Ralph Hasenhüttl’s Southampton turnaround has been impressive while West Ham might end up giving Manuel Pellegrini a £10m severance package for little gainA lot of clubs have spent the season yo-yoing around the Premier League. In early November Bournemouth were seventh and Brighton were eighth, and now both are fighting relegation; Crystal Palace were seventh at the start of December and now they aren’t looking comfortable; Southampton have appeared doomed, safe and now look uncertain again; Burnley have crossed the halfway line eight times already. Beneath the top two, there is real competitive balance; people have always said that in the Premier League anyone can beat anyone, and this year – aside from Liverpool, and Manchester City when they turn...
Less than two years after his brand of pragmatic survival was deemed not what they wanted the club have had second thoughtsWell, I’m sorry to say again: it’s Moysey. In many ways the West Ham to which David Moyes returns this week is largely similar to the one he left 19 months ago: riven by discord, scarred by multiple defeats, lacking not just an identity but the most basic idea of what that identity might be. If Moyes was the answer, and then Manuel Pellegrini, and then Moyes again after him, then what on earth was the question?Moyes has signed an 18-month contract. It is the gloomiest of all contract lengths: a Sherwood‑at‑Tottenham contract, an Allardyce‑at‑Everton contract: a transparently unsatisfying...
Ukrainian provides perfect birthday gift for Manuel Pellegrini with two goals towards a first league win of the seasonIn West Ham’s situation any win will do. They are off the mark, off the bottom of the table and, on Manuel Pellegrini’s 65th birthday, they ensured they avoided the worst start to a league season in the club’s history. In the goals and all-round performance of Andriy Yarmolenko there were even tentative signs that the summer signings may turn out to offer some value. But nobody should be sounding the all-clear just yet: West Ham will face few opponents as sloppy and lacklustre as Everton were at the back on Sunday. Related: Yarmolenko double against Everton helps West Ham to first...
The Chilean manager has faith in his methods but, with no points from four games, confidence is already erodingIt fell to Mark Noble to deliver some home truths after West Ham’s 1-0 defeat by Wolves two weeks ago. The club captain had watched from the bench at the London Stadium and he felt an obligation to shake things up after witnessing another leggy performance. Noble’s anger filled the home dressing room and the worst part for the rest of the squad was that they could not argue with the midfielder’s criticism. Related: West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini denies being angry over leaked teams Related: Manuel Pellegrini must convince West Ham he’s not yesterday’s man | Paul Wilson Continue reading...
The Italian has made the most impressive start of the seven managers new to the top flight or on fresh assignments, while doubts already dog Manuel Pellegrini and Neil WarnockThere are no fewer than seven new managers in the Premier League this season, four of them completely new – Maurizio Sarri, Unai Emery, Nuno Espírito Santo and Slavisa Jokanovic – and three others with previous experience but in new club situations. As the domestic programme returns with two from the latter group meeting at Goodison Park, it is already evident that at least one of the fresh faces – if Manuel Pellegrini has ever been thus described – is under pressure.Before we move into the nitty-gritty of the season, with...