Robbie Savage: West Ham should give David Moyes a new contract

Speaking exclusively to Planet Sport Bet, Savage said: “West Ham haven’t just done quite well under David Moyes, they’ve done really well!

"Look at Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton, everyone loves him and the reason I mention him is because West Ham are actually above Brighton in the table. I think West Ham have to stick with Moyes, he’s done unbelievably well.
 
“I’d give him a new contract. They’re into the knockout stages of the Europa League and they’re eighth in the Premier League despite having some massive injuries. They’re above the likes of Chelsea and everyone talks about how well De Zerbi has done, but Moyes is above him in the league.
 
“They won a European trophy under him only last season and they’re still in Europe again this year – he’s done an unbelievable job! If you don’t like somebody at work, but they’re doing a great job, you don’t just get rid of them because you’re not too keen on them.”

 

Leaving early doesn’t make you less of a fan

With West Ham 4-0 down at half-time against Arsenal, many of their fans came under criticism for leaving early, but Savage suggested that they had every right to do so and are no less fans than anyone who stayed, even stating that he would have left the stadium in the same situation.
 
“If my team were getting battered at half-time and fans started leaving then I’d be walking out with them,” he said.

“If I’ve spent my hard-earned money to watch my team and they’re 4-0 down at half-time and I leave, I’m still as much of a fan as someone who stays. It is your own choice.
 
“I’m not having the argument that if you leave when your team is getting hammered then you’re not a true football fan.

"I spoke to somebody at the weekend whom it cost £250 and an eight hour round trip to go and watch West Ham against Arsenal, and he left early – that doesn’t mean he’s not a true football fan.
 
“There are some unbelievable fans who will stay and applaud their team no matter what, but it doesn’t mean you’re not a proper fan if you leave when your team is getting absolutely hammered.”

 

Players don’t even notice fans leaving

Savage also offered the players’ perspective on fans leaving early, suggesting that those on the pitch don’t even notice fans leaving early, emphasising again that he believes fans are free to leave whenever they want and leaving early “doesn’t mean you’re not a true fan”.
 
“As a player, when you go over to the fans after a battering you have to stand there and take everything like ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ and all the obscenities that they’re throwing your way,” said Savage.
 
“When you’re on the pitch you don’t really notice the fans leaving. You notice at the end when there’s nobody there though! In the end, leaving early doesn’t mean that you’re not a true football fan – you can leave when you want!”