West Ham manager David Moyes has come in for criticism following the controversial decision to start Kurt Zouma against Watford.
The 58-year-old Scot opted to include the centre-back in his starting lineup as the Hammers beat their visitors 1-0 at the London Stadium.
Just hours after the release of a video that has since been condemned by the club, Zouma played 90 minutes for the Irons.
Speaking in the build-up to the match, Andy Gray lamented Moyes’ call on beIN Sports.
Kurt Zouma starts for West Ham tonight after the defender was filmed kicking his pet cat. @richardajkeys and Andy Gray react… #beINPL #WHUWAT
Watch Now 👉 https://t.co/hkoevnV6B4 pic.twitter.com/NSxFf2hoI6
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) February 8, 2022
It was shocking, it really was shocking. But you’re right about West Ham so who does discipline him? Who does take action? Who can take action? Anyone?
The 27-year-old Frenchman was a standout performer for the Hammers, earning a 7.60 Sofascore rating on the night.
Moyes defended the decision before and after the match by saying Zouma was one of the ‘better players’ in the squad before admitting he himself was an ‘animal lover’.
READ WEST HAM VERDICT
This situation certainly could’ve been handled better.
There was seemingly an opportunity here to take some of the heat out of the situation by leaving the centre-back out of the squad altogether.
Instead, the intensity is only likely to be further ramped up as many call for urgent action.
Whilst Zouma is integral to the West Ham cause, Moyes hasn’t quite read the room here and despite the club’s own internal handling, the decision to start the man in question so soon has to go down as an error of judgement.
