David Moyes will make his first return to his former club, West Ham Utd, this weekend, with the reception awaiting him at the London Stadium unclear.
From those on the outside looking in, it’s a welcome that should be rapturous. Moyes led the East Londoners through the most stable period of their Premier League existence, oversaw regular European campaigns, and delivered a drought-breaking trophy.
That, however, was not enough to earn adoration. Gratitude, perhaps, but not universal popularity. When it was announced that Moyes would leave London in May 2024, few were concerned.
An unsettled atmosphere had crept onto the terraces, and there was widespread belief that a new direction was required. West Ham got their next two appointments badly wrong, with Nuno Espirito Santo now fighting to keep the club in the Premier League.
It’s a situation that has strengthened the argument of the ‘be careful what you wish for’ crew.
But Evertonians already know better than most that the Scot divides opinion. The polarising contrast between his occasionally underrated stability and unimaginative pragmatism has made Moyes the ultimate Marmite manager. For those who see the glass half-full, there’s contentment. But others want their cup filled. Football, after all, is about enjoyment.
A first major trophy in 43 years, and three consecutive European campaigns for the first time in West Ham history, were not enough to stop the tide turning against Moyes in the capital. There was criticism over a failure to trust the club’s FA Youth Cup-winning crop, dismay over deep defensive lines, and failed striker signings. It’s all eerily familiar.
Now, the challenge for the Everton boss is to stop history repeating itself.
There’s respect for the job Moyes has done since returning to Everton in January 2025. Everton were sixth for points won between his appointment and the end of last season. This time around, the Toffees are right in the mix for Europe. That is a welcome sight after recent relegation scares.
He will almost certainly be in charge next season and, perhaps, for the foreseeable future. The legacy of his second stint will hinge on whether a wily old coach can learn new tricks and shed a ‘plucky underdog’ tag that has followed his teams.
Finances make challenging the established spenders difficult, but at least be brave in doing it. If Brentford, Brighton, and others can take the game to teams, why can’t Everton? Digging deep to grind out results will only take this team so far.
With a genuine prospect of Europe, perhaps even the Champions League if certain scenarios unfold, time is running out this season to show that lessons have been learned. Please, just take the handbrake off.
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Posted
24/04/2026 at
13:04:24
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo on facing David Moyes:
“David Moyes, you will know, is a good manager, but he’s going to be at the London Stadium. We’ve been improving our own factor, the support of the fans, and we count on them to try and compete well and have a good performance.
“[Playing a former team] managers have the advantage of knowing the players, sometimes the routines. In this case, David knows the routines, knows the players. So we have to try and make new things happen so we do not become so predictable.
“But it’s not another game. It is always a special game due to the respect and love that you have from former clubs, but you want to win. You want to compete and win.”
Hmmmm… he doesn’t sound particularly concerned…
Posted
24/04/2026 at
13:49:10
What a disparaging title towards our very own manager?!… is H a redshite troll?
Posted
24/04/2026 at
13:49:57
He knows its going to be a tight game, Michael, it’s a diplomatic response to the question, he’s not going to say ‘I’m really worried’.
They know they are going to have to play well to get anything out of this game, we are solid if not spectacular. Both sides really need the 3 points but it does smack of a likely draw.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
14:08:22
Sean @2,
If you know Liverpool fans like I do, then you would know that a lot of them will be saying that they think Moyes is doing a fantastic job.
Harry is an Evertonian, writing on an Everton website, and his title is fine by me because this is something I’ve been asking myself for most of this season, especially when I’ve been coming away from Bramley-Moore Dock.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
14:37:59
We do have to thank the headline posters on here otherwise there would be no discussion.
But here we are again, pointing the finger at our manager because he is 62? We associate that perhaps his tactics are from another age, the Stone Age by some who don’t deserve him.
What do we mean by “young, progressive” managers in the Premier League? Apart from those managing with mega money, the rest have all been found wanting and sacked!!
You need experience in the Premier League and Moyes, because of this, has come up against all the tactics out there.
He also has had to fight with limited budgets, maybe now in the summer there may be a bit more room for him to bring in “his” own players.
As of March, we have won seven away games this season; only Arsenal have done better than that. As for Brighton and Brentford? Their handbrake appears to be tighter than ours.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
14:51:58
“What do we mean by “young, progressive” managers in the Premier League?”
