Signing a striker was a priority for West Ham United during the January transfer window but the Hammers failed to bring in anyone last month.
Moyes’ side have been fighting really hard to secure a Champions League spot and after holding onto the fourth spot on the Premier League table for a long time, they were finally dethroned by Man United right before the international break.
The manager needed a new striker who can partner Michail Antonio up front in the coming months but now that he’s failed to sign a centre-forward, David Moyes has explained what he plans to do.
“There was no intention of taking any risk, I wouldn’t use the word risk because we have other people who can play there,” he said, as quoted.
“We were always trying to add to what we thought we could do. It would be hard to get better than Jarrod Bowen if we’re talking about another striker.
“I didn’t just want back-up, I wanted real competition. I could have easily gone out and bought back-up. Easily.
“I wanted people who were actually going to take other people’s jerseys and challenge them.”
Michail Antonio on strikers: "Not just the cover I want someone to push me, I don't want someone to be there just for when I cannot play I want someone to push me to make me be better and that is the reason why I want someone in to help me." #WHUFC https://t.co/ciSTz2tnAQ
— Tom Clark (@_thomasjclark) February 3, 2022
Are West Ham United at a disadvantage at finishing in the top-four?
Even though Moyes is claiming that he didn’t want a backup but the reality is that the management failed to bring anyone on board in time. The Hammers have just slipped out of the top four and to make matters worse, they have played more games than the other contenders.
West Ham United are currently fifth on the table having played 23 games while teams like Man United, Spurs and Arsenal have all played lesser matches.
Michail Antonio has netted eight goals in the PL this season for the club and Jarrod Bowen is second on the list with six goals. The Hammers are undoubtedly playing some fine football but these kinds of goals return are simply not enough to secure a UCL spot for the next season.
Pretty soon, players like Antonio and Bowen are going to run out of steam and there’s every chance that either of them falls suddenly out of form.
Teams like Man United, Arsenal and Spurs have the advantage right now since if they can win their games-in-hand then West Ham United will automatically slide to the seventh or even the eighth spot on the table.
The London side will have to dig deep if they wish to remain in the hunt until May but the sheer squad depth of the other competitors is likely going to push West Ham United on the back foot in the coming months.
