West Ham United

The announcement of David Moyes' West Ham departure was met with confusion, anger and dismay from some quarters of the footballing universe.

There appears to be this view that West Ham decided to sack Moyes, as opposed to mutually agreeing to part ways with the manager at the end of his contract. Then there's the view that West Ham have got some cheek for even considering having ambitions of being better than four Premier League wins in 18 since the turn of the year, or for looking for a manager who is willing to adopt a style of play that requires to be in possession of the ball for more than 30% of the time.

From the inside looking out, it's felt like we've upset the footballing universe for even daring to be better. Yes, Moyes has made West Ham better over the last four-and-a-half years. He's completely changed the club's fortunes, ambitions and potential. But it had gone stale, our form in 2024 is evidence of that.

What should the club have done? Signed up for another two years of what we're seeing now? That would've likely only made the neutrals and pundits, who cannot fathom any club outside the so-called big six having even an ounce of ambition, happy.

Julen Lopetegui seems to be the chosen replacement and I think that's a good move. No, he's not the up and coming, young manager looking to become the next Pep Guardiola with his progressive, tiki-taka style of play, but he is a very solid and experienced manager whose CV speaks for itself.

Put simply, you don't manage the likes of Spain and Real Madrid if you're a bad manager. Some are pointing to his Real Madrid tenure to suggest he's bad without considering that yes, maybe it was a job too big for him, but he followed that up with three hugely successful years at Sevilla, where he finished fourth three times and won the Europa League.

That's where West Ham have ambitions of being. Challenging for top-six finishes and playing in Europe. Regularly. If Lopetegui can replicate that with West Ham, it'll make all the bemused neutrals and pundits look a bit silly, won't it?

James Jones, We Are West Ham, external

Image source, Getty Images

David Moyes said goodbye to West Ham with his last home game against Luton and 3-1 was a pretty good send off. He also introduced young George Earthy who scored with his first touch, adding to the legacy Moyes is leaving.

Will there be a great wailing and gnashing of teeth in east London when the Scotsman has gone? Maybe not in the short term, but will they come to rue this day, as they have before?

They have been a comfortable mid to upper table side under Davie, I can call him that as we have known each other since we were young teenagers at Celtic.

So yes I may be a bit biased, but for a club that have finished sixth, seventh and ninth, with a 14th thrown in the year they won their first European trophy, this could be either a brave gamble or possibly misguided optimism.

As for Moyes, he is still eminently employable as a Premier League manager, he still has the desire and is young and fit enough.

It may well be he takes that time honoured roll of firefighter, called in to save struggling sides from relegation. Sam Allardyce, now Sean Dyche and even for a while Roy Hodgson were the go-to emergency services. It can be hugely rewarding in that celebrations for staying up are joyous, the payments aren’t shabby either and even if you fail, it is still the previous manager's fault.

Pat Nevin was writing for the BBC Football Extra newsletter

He may not be departing in the blaze of glory he would have done had he decided to leave after winning the Europa League last summer, but few could begrudge David Moyes' status as a modern West Ham legend.

Since qualifying for the Europa League in the first full season of his second spell in charge, the Hammers have played European football for three successive seasons - crowned by that historic night in Prague where Moyes secured the club its first European silverware since 1965.

Moyes has overseen the club's most successful period in Premier League history and leaves having delivered nights that will live forever in West Ham folklore.

Whether Moyes returns to manage in the Premier League is likely going to be up to him. It is hard to imagine him not being a top candidate for openings that may appear both over the summer and during next season.

Much will hinge on his hunger to continue. The Scottish manager has taken charge of the third-most games in Premier League history since arriving at Everton 22 years ago. He has cut a fatigued figure at times this season as West Ham's form became inconsistent and discontent from the stands grew.

A rest is deserved and if this is it for Moyes' managerial career, he will take his place as one of the most consistently successful bosses in Premier League history.

We asked for your comments on Saturday's match between West Ham and Luton Town.

Here are some of your answers:

West Ham fans

Mike: I feel for Luton fans. Wanted them to stay up but really pleased David Moyes got a final home win. Irrespective of the animosity this season - which I have sympathy with - he has been amazing for us. European tours and one amazing night in Prague. I waited 60 years for that. Thank you sir. You leave us better than you found us.

Harry: Great victory. At half-time I thought we were going to lose but we managed to produce a good comeback. Good enough to maybe score four or five and a great display in Moyes' final home game. Let's hope we get a win against City and give the gaffer a good send off. And then hope Lopetegui can do as good a job.

