Politics
West Ham boss David Moyes has been ‘a revelation’ – Hammers success is all down to him, says Matthew Upson
MATTHEW UPSON is adamant West Ham’s transformation is all down to one man — David Moyes.
The ex-Hammers and Arsenal defender believes Moyes deserves enormous credit for how he turned his former side from relegation flirters to an attractive outfit both at home and on the Continent.
David Moyes has led West Ham to the Europa League semi-finalALAMY
Matthew Upson has attributed West Ham’s rapid rise to MoyesEMPICS SPORT
This season, Moyes has taken West Ham to the Europa League semi-finals, where they trail Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 after Thursday’s first leg.
And a win over fourth-placed Arsenal at the London Stadium tomorrow would cut the gap to Mikel Arteta’s side to just five points.
Upson told SunSport: “The success is all thanks to Moyes. He’s been a revelation, his management style has really suited the club.
“He brings a lot of stability and discipline, which are the key elements of his managerial success, along with good recruitment and picking the right players in the right positions.
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“He’s shown that he is good at building teams because twice now he has taken over teams who are suffering at West Ham and he’s put stability and discipline into that team.
“They’ve recruited really well and the players coming in have been a huge success. They have got a nice blend of players, the right ages of experience and youth.
“They’re a good team with an identity which Moyes has brought and the success is clear and obvious to see.”
Central to the Hammers’ rise has been midfield star Declan Rice, who Moyes values at £150million.
West Ham’s Premier League stats this season
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Rice, 23, has rejected a number of contract offers by West Ham but Upson, who spent four years at the club between 2007-2011, says the east Londoners must do all they can to keep hold of their most prized asset.
Upson, capped 21 times by England, said: “It’s really important to keep him because West Ham are growing.
“Someone like Declan is playing to a level of Europe’s best and I don’t think he’s punching below his weight at West Ham.
“He’s enjoying himself, he’s developing, he’s young and he’s been brilliant.
“West Ham has been a great club for him to be at, the relationship has worked both ways and he’s been a success.
“I think everyone accepts that sooner or later he may move on. But at the moment they are enjoying him and he’s enjoying it at the club, which is good to see.”
West Ham have defensive issues on Sunday with centre-back’s Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna out with ankle and knee injuries.
You could play Declan Rice in defence but West Ham would lose too much in the middle of the park without him
Matthew Upson
Craig Dawson is also suspended following last week’s red card at Chelsea.
Kurt Zouma played the full 90 minutes in the home leg against Frankfurt after battling an ankle problem.
But Upson, who quit playing in 2016, insists Moyes should not be tempted to move club vice-captain Rice from the midfield engine room, despite being down to the bare bones in his backline.
The 43-year-old insisted: “You could play Rice in defence but West Ham would lose too much in the middle of the park without him.”
While Moyes has a selection dilemma, Upson admits he is a huge fan of Arsenal’s flourishing defensive pairing of Gabriel and Ben White, plus the team’s style of play under Arteta.
The Gunners had a slow start to the season but are now front- runners to secure the final Champions League spot.
They have a two-point advantage over arch-rivals Tottenham with just five matches left — and that includes a mouth-watering north London derby on May 12.
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Upson, who enjoyed six years working under Gunners managerial legend Arsene Wenger from 1997, said: “The relationship between Gabriel and Ben White is getting better.
“It’s taken a bit of time but the club’s been like that, the team is getting better and better slowly.
“White and Gabriel complement each other quite well because White is very mobile and covers the ground really well, while the Brazilian is a bit more physical, a bigger presence. There’s a nice balance between the two.
“I like Arteta, he’s brought in a style, which is possession and progressive passing, and he won’t compromise on how he wants to play.
“They have got better at managing games and it’s a big reason why they are sitting in the position to maybe qualify for the Champions League.”
