Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick is someone West Ham United should look at if the Premier League strugglers give up on David Moyes, former top-flight midfielder Jamie O’Hara tells talkSPORT (5 March, 5pm).
After last week’s 2-0 defeat at West Brom – the first major setback of Carrick’s Riverside tenure – this was one hell of a way to bounce back. A 5-0 trouncing of Reading, albeit a crisis-hit, confidence-sapped Reading, lifted Middlesbrough back up to third place, ahead of Blackburn Rovers and in full control of their own, play-off seeking destiny.
Carrick has tasted victory in 14 of his 20 games at Boro. In his first ever senior managerial role, lest we forget.
His claret-and-blue past means the Manchester United legend was always going to be mentioned in conjunction with his former employers at one point or another, though it’s testament to how remarkable an impact Carrick has made in the North East that the 41-year-old is already being discussed as a potential appointment for a bonafide Premier League giant.
“Carrick is absolutely flying at Middlesbrough. They’re third in the table,” O’Hara muses. “Carrick at West Ham ain’t a bad shout, you know.”
David Moyes under fire at West Ham while Carrick thrives at Middlesbrough
It’s never a great sign when those ‘sacked in the morning’ chants start to rain down. Especially when they come from your own supporters. West Ham’s 4-0 thumping at a brilliant Brighton and Hove Albion was the final straw for the beleaguered Scot in the eyes of some in the away end; Moises Caicedo, Alexis MacAllister, Solly March and co cutting through the Hammers backline like a Katana through clover.
Former England international Darren Bent, however, believes Moyes remains the man to drag West Ham out of the quicksand.
“They are talking about David Moyes being on the brink, and I can understand it because their results have not been good. (But) you look at the last time they were in trouble. Who did they turn to? David Moyes. So, I think you are better off just sticking with him until the end of the season,” Bent tells talkSPORT.
“(West Ham) finished seventh last year. I know they’re struggling but they played a lot of games last year, with the European stuff.
“They are still in a great position to win the UEFA Conference League. I get that their form is not great, but I would probably stick with David Moyes until at least the end of the season.
“He’s been in this situation with this club before. He knows how to get out of it. If they get a couple of wins, they’d be out of the relegation zone.
“I would probably keep him.”
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