Graza: If you could have written a script to sum up West Ham under Moyes, you'd have that game. First half abject, couldn't pass, couldn't shoot and should have been more than one down. Second half a completely different team, dynamite on the break and get the result. Summer is all important, especially recruitment. We'll see what happens.

Luton fans

Alec: Proud but sad.

Leonine: Always thought that getting to the Premier League was a step too far for us just now, but we are considerably stronger because of it and can grow. It was squad depth that cost us and that can be addressed. COYH

Michael: Sadly the Premier League is all about money and Luton don't have any .

A Dreaming Luton Fan: It was always going to happen but we keep going every single match, grabbing at least one goal. We just do not have the subs that can go on and win matches. But we will watch next Sunday with pride as the Hatters gave it a good go.

Image source, Reuters

David Moyes' final game as West Ham manager will be at Manchester City on Sunday.

Having enjoyed the perfect end to his home tenure at the London Stadium with the comeback victory against virtually relegated Luton, I put it to Moyes that his last task could well be to try and stop City winning the Premier League title.

"It would be difficult to stop their Under-14s winning the title," he joked.

"Professional is the word I would use. We will try and do the best we can."

City do have form for making life difficult for themselves on the final day - but they have always got the job done before.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games on Match of the Day 2 here.

Also, listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

• West Ham United v Luton Town

• Nottingham Forest v Chelsea

West Ham United are planning a summer move for 26-year-old Sevilla and Morocco forward Youssef En-Nesyri. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

In the end, it all worked out quite well.

A beautiful sunny day, a victory, a goal from a home-grown youngster and some decent attacking play.

If David Moyes could have chosen a send off, the match would have been it.

As he accompanied his players on their lap of appreciation after the final home game, Moyes was warmly received and reciprocated with waves and positive acknowledgements.

The future will determine the wisdom of this particular parting - and in modern terms, Moyes and West Ham have had a decent relationship given it has lasted for four-and-a-half years.

The Scot's contribution to West Ham in already imprinted on the London Stadium in the form of a Europa Conference League trophy that stands alongside the FA Cups, European Cup Winners' Cup and League Cup the club has won.

Moyes has done an excellent job at the London Stadium. No-one can say otherwise.

David Moyes spoke to Match of the Day after West Ham's victory against Luton: "I needed to win after last week, that is for sure. We weren't so good in the first half but we altered it and we needed the goal which took the stuffing out of Luton.

"George Earthy came on and got the goal which is great for the boy, he's a local boy and a fan of the club.

"I was subdued today because I knew what the other manager was going through. The effort Luton have put in has been huge, they have kept it going until the last day of the season. I feel bad for Rob Edwards today.

"There was huge emotion there for me, to be a manager of such a great club. When you think you've done a good job it's great to see people applaud you and we have done a pretty good job here.

"We have given them some really big nights and there has been progress made. I'm looking forward to seeing the next steps for West Ham."

• Luton Town have lost five Premier League games despite leading at half-time this season, the most ever by a team in a campaign.

• Excluding the first Premier League campaign in 1992-93, Luton Town (50) are one of four teams to score 50+ goals in their debut season after Newcastle in 1993-94 (82), Reading in 2006-07 (52) and Blackpool in 2010-11 (55). However, only Swindon in 1993-94 (100), Barnsley in 1997-98 (82) and Burnley in 2009-10 (82) have conceded more in their debut season than the Hatters (81).

• Only Jarrod Bowen (16) has scored more Premier League goals for West Ham United this season than James Ward-Prowse (7) whilst since the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign, Phil Foden (46) is the only English midfielder to score more goals than the West Ham man (34).

• Albert Sambi Lokonga scored his first Premier League goal on his 50th appearance (25 for Arsenal, 16 for Luton, 9 for Crystal Place), becoming the 11th player to net their debut goal on that milestone appearance, and the first since Takehiro Tomiyasu for Arsenal in October 2023.

• Each of Tomas Soucek’s past five Premier League goals have been winning goals – that is the most by a West Ham player in a Premier League season since Kevin Nolan in 2012-13 (also 5), while only Trevor Morley has scored more for the club in a campaign (7 in 1993-94).

• George Earthy (19y 249d) scored with his first touch in this match, 67 seconds after coming on as a substitute; he is the first teenager to score in the Premier League for West Ham since Declan Rice in January 2019 against Arsenal and the youngest since Junior Stanislas in May 2009 against Middlesbrough (19y 179d).

