Thursday 25 September 2014 08:37, UK
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has defended David Moyes’ time as Manchester United manager.
The Scotsman succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson as the Red Devils boss last summer but was sacked four games before the end of the season after failing to secure them a place in the top four of the Premier League.
The only major signing that United made last summer was that of midfielder Marouane Fellaini from Everton for £27.5million, and they brought in Spanish playmaker Juan Mata from Chelsea for £37.1m in January.
In contrast this summer, following the appointment of Louis van Gaal as the manager, United have signed Ander Herrera (£29m), Luke Shaw (£27m), Marcos Rojo (£16m), Angel di Maria (£59.7m), Daley Blind (£14m), Vanja Milinkovic (sent back to FK Vojvodina on loan) and Radamel Falcao (on loan from AS Monaco).
Allardyce has now questioned United’s failure to sign the players that Moyes wanted when he was in charge of the club.
“If I was sat at home in David’s shoes, I would be wondering why they didn’t spend the £150m with me,” he told The Sun.
“There was a complacency by United in not going out and delivering the signings David felt he needed. Now there’s a panic on.
If I was sat at home in David’s shoes, I would be wondering why they didn’t spend the £150m with me.
“He will obviously look at what he might have done better but he should have got the players and he tells me he didn’t get any of them.
“It was difficult enough taking over from Alex Ferguson but if, when you take over, you don’t get what you want, it’s so much harder.
“It was a great shame because he’d done everything right at Everton and Sir Alex saw the fact he wanted to build at United like he had done at Everton.
“I’m not so sure anybody would have been successful in that season – history tells you that. Look at other examples, like when Brian Clough took over from a legend in Don Revie at Leeds and only lasted 44 days.”
New deal
Allardyce’s own future at West Ham has been the subject of scrutiny after a tough year last season.
The 59-year-old’s current contract with the Premier League club runs out in June 2015, but he has yet to be offered a new deal.
However, Allardyce is not worried and said: “I’ve not been offered anything but it’s not an issue, like it’s not an issue, like it wasn’t last time.
“The team will speak for itself with results and that will put me in a position to make the owners want to start negotiations if and when they are ready.
“I’m not saying whether I want to stay or not. If I say I want to stay and three or four results go against me and I get the bullet, then it sounds silly.
“What I will say if I’m comfortable with my life, myself and the job I’m doing working with the players.”
