‘Be careful what you wish for’ PL Pundit whooping claim on the HAMMERS fans live on beiNsport with baffling claim to WHY Moyes had to leave London Stadium and now Club stock struggling despite Manager Switch.
West Ham parted ways with David Moyes over the summer amidst widespread media criticism, and his successor, Julen Lopetegui, has struggled to impress Hammers fans so far. Disappointing results, underwhelming performances, and his cautious introduction of exciting summer signings have left both supporters and the club’s owners unimpressed.
A 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at the London Stadium marked West Ham’s third consecutive league loss to start the season, a first in their 129-year history. While their losses came against tough opponents like Champions League-bound Aston Villa, champions Manchester City, and top-four contenders Chelsea, West Ham has looked particularly fragile. They’ve conceded more shots (83) than any other Premier League team, 20 more than the next worst side, and created the second fewest big chances under Lopetegui.
Many West Ham fans are tired of hearing the phrase “be careful what you wish for,” which was frequently used by pundits, journalists, and former Hammers coaches like Alan Shearer, Richard Keys, Stuart Pearce, Harry Redknapp, and Sam Allardyce as Moyes’ tenure neared its end. While fans respect Moyes for his achievements—taking the club from the relegation zone to sixth- and seventh-place finishes and winning a European trophy—his old-school, low-possession style had worn thin in an era dominated by more attacking football.
Despite Moyes’ departure, the media, including many of Moyes’ friends, have been quick to criticize Lopetegui. Richard Keys, in particular, wasted no time invoking the “be careful what you wish for” line, just five games into the season. During West Ham’s loss to Chelsea, Moyes joined Keys in the beIN Sports studio, where Keys highlighted the club’s poor form and fans leaving early from the stadium.
In a piece on his website, Keys wrote, “For the first time in their history, they’ve lost their first three home games. They were very poor against Chelsea, and fans were leaving the Taxpayers Stadium long before the end.” He also referenced a Guardian article by Jacob Steinberg, which noted that West Ham’s “style revolution” under Lopetegui has been slow, adding that the team looks no better after swapping Moyes for Lopetegui. Keys then questioned whether fans should have doubted the man who led West Ham to back-to-back top-seven finishes and a European title.
Keys’ remarks echo a sentiment that West Ham fans are being unfairly criticized for wanting a more adventurous style of play. While clubs like Tottenham, Aston Villa, Brighton, Bournemouth, and even Crystal Palace have successfully shifted to more attacking football, West Ham supporters are being chastised for their desire for improvement.
Though it was predictable, Keys’ “I told you so” attitude just over a month into the new season feels premature. Meanwhile, talkSPORT’s Jim White has already started asking listeners if West Ham fans would want Moyes back—a question that only adds to the ongoing debate.