sport news Can David Moyes go out in a blaze of glory in Prague? trends now
Between the end of 2022 and the start of 2023, David Moyes' future at West Ham had been cast into serious doubt amid their struggling run of form.
Five Premier League defeats in a row - separated by the winter World Cup - left the Hammers hanging precariously above the relegation zone and worried about the future.
It got so bad that bookmakers listed Moyes as the most likely managerial candidate to get dismissed from the Premier League in January, as things turned bleak.
Domestically, it did little to improve. As recently as April, according to the Guardian, the Scot was one defeat away from the sack. A loss at Fulham would have sealed his fate and seen Slaven Bilic installed as interim head coach.
Fortunately for Moyes, a 1-0 victory and subsequent climb away from trouble quelled the concern in the boardroom. Now, with another season in the top-flight confirmed and a Europa Conference League final tonight, he has the chance to rewrite the narrative of a turbulent campaign.
No matter what happens in Prague, the former Manchester United boss's future very much hangs in the balance.
David Moyes has managed to turn his fortunes around at West Ham in a matter of months
The Hammers are looking to make history and win their first European title in 47 years
To understand how West Ham fell short of expectations before clawing back some modicum of respect, you have to look to the start of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Hammers had spent over £150million in the transfer window on the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Gianluca Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet.
Having finished seventh the season prior, and with a the plethora of new talent that had bolstered the squad, there were high hopes for the Hammers.
However, three defeats to kick-start the campaign dampened their moods before a five-match winless streak in the New Year caused serious concern.
In March, Mail Sport reported that Moyes and his West Ham coaches feared the sack if they lost their relegation showdown with bottom side Southampton.
The Hammers ended up winning the match 1-0, coinciding with their blsitering run in the Europa Conference League kicking into gear.
A 6-0 aggregate win over AEK Larnaca in
