West Ham’s Darren Randolph, and reported Hammers are targeting Dango Ouattara – who seriously impressed with an assist on his debut. The Cherries, under ambitious new ownership, are also pushing to sign Nicolo Zaniolo and Sassuolo midfielder Hamed Traore.
Leicester have loaned out young Danish left-back Victor Kristiansen for around £11million, as well as Brazilian winger and former West Ham target Tete.
Even midfield clubs far from relegation danger, like Aston Villa and Palace, are signing up.
The definition of the age-old adage “fiddle while Rome burns” is: carry on as normal and not draw attention to something important and unpleasant that is happening that you should resist.
And that seems to fit West Ham and Moyes perfectly at the moment.
Really worrying times.
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