Well, 3 of them are above us in the table…
Posted
24/04/2026 at
14:55:51
Sean (2),
The title is not meant to be disparaging towards Moyes, but just a look at how his time with West Ham ended and a similar situation appearing here.
Despite improvement and stability, it’s not enough for large sections if the football is poor. The question I’m really asking is: Is he willing to be a bit braver to stop that unrest increasing?
Posted
24/04/2026 at
15:05:31
The answer to your question, Harry, is No, he definitely won’t.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
16:07:23
What’s all that “let the handbrake off” shite about?
Do you want the manager to go all gung ho and throw caution to the wind by going all out attack, and leaving us fragile at the back?
Sorry, but most managers don’t approach games like that, let alone Moyes.
Look at most Premier League games, they’re normally cat and mouse affairs, witness the Burnley – Man City game on Wednesday, everyone expecting Burnley to get rolled over by 4 or 5 quite easily, only they didn’t and they also created a few chances themselves.
I’m absolutely dying to know who this mystical manager is that is all of a sudden going to let the handbrake off and let us attack teams at will. We need to temper our expectations, because, at the moment, we are just there to make the numbers up.
It’s going to be a long slow arduous process to even get us away from the bottom half of the table, and Moyes has done that.
I doubt if I’ll ever see us lift another trophy in my lifetime because it’s becoming so difficult for anyone to do so.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
16:40:03
The goalposts are moving.
One month ago, it was: “How can anyone criticise him? He’s got us challenging for Champions League!”
Two weeks ago, it was: “How can anyone criticise him? He’s got us challenging for Europa League!”
Since Sunday, it’s been: “How can anyone criticise him? He’s got a chance of Conference League football…’
Now? “How can anyone criticise him? He’s got us away from the bottom half of the table.”
Where does the buck stop?
Posted
24/04/2026 at
16:51:04
Andy – It doesn’t need to be (and shouldn’t be) gung ho, just a little bit more of a shift towards adventure.
Arsenal could end up suffering from a safety-first approach this season. If they just miss out, how many games will be looked back on where they could have taken a bit more risk?
Balance is key, I’d just like to see the scales shifted slightly, that’s all!
Posted
24/04/2026 at
17:12:38
You will never win a trophy without taking a chance, Harry.
I don’t think he’s got that in him.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
17:23:54
Read what David has said about his time at West Ham and how the people who were responsible for him leaving failed after he left the club.
It really depends on what you want from your football club. Just to be able to relax because our team is nowhere near the relegation places is good for some. For others, it’s stability; for others, it’s Europe; and for others, it’s to obviously see our team win a trophy again.
Some don’t believe that’s possible; some live in hope; and some others just know it’ll happen again for Everton.
I’m in the latter group, just basing it on the fanatical support I witnessed last Sunday, but it’ll only happen when people start both demanding and also expecting more.
I don’t want to go down the road of arguing about the curse that struck Everton Football Club on Boxing Day 1999. I’d sooner just look at the overall history of Everton because we were a club that used to compete for honours, and usually won at least one trophy in every decade of our existence.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
17:24:25
Andy, yes, West Ham thought they’d be in the Champions League by now, once they got rid of the duffer who won them their first trophy in 40 years.
Only when they presented their wares, the only takers were Potter, Lopetegui and Nuno. They’ll be thanking their lucky stars if they’re still in the Premier League in a few weeks.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
17:32:34
They dared to dream Kevin, but the overall history of West Ham, doesnt show them achieving much mate.
I remember when I was a kid and used to like watching The Hammers, because they played good football, and I remember they won the FA Cup, twice, but from memory, I think John Lyles Hammers, were all about stability, and nothing more.
I have always thought that Everton, had much bigger and better ambitions and standards, which shows you how delusional David Moyes, made them when he delivered that third rate European trophy.
Stuck with Moyes, playing football the negative way – or stick with Moyes, because although you wont get that much entertainment, at least you will never have to worry about being relegated again.
If The Hammers stay up who knows what Nuno, can achieve with them?
Posted
24/04/2026 at
18:20:51
I could understand this narrative Tony if he’d been in place for a number of years. But he only took over last year, and we still need careful ministration as we emerge from the financial shitshow we’d been placed in. It’s just way too early to be urging a change in my view. We are still in a pretty fragile state. We need the squad building up, and for the fans to get used to competing at the right end of the table.
