Jermain Defoe is backing David Moyes to keep West Ham in the Premier League.
Jermain Defoe and David Moyes
Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe has told The Mirror that he thinks David Moyes will keep West Ham in the Premier League this season.
The Hammers chose to sack manager Slaven Bilic earlier this month, parting ways with the Croatian after a 4-1 home defeat to Liverpool as his time at the club came to an end after more than two years.
West Ham didn’t waste any time bringing in a new manager, as just 24 hours after Bilic’s exit, the Hammers took the strange decision to bring in David Moyes as their new boss.
Moyes, 54, was a superb manager for Everton, but struggled with Manchester United and Real Sociedad before suffering relegation from the Premier League last season.
The Scot opened his West Ham career with a 2-0 defeat at Watford last weekend, and he will now hope for his first win as Hammers boss against Leicester City tonight.
Ahead of tonight’s game, former West Ham striker Jermain Defoe has offered his thoughts on his former club, telling The Mirror that he still loves the club and finds it difficult seeing them struggle.
Defoe also offered his view on Moyes, having worked under the Scot at Sunderland last season, hailing him for the freedom he gave him, and for his hands-on nature in training.
Defoe added a prediction, stating that he thinks West Ham will avoid relegation under Moyes this season, but urged the Hammers to give the Scot time to do the job.
“I love West Ham and I love the fans,” said Defoe. “Even when they give me a bit of stick I know, deep down, that they appreciate me and I have so many great memories of the club I’m from the East End too, a lot of my family are West Ham fans and that’s where it started for me. Of course it hurts to see them going through a rough time. There is still a long way to go and they have a good manager who is experienced and knows his way around the Premier League.”
“I liked playing for David Moyes. He didn’t put any extra pressure on me or try to complicate the game. It was almost as simple as, ‘You’re a goal-scorer – go out there and score goals. Because I’d done it over the years, there were times when he would give me the freedom to go where I wanted, to express myself and find pockets of space where the chances might come. On the training pitch, he’s very vocal and hands-on, and training is always very sharp with the accent on quality. He needs time – it’s not easy fighting fires and the last couple of jobs he’s had have been difficult. But with the players he’s got at West Ham, and the quality in that changing room, I think they should be alright,” he added.
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