David Moyes
Are you concerned at all in terms of the minutes your players are playing?
Yes, I am but I can’t do anything about it. It’s not my choice to put a game in this midweek, we’ve only had one game called off for COVID and I feel as if at the first free week and opportunity we are getting squeezed in so I don’t think that’s right. We’ve had European games and also, we’ve had Carabao Cup games, which we are thankful to be in and I hope we are in the FA Cup, but I’ve said my piece of it, I’m not going to drag it on because it’s not me who makes those decisions, but I don’t think it’s a particularly good one.
Some reports today about an interest in Lucas Digne the Everton full-back, are you interested in the player?
I’d never give an opinion on any players at any other clubs because they are their players so you can ask me as many players as you like but my answer will be the same. I’m not going to talk about players at other clubs. Obviously, we are looking for players and we’d like to add to the squad if it’s possible. The board have made it clear that if I want to do it, and we can find the right players they will let it happen. So we’re looking yes.
You fielded a full-strength team and clearly, the FA Cup is a great opportunity this season?
I want to try and go far in the cup. We tried to go far in the Carabao and were really close and on another day might have got a draw and gone to penalty kicks. Our draws in the cup have been difficult we have had really tough opposition in whatever competition we’ve been in at the moment. But yes, I want to try and go far. But again our bread and butter will always be the Premier League and we want to do well in the Premier League. We want to try and maintain a high standard and play at that level and it’s making it difficult for us because I think Leeds have missed two games through COVID yet they have no game this midweek and we have to play them again next Sunday. So I don’t see how that is correct.
You must be so pleased with the chances the forwards are creating and the finishing?
We scored four at Watford, we scored three at Crystal Palace. We’ve got a couple today and we had other opportunities, on another day we might have scored more. I’ve got to say I’m really pleased that we kept a clean sheet because it’s something we have to do and Leeds cause you problems because of how they play and they’ve got a really good style of play. So for us to get through in the tie in a big game [was great]. This was probably one of the toughest ties I think drawn out of this round of the FA Cup when you look at the level of the two Premier League teams. So it’s been a bit like that in the cup but I am really pleased that the players went about their job well, and we’ll get them all ready for the game in midweek.
With Said Benrahma at the Africa Cup of Nations it was a big chance for Nikola Vlasic, how do you think he did?
I thought he did quite well. I thought he grew into the game as well the longer it went on. So I was pleased with him today, I’m pleased for him because he’s a really conscientious hard-working boy. I was pleased that he got two or three efforts at goal and was getting close to scoring and again and I thought he contributed to the team. So a lot of good things from him.
On the opening goal, Leeds obviously thought it should have been disallowed. What was your view on it?
My feeling at the side of the pitch was I didn’t know, I did not think anybody was offside. I never really had a fear at any time that it wouldn’t be a goal. But when I saw them taking so much time to look at it I thought, well, maybe there’s something I’ve not seen. But at the time, I didn’t feel as if it was offside, but I don’t know. I’ve not seen it again. But my feeling at the time it felt like a goal but maybe it is VAR decision that has gone for us, there have been a few recently which we don’t feel have so we’ll take that one.
Jarrod has become a bit more consistent in terms of output, assists and goals, which is what it’s all about for a player like him. What’s behind that and what do you think his next step is?
I think he’s played a little bit calmer. He’s played quite a lot not in a rushed fashion at times in that regard because he’s fast and wants to be involved in a play but sometimes you need to slow people down and change the speed and change the speed you play at. There’s nobody better at that than Mo Salah who can go as fast as you like, then slow you down in the box and then beat you very, very quickly. So I think Jarrod is just beginning to get a little bit of an understanding of those parts of the game better. But I’ve got to say we want him to keep going and keep trying to get more goals more assists and I’m pleased because he’s a good boy who works hard.
Vladimir wasn’t in the squad today, do you expect to have him back for the game in the week?
It will be close but we hope there is a good chance that he’s ready, yes.
What did you think of Nikola Vlasic’s performance?
I thought he played well today. I thought he got better as the game went on as well. I thought he looked more likely to get me a goal or create a goal. I thought he was closer to the goal taking people on in the box taking people on around a box, trying to make the final pass for other people to score. So I thought he had a much bigger contribution. He is a really good lad, a good worker and as we know, it can take time for boys to come and settle. But I have a lot of faith in him and I think he’ll come good and I’m hoping that he can come up with some goals and more assists.
Are you hopeful that he’ll become a regular player for West Ham?
He’s a Croatian international he scored 15 goals last year for Moscow. So I’m hoping that we can get those goals and assists. He’s only young, he’s 24 so we’re hoping there is improvement to come and I think we’re going to give him a little bit of chance to settle as well and get used to and from where we were maybe a year and a half ago to where we are now it’s a big step up for any players to come in and quickly be ready enough to play at that level. So we’ve got to give him that opportunity.
How much better can Jarrod get? Is this the year that he might be in line for an international call?
I think every week if he keeps playing at the level he’s playing, I think he’s going to get closer. I think he’s probably being talked about a little bit. I think he’s probably been referenced in the media and I think his competition for an England spot is so strong. When you look at the players as I said the other week about this, I think the players in that area that pitch wide, where he plays … but if you get wide players who score goals and make assists, they’ll always have a chance and I think that he’s keeping it up so hopefully he keeps the pressure on Gareth [Southgate] and makes everybody at England think that he’s worth a shout. As a manager, you really enjoy the thought that you can turn someone into an international player. I’m repeating myself again, as I said [lasy year], we got Leon Osman an England cap when he was 30 odd years old, Everton and me and the staff had more thrills out of that because to get somebody who had to graft all the way to get there. So we’ll keep pushing Jarrod. We’ll keep trying to get him to score and improve his game and hopefully, he might eventually get himself an England cap.
