"You want the backing of your home support": David Moyes demands respect from West Ham fans after Wolves loss

The Hammers manager wants support from West Ham fans despite not winning a Premier League game since October. 

"You want the backing of your home support": David Moyes demands respect from West Ham fans after Wolves loss
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 14: David Moyes, manager of West Ham United, looks on ahead of the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United at Molineux on January 14, 2023 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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By Mia Claydon

David Moyes has not won a Premier League match since beating Bournemouth on 24th October 2022. However, after the club's sixth defeat in seven games, and statistically currently performing as well as Avram Grant's relegated side in 2011; Moyes wants West Ham United fans to stick with him.

Some of the fans, the squad, and Moyes believed that after a 2-2 draw against Leeds, and a 1-0 win in the cup against a high-flying Brentford, West Ham may have been on the up, in terms of form. 

But Wolverhampton Wanderers, who has had its fair share of adversity this season, possessed the cutting edge that battered any remaining positivity of the Hammers today at Molineux. 

David Moyes' future right now remains as uncertain as ever.  Currently, according to Betfair's latest odds, Moyes is 2/1 to be the next Premier League manager to leave his role; the second favourite to be sacked after Everton's Frank Lampard. But, no announcement has been officially made by West Ham at the time of writing. 

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 14: <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/14/west-ham/1126239-david-moyes-predicts-a-difficult-game-against-southampton.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/14/west-ham/1126239-david-moyes-predicts-a-difficult-game-against-southampton.html'>David Moyes</a></strong>, manager of <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/27/west-ham/1127727-west-ham-1-0-silkeborg-hammers-win-their-europa-conference-league-group-thanks-to-manuel-lanzinis-penalty.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/27/west-ham/1127727-west-ham-1-0-silkeborg-hammers-win-their-europa-conference-league-group-thanks-to-manuel-lanzinis-penalty.html'>West Ham</a></strong> United, issues instructions to Nayef Aguerd during the <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/09/30/west-ham/1124691-david-moyes-admits-he-is-judged-on-results-and-they-need-to-get-better-ahead-of-wolves-fixture.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/09/30/west-ham/1124691-david-moyes-admits-he-is-judged-on-results-and-they-need-to-get-better-ahead-of-wolves-fixture.html'>Premier League</a></strong> match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/27/west-ham/1127727-west-ham-1-0-silkeborg-hammers-win-their-europa-conference-league-group-thanks-to-manuel-lanzinis-penalty.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/27/west-ham/1127727-west-ham-1-0-silkeborg-hammers-win-their-europa-conference-league-group-thanks-to-manuel-lanzinis-penalty.html'>West Ham</a></strong> United at Molineux on January 14, 2023 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 14: David Moyes, manager of West Ham United, issues instructions to Nayef Aguerd during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United at Molineux on January 14, 2023 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Both Moyes and captain Declan Rice (who celebrated his 24th birthday today) spoke to the media following the defeat. 

  • Keep the faith?

Moyes has been on an incredible journey following his second appointment as West Ham manager in 2019. A top-six finish, a European tour resulting in a semi-final Europa League game; occasions many fans born this side of the century have only dreamed of. 

But social media suggests that most Hammers fans are all out of faith, unfortunately for Moyes. 

“What we’ve given West Ham supporters in the last few years, I hope they can give us back.

"We are in a difficult period. If they give us back everything the staff and the players have given the club in the last couple of years then I’m sure that will help us.

"You always want the backing of your home support and we’ve always had it. Let’s hope that continues."

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/09/13/west-ham/1123159-silkeborg-if-vs-west-ham-united-uecl-preview-matchday-2-2022.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/09/13/west-ham/1123159-silkeborg-if-vs-west-ham-united-uecl-preview-matchday-2-2022.html'>West Ham</a></strong> United manager David Moyes during the Premier League match between <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/09/13/west-ham/1123159-silkeborg-if-vs-west-ham-united-uecl-preview-matchday-2-2022.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/09/13/west-ham/1123159-silkeborg-if-vs-west-ham-united-uecl-preview-matchday-2-2022.html'>West Ham</a></strong> United and Brentford FC at London Stadium on December 30, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: West Ham United manager David Moyes during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Brentford FC at London Stadium on December 30, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Moyes is aware of the expectations set after two club record-breaking seasons, and sympathises with fans' confusion and frustration with the club's current position. 

"We have probably risen expectations greatly in the last few years, being in Europe, sixth and seventh in the Premier League in the last two years. 

"I can understand disappointment and frustration and maybe they cannot quite understand why it is like this."

Hailing the "journey" that West Ham has to take to become a top team, Moyes appeared confident that this kind of form is not uncommon for clubs that proceed to flourish. 

"It is quite often the journey you have to take when you are trying to climb the tree and trying to get better.

Probably with what we have achieved the last couple of years, and avoiding relegation three years ago, building on where we have been means that everybody is a bit disappointed, which they should be.”

  • On his immense pressure

David Moyes has been a top-tier manager for over two decades. In that time, he has managed six clubs across Europe; he is familiar with the pressure he is feeling currently. 

"I would never look at myself and say I've got credit in the bank.

"Lots of people are after jobs in this league. I'm not daft, I've had enough games in it to understand. You have to do well in it to keep your job. 

"We have to try and do better than we're doing at the moment."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: David Moyes, Manager of <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/08/26/west-ham/1121044-david-moyes-determined-to-see-signs-of-improvement-against-aston-villa.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/08/26/west-ham/1121044-david-moyes-determined-to-see-signs-of-improvement-against-aston-villa.html'>West Ham</a></strong> United applauds the fans after their sides defeat during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/08/26/west-ham/1121044-david-moyes-determined-to-see-signs-of-improvement-against-aston-villa.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/08/26/west-ham/1121044-david-moyes-determined-to-see-signs-of-improvement-against-aston-villa.html'>West Ham</a></strong> United at Anfield on October 19, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: David Moyes, Manager of West Ham United applauds the fans after their sides defeat during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United at Anfield on October 19, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
  • A word from the captain

For his 24th birthday, Declan Rice would have hoped for three points and a push away from the relegation zone. 

The captain spoke emotionally about his team, arguing that the Hammers should have won the game; but "another sloppy goal" and not finishing chances has cost them yet again.

"It's another sloppy goal we've conceded. Nothing much in the game, and with the chances we created we just couldn't score.

"In the end, we lacked that cutting edge and conceded another goal which we'd usually clean up and stop that counter-attack.

"There's a bundle of things going against us at the minute, and the reality is where we are at in the table at the moment is not good enough. It's down to us to take responsibility, and it's a big one next week."

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 14: Dejection for <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/08/12/west-ham/1119584-its-a-big-challenge-david-moyes-talks-ahead-of-hammers-clash-with-nottingham-forest.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/08/12/west-ham/1119584-its-a-big-challenge-david-moyes-talks-ahead-of-hammers-clash-with-nottingham-forest.html'>West Ham</a></strong> United's Declan Rice at the final whistle during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/08/07/west-ham/1119207-west-ham-0-2-man-city-haaland-brace-nails-the-hammers.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/08/07/west-ham/1119207-west-ham-0-2-man-city-haaland-brace-nails-the-hammers.html'>West Ham</a></strong> United at Molineux on January 14, 2023 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 14: Dejection for West Ham United's Declan Rice at the final whistle during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United at Molineux on January 14, 2023 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)

West Ham hosts Everton next in the Premier League; a must-win match for both clubs, sitting on 15 points a piece.