David Moyes‘ West Ham have made a fine start to the 2020/21 campaign during his second spell in charge at the London Stadium.
The Scottish manager has got his team well-drilled and organised defensively, so much so the Hammers have picked up a highly respectable points tally from a tough run of fixtures at the start of this season.
This early success has thrown up parallels between his current Irons tenure and that of his 11 years in charge at Everton.
Based on a desire for hard work, players knowing their duties, and physicality in the heart of midfield, sprinkled with the odd flair player capable of genius – there are definite similarities between the two teams.
Having enjoyed the presence and aerially ability offered by Marouane Fellaini so much at Everton that he took him to Manchester United for his ill-fated spell at Old Trafford; Moyes now has a new version of the Belgian, as remarked by Jose Mourinho in the past, in Czech midfielder Tomas Soucek, who has already chipped in with three goals this season.
With his former Everton right-hand man Alan Irvine in tow, Moyes is starting to impress his own philosophies on the Irons’ squad, to very positive effect.
After leading the Toffees on a short-lived European adventure in 2005, Hammers fans will hope the comparisons don’t end at tactics, style and personnel.
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It’s easy to forget that Moyes took over a team floundering in the relegation zone for his second spell in charge in east London.
With astute signings and slight alterations in tactical approach, the Hammers are now a very difficult team to beat and offer a threat of their own with the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma very much capable of moments of brilliance.
Despite letting him go once before, a mistake which has now been rectified, West Ham can count themselves lucky to have Moyes at the helm.