Under this logic we’d have got rid if Howard in 1982.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
18:26:14
It’s down from the dizzy heights of a month ago to a fragile state.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
18:43:59
I cant say I agree with your last sentence Kevin, because it was Howards first term in charge of Everton.
Its different with David, because he has already had eleven previous seasons, and this is why the title of the thread, really resonated with me.
It could have been so much different if OBrien, hadnt strayed offside (I think we would have won easily if he hadnt) and my own belief is that a natural fullback, would have stayed onside, although he might not have put in such a great cross.
The loss to Liverpool, has swung the mood again, but you know me Kevin, I am getting bored of top-flight football, I dont think that the supposedly best teams in the competition, are that far ahead of the rest like they have been in the past, and I think if Everton,would have been a bit (not a lot) more adventurous in a few of our home games, then we might have achieved something that those West Ham fans, were thinking was achievable.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
18:51:08
obviously we all want to take that next step, and rewind last week and be the team that wins. but we’ve been trying to do that for a decade. And it’s not gone that well, to put it mildly. I don’t have belief Moyes will be the manager to win us things, but I do have faith he will improve us significantly over the next couple of years. Getting us consistently to top 7. We can’t run before we can walk. There are certain managers who are built for certain jobs. Ancelotti is your best pick if you own a supertanker and wish to remain where you are. Moyes is one of the best for moving a club from fifteenth to fifth.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
19:02:10
“Moyes is one of the best for moving a club from fifteenth to fifth.”
When did he do that Kev?
Posted
24/04/2026 at
19:04:54
Are you denying John that Moyes has taken us over twice and moved us signifcantly up the table? Just like he did with West Ham.
this doesn’t need explaining, surely.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
19:06:16
Seventh, rather than fifth, Kevin, if Im going to be really pedantic!
A new beginning…….. A fantastic new ground, that needs to be the catalyst for a new beginning, but if you dont think that David, is the manager to win us things, then we arent really going to be getting that new beginning that we crave.
The pros & cons, you obviously crave what I crave, (deep down im not having it that you arent that bothered about winning trophies!) but you dont want to go back to the horrible dark days, that we witnessed during the Kenwright & Moshiri era, but we are a different football club now that the curse has gone, and we have just got to find the belief, that we always had, before the worst era in our entire history.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
19:11:39
Tony yes we want the same, I just think we are in a transitional phase at the moment. I think we’ve already had our fingers burnt in appointing good managers who were unsuited to the job at hand, the job at hand at the moment is consolidation. We still have a relatively weak squad, no fullbacks hardly any forwards, I think the next two years should be steady progress. Not throwing out the baby with the bathwater to give another Marco Silva a go at vast expense.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
19:15:54
The ‘old dog / new tricks maxim isnt a dig at his actual age, its used for anyone who has a consistent history of working a certain way, people who are seen to be set in their ways.
Arsenal fans who want Arteta out (yes there are quite a few of them) are concerned he will never change.
I definitely dont expect a big change in approach for the West Ham game itself. West Ham need 3 points and Id be surprised if they dont go all out to try to attack from the off. Id have no problem with being the reactive team on this occasion as long as we dont fall back too far when not in possession, and I think weve generally been better in that regard recently.
Posted
24/04/2026 at
19:24:59
I think differently with regards those good managers, Kevin, because the club was an absolute mess. The list is endless, starting with a manager who never looked like he wanted the job.
Steve Walsh, getting off an aeroplane, looking important in Italy, with a big leather briefcase, the summer after we had signed three or four number tens.
Then it was the director of football, preferring to be a director, which wouldnt have been hard when you witnessed the complete debacle, in the boardroom.
Ancellotti, might have been okay if he had got the job, when Ronald did, and then it was the most divisive manager in the clubs history, getting £1.5 million to spend?
We stayed up because of our incredibly passionate supporters, thinking about when Moyes, came fourth, what part did those same fans play then?
We dont know what we have got, because its been that long since we had anything worth celebrating, but going back to the fans again, then give us a decent team, that has no fear (doesnt mean you have to do anything stupid) and Im convinced the fans will help get us over the line and make people begin to respect Everton football club, for the right reasons, once again.
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