Even with the afternoon effectively over, Huddersfield flailing and begging for mercy, Alan Irvine was still chirping.
‘No, no!’ the assistant to David Moyes shrieked down his headset in the stands, about 20 metres from the West Ham bench. Billy McKinlay, the recipient, probably didn’t need the ear piece. Irvine was loud — loud and exasperated at his midfield.
Forget that West Ham were three goals clear with minutes left, ready to take their haul to 15 points from eight games. In Irvine’s view, rudimentary jobs were not being performed.
West Ham United manager David Moyes oversaw a 4-1 victory at Huddersfield on Saturday
His expletives were unashamed, just like Moyes’s approach to keeping West Ham in the Premier League. The manager has made no apology for his focus being correcting defensive ills. Survival is the objective and he has done everything asked of him so far.
This all feels very redemptive and it would be easy to suggest Moyes has just gone back to basics. Shut up shop, catch teams on the break and rely on the individualism of Marko Arnautovic.
But as Mark Noble explained, the pressure Joe Lolley was put under for West Ham’s first goal was the result of three days’ training perfecting a strategy to counter Huddersfield’s style. It offers a reason why Irvine stayed so highly strung at 4-1. The score was no accident. Moyes, whose team are now 11th in the table, is building sturdy foundations.
West Ham’s board were fairly blinkered in their search for Slaven Bilic’s successor and that is looking like impressive foresight. Allowing him Irvine, by his side at Preston and Everton but not Manchester United, Real Sociedad or Sunderland, was clever as well.
It was West Ham’s fifth consecutive game without a loss and Marko Arnautovic was in fine form
The players, who did not immediately take to Moyes, are all on the same page. ‘First we need to save our season,’ Pablo Zabaleta said. ‘And then if David Moyes stays for the next couple of years, he’ll have a chance to bring in his players and maybe get the team playing a different way.’
He could get that opportunity over the next fortnight depending on how generous David Gold and David Sullivan are feeling, although it may hinge on out-goings. Sportsmail understands West Ham have agreed a fee in the region of £12million with one club for Diafra Sakho, seen as dead wood at the club. It is an open secret Moyes wants creative types in midfield.
And that may determine whether we see West Ham’s style alter in the coming weeks. The next four games, against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Watford, present a chance for more obvious expression. It could offer some indication of which direction they are heading in under Moyes.
Zabaleta added: ‘David Moyes is looking to bring in players to give us more creativity and probably then we can change to a different style. We thought the best way to improve was to be solid at the back and that gives us more confidence.’
Arnautovic didn’t enjoy a smooth start at West Ham but Moyes appears to have liberated him
Hammers defender Pablo Zabaleta said that Moyes is keen to sign more creative players
Arnautovic is the man benefiting most. His goal was a sixth under Moyes. The Austrian also provided assists for both of Manuel Lanzini’s strikes and Noble’s opener and is carrying responsibility through the middle. Zabaleta has sat the 28-year-old down to tell him to focus, that he is one of the country’s best on his day, and Arnautovic appears liberated.
‘I have good freedom now,’ Arnautovic said. ‘I had a tough start because of the red card and a bad illness. I lost a lot of energy.’
Moyes added: ‘Everyone knows he looks a moody boy at times but I have found him really good and also very funny.
‘We’re keeping him on a short leash, though! More importantly, the questions were that he wasn’t running about and putting in the effort. Well, that would be the last thing you’d say about him now.’
Individual errors cost Huddersfield and manager David Wagner said: ‘We have played 24 games, so it should be enough time for everybody to learn their lesson. But even if we say it should be enough time, we’ve done it again.’
At least Moyes appears to have reversed his slide as he continues to make a point to his doubters. This performance came in front of Sir Alex Ferguson, which felt very fitting.
Arnautovic has scored four goals and provided three assists in his last four league outings
Moyes said: ‘Everyone knows he looks a moody boy at times but I have found him really good’