David Moyes right to call for West Ham scouting upgrades [Opinion]

David Moyes has made a less-than-subtle dig at the West Ham board over one key internal structure at the London Stadium – and he is more than justified in doing so.

Speaking ahead of the Hammers’ clash with London rivals Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening, Moyes called for greater development of the club’s recruitment infrastructure.

The 57-year-old believes that West Ham need to invest more in their recruitment resources in order to improve the way the club goes about identifying potential new signings.

Regardless of the success of any incomings, or a relative lack thereof, it has been clear for some time that West Ham’s recruitment faculties are lagging behind.

Analytical comparison to other league rivals, such as Everton, and the capacities even of lower-league sides such as Brentford has previously laid bare just how miniscule the Hammers’ scouting network is by comparison.

Moyes was clear on the long-run necessity of recruitment upgrade, but he conceded there have been flashes of talent-spotting brilliance. As per Claret and Hugh, he said of the club’s scouting performance: “We’ve not done well enough at it at all, but our recruitment at the moment has been good.

“It will be one of the big things if I am here longer that I will hope to change, to make it a better department.”

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Moyes was unambiguous in his demands, and fans must come around to seeing why spending big on scouting upgrades (even at the expense of a possible signing) is a must.

An improved network with greater analytical capabilities can, on paper, lead to better-informed decisions when choosing which targets to sign. That can offer better value for money, minimising the odds of West Ham repeating Sebastien Haller-style mistakes.

The French-born Ivory Coast international signed for a club-record fee in 2019 but the Hammers recently accepted a loss of more than 50% after the striker struggled to live up to expectations, scoring just 14 times in 53 appearances.

In this view, greater investment in scouting from the West Ham board is a key aspect of unlocking the Hammers’ true potential.