After beating West Brom on Tuesday, West Ham have made their best start to a calendar year since 1958 – and it is all thanks to David Moyes.
For the first time in 63 years, West Ham have won the first four games of a calendar year and have now only lost one game in our last nine. We sit 7th in the league table, only two points off the top-four.
Now that we have reached the halfway stage of the campaign, the Hammers have also collected more points after 19 games (32) than any other top-flight season from a West Ham side since 1985/86. That just shows the winning mentality that David Moyes has implemented this season.
We have now won nine games so far in the league this term and are only seven points from our overall points tally in 2019/2020. Big wins against Leicester, Wolves and Everton has helped us achieve that.
However, one major difference in comparison to last year, is how we are winning games against lower-rated sides. The only teams we have lost to so far this season have been Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool and Newcastle. And even in those games, we had the chances to come away with a result.
By winning games that we should be, for example against the likes of Fulham, Sheffield United and West Brom this season, we have a much better chance of finishing towards the higher end of the table.
It is obvious that picking up three points will always help you improve as a team, but we are beginning to turn draws into wins. Whereas last season we may have settled for a draw in tight games, this year we have pushed on to win. Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over West Brom was the perfect example of that.
4️⃣ wins in a row
6️⃣ unbeaten in all competitions
7️⃣th in the leagueWe. Move. ✊ pic.twitter.com/jY2WlQeoN0
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 19, 2021
Even though we are on a good run of form, we can still put in better performances. But the fact that we are edging out wins while still not at our best, indicates a winning mentality that Moyes has drilled into the team.
Moyes’ comments after Tuesday’s game reinforced this. He said he was “disappointed” and that he “didn’t like the performance” following our 2-1 win.
“We’re going step by step and making good progress picking up points. I want us to be competing at the top end and to do that we have to keep winning,” he said.
With this new mentality comes a different attitude from the players, which we can clearly see on the pitch. The squad’s togetherness and team camaraderie has clearly stepped up a level this season, and the positive environment Moyes has built is reflected through the players’ performances.
Despite our good run of form, however, it is important for fans not to get ahead of themselves given that we have another half of the season to play. If we can continue playing in this way, it will be a spectacular first full season of Moyes’ second spell in charge at the club.
There is notably a big difference within the team. The way we have grated out results over the past few weeks highlights a new winning mentality that Moyes has put in place, and long may it continue!
