David Moyes: West Ham boss has point to prove after club climbdown

The reaction from West Ham’s supporters to the news of Moyes’ appointment was – to put it mildly – lukewarm, and hints at how he must fight to rebuild his credibility.

When Moyes was heavily linked with a possible return to Everton as successor to Marco Silva – a job he came very close to getting until Carlo Ancelotti was sacked by Napoli – the reaction among supporters was toxic, causing pause for thought in the Goodison Park boardroom.

Moyes did a fine job at Everton, although he did not win a trophy in 11 years, but he was regarded among large sections of support as yesterday’s man, with a recent record of failure.

He also saw his relationship with his former club and their fans deteriorate after what Everton described as “derisory and insulting” offers to take former players Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United after leaving in 2013.

This has been mirrored in the response of Hammers fans, despite his success in stabilising the club in his previous spell by guiding them from the relegation places to 13th at the end of the season, winning eight out of 27 league games.

It was not enough for West Ham’s hierarchy to offer him a long-term deal then, although they have rectified that now.

Where he has a problem, with image and credibility, is that miserable record stretching back six years.

Moyes left Everton for Manchester United as the personal recommendation of the retiring Sir Alex Ferguson, his reputation glowing after his time at Goodison Park.

Since then he has been sacked after only 10 months at Manchester United, dismissed by Real Sociedad in La Liga after 12 months and was in charge when Sunderland were cut adrift and relegated in 2016-17, winning only six league games.

There is no doubt, despite the respectable spell at West Ham, that Moyes’ reputation has been damaged and he will need quick wins to dispel the scepticism among fans.