David Moyes has never shied away from the conversation about building a new West Ham around young, hungry players ready to prove they have what it takes.
The West Ham Gaffer has been inspired by the Red Bull model over their recent successes domestically and continentally. The Scot visited both Salzburg and Leipzig in between his stints in East London. It’s hard not to get excited about the RB model when you look at the track record.
With the new season a month away and the Europa League not far beyond that, David Moyes and the Hammers need everything they can get as matches will be coming in thick and in a hurry. So far, the only first-team movement for the club has been outward, and the club lacks depth.
Many believe that Moyes could be looking at The Academy to fulfill those slots with zero inward movement. West Ham has brought in Thierry Nevers from Reading, Pierre Ekwah Elimby from Chelsea, and Armstrong Oko-Flex joined after being let go by Celtic.
West Ham: David Moyes is rolling out his own Red Bull style
During the Hammers preseason matches, Moyes has been forced to play youth with the depth issues and a handful of starters still on international breaks. After three matches in the bad, the has fired a strong warning to the club’s young players.
The Gaffer has made it very clear that many of them need to do better than their showings in pre-season so far; especially, if they are to prove themselves worthy of a first-team chance. During the interview, Moyes appeared flustered when asked if playing League Two sides was enough of an experience. He responded by saying:
"“First of all they want to make sure they’re good enough for West Ham”"
“Good enough for West Ham” is something everyone wants with the maddening season coming up. During both matches, certain players (Holland, Coventry, Baptiste) have stood out, making their first team case in the future.
It will be interesting to see if any of those players get a chance when West Ham faces off against Newcastle United on August 14th. What’s going to be more interesting is whether or not West Ham sign any first-team stars before the campaign starts. Right now, it’s quiet, but things can always progress quickly.