West Ham United fell to a 4-1 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday that left them just three points above the relegation zone ahead of their trip to Swansea City next weekend, and it is a result that potentially may have brought into question manager David Moyes’ future at the club.
The Scot signed a contract to stay at the London Stadium until the end of the season when he succeeded Slaven Bilic in November, and reports in recent weeks have suggested that he is on course to remain in east London beyond the end of the current campaign.
There has been no news on his future as of yet though as the club’s board see what their fate is come what May, and relegation to the Championship or more disappointing displays before the season comes to a climax would surely put the 54-year-old’s future into doubt.
The former Manchester United and Everton boss leaving the London Stadium wouldn’t be good news for some though, and there would certainly be a few Irons players that would be unhappy and believe that they would be on their way out at the end of the season as a result.
Here are three West Ham players that have no future at the club if Moyes goes this summer…
James Collins
The 34-year-old centre-back’s contract is due to run out at the end of the season and with no progress made any over possible extension to his deal, the Welshman’s future at the London Stadium looks to be in doubt.
Collins hasn’t been a regular in the team over the course of the last 18 months and suffered from injury earlier this season, but the absence of Winston Reid and Jose Fonte because of injury saw him come into the side and become a consistent starter in recent weeks under Moyes.
The defender has made the XI IN West Ham’s last six Premier League matches, but if the Scottish boss doesn’t get kept on at the end of the campaign it would be no surprise to see ‘Ginge’ suffer the same fate.
Cheikhou Kouyate
Just under two years ago the Senegal international signed a contract with the east London outfit until 2021 following some impressive performances, but his long-term future is certainly in more doubt right now.
While the 28-year-old’s performances have improved in recent weeks – he struggled in the 4-1 defeat against Liverpool however – the midfielder certainly hasn’t been anywhere near the form he has shown for the Irons in the past.
Despite that he has been a regular under Moyes in the middle of the park with Pedro Obiang out with a long-term injury and with the club failing to sign a new central or defensive midfielder during the January transfer window , while he has also played as a centre-back and as a right wing-back this term.
If the Scot goes and a new man comes in this summer Kouyate may not be an automatic pick given his below-par displays, and he could follow Moyes out of the door.
Mark Noble
Much like Kouyate, the West Ham captain put in a number of disappointing performances at the start of the season that saw him in and out of the side under Slaven Bilic.
Life at the London Stadium has certainly improved for the skipper under Moyes though, and he has captained them and played the full 90 minutes in their previous seven Premier League fixtures.
If the Scot goes however, a new manager may feel that the midfielder, who turns 31 in May, will not be good enough to be a regular starter next season if the club wants to push on, and Noble will surely want to keep playing consistently at this stage of his career.
Do you agree, Irons fans? Let us know below.
