West Ham Seek Safety; Everton Want Europe | OneFootball

Announcing her decision to step down as vice-chair of West Ham this week, the much-criticised Karren Brady cited the club’s Conference League winning campaign as the highlight of her 16-year tenure at the club. 

A Moyes Return, in a Different Color

It is fitting, then, that the man who brought the Hammers that elusive piece of silverware, David Moyes, returns to his former club on Saturday chasing European qualification with his Everton side. 

Despite Moyes’ success in east London, he was at times an unpopular figure among the club’s supporters. Having had a taste of silverware and European football, they wanted their side to take the next step upwards. But a drop in their Premier League performances sealed the end of Moyes’ second tenure at the club. 

Graham Potter was supposed to be the man to take West Ham to the next level, overseeing a summer of significant investment but poor recruitment which ultimately set the club back in their ambitions. 

Potter was eventually sacked back in September after a dismal start to the season, with Nuno Espírito Santo tasked with keeping the club up – something which remains uncertain as the Premier League season enters its last five games. 

“They’re (West Ham) fighting for everything,” Moyes said ahead of his return to the club this weekend. 

“There was a great, great group of lads there which I left, and hugely enjoyed a really, really good football club which certainly shouldn’t be going into the Championship. That’s the way I look at it.” 

West Ham Safe (for now)

The Hammers sit 17th and two points above Tottenham going into the game at the London Stadium. Espirito Santo has certainly overseen an improvement in results but whether it will be enough to confirm their place in the top-flight for next season is questionable.  

Their goalless draw against Crystal Palace was further proof that they can get results but did little to inspire much excitement, despite Espírito Santo’s continued confidence. 

“The players are improving their levels and the standards,” the West Ham boss said. “As long as we are improving our players, the team will improve. We have been solid in defence, good in attack, sometimes not so good. Finding that balance in the remaining matches is going to be crucial for us.” 

Toffees Seeking More than Mid-Table Security

Everton’s visit to the London Stadium serves as a reminder of what West Ham were not all too long ago though. The Toffees are tenth, but only three points off sixth and just two points behind seventh going into the weekend.  

Ninth place could be enough to get into the Conference League if circumstances that are too extensive and dull to get into in this piece play out, but they face stiff competition with several sides vying for those coveted sports. 

How West Ham would love to be in that position now instead of worrying about survival, and perhaps more importantly what the financial implications of relegation could mean for their club.