Luton are on the brink of relegation from the Premier League after West Ham came from behind to mark David Moyes' final home game with a win at London Stadium.

Albert Sambi Lokonga's first-half opener threatened to turn the final game of Moyes' tenure into a damp squib while breathing new life into the Hatters' survival fight.

But Moyes rallied his troops at half-time and Luton were unable to repel the hosts after the break.

James Ward-Prowse drove home the 54th-minute equaliser after Thomas Kaminski had turned Jarrod Bowen's cross-shot into his path.

Tomas Soucek fired the Hammers in front with a brilliant finish, finding the net with a first-time volley from 25 yards after 65 minutes when Luton cleared a corner straight to him.

Mohammed Kudus should have added a third as the hosts dominated the second period, but the midfielder only managed to hit the post from 10 yards out when unmarked.

But that miss did not matter as 19-year-old George Earthy, on as a substitute for his second league appearance, turned in Kudus' cut-back from close range.

The result leaves Luton three points behind fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest with only one game left to play and a significantly worse goal difference.

Forest will send them down if they get a point against Chelsea in Saturday's late kick-off at the City Ground (17:30 BST).

Were you at the ground or following along from home?

West Ham fans, give us your thoughts on the game.

Tell us what you made of the performance, Hatters supporters.

Follow all the reaction here

There are eight Premier League games taking place today, and you can stay updated with all of them via our live page.

Keep up with all the action and reaction here.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's matches, he takes on Kasabian frontman Serge Pizzorno.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

You could argue this is the perfect time to play West Ham, now we know David Moyes is set to leave as Hammers boss.

They have been on a poor run but I just wonder whether all the rumours that he would be stepping down at the end of the season affected some of the players.

I am not saying they have downed tools but, even sub-consciously, if you know your manager is not going to be there much longer, you may lose your edge.

So this is a chance for Luton, although they have wasted plenty of them already.

I don't actually think the Hatters should be in this situation and, if you go back through their games since the end of January, then their players should be really angry that they have not made more of the positions they have been in.

It means they really have to make this opportunity count, but I'm not convinced they can. They have not won an away league game since the end of last year.

Instead, I am going for West Ham to give Moyes a happy send-off in his final home game. He deserves one, anyway.

Serge's prediction: 1-2

I don't necessarily believe it will happen but just for the romance I really want Luton to win this one.

Read all of the predictions here

Julen Lopetegui looks poised to replaced David Moyes as West Ham United manager next season, but would the Spaniard's style give Hammers fans what they want?

Former West Ham defender Matthew Upson tells The Football News Show why he is not convinced by the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers boss.

Watch the full episode of The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

David Moyes has been speaking to the media before his final home game as West Ham boss against Luton Town on Saturday.

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• Moyes said he is "comfortable with his departure" and thinks it is the right decision for both parties. He added: "I believe it has been a really good four and a half years."

• Asked whether it will be an emotional farewell, Moyes said he is "not necessarily that type of person" and bouncing back from their 5-0 defeat by Chelsea is most important for him.

• On his final home game in charge: "I'd hoped we'd be pushing for Europe in this game. We've just dropped out of it but we are still pushing for a strong finish in the Premier League. To finish in the top 10 would be excellent for us and it's really important we win the game."

• Moyes said he is "not quite sure yet" whether he wants to give up management but does have more he wants to achieve in football: "I hope now I can give a lot back to younger managers. I'm keen on coach education. I'm involved with the League Managers' Association so there's a lot of things hopefully later in life I can choose to do."

• He is looking forward to working as a pundit at the men's Euros this summer but "the first and most important thing" is to have a break. He added: "I want to keep really involved in football. I really love football."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of West Ham v Luton at 15:00 BST on Saturday

Incoming West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui is considering raiding former club Sevilla for 26-year-old Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri and 32-year-old Argentina defender Marcos Acuna. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham are to face fellow Premier Leagues sides Wolves and Crystal Palace in pre-season friendlies in the US as the compete for the inaugural Stateside Cup.

The Hammers will face Wolves in Jacksonville on Saturday 27th July before they travel to Tampa to play Crystal Palace on Saturday 3rd August.

The club's chief commercial officer Nathan Thompson said: "We’re really excited to be heading Stateside this summer for our pre-season tour.

“The US market is key for West Ham United, and the club’s presence, fan-base and status continues to grow significantly in the States.

“We can’t wait to play the matches and deliver unique experiences and opportunities for our fans and partners in America.”

It will be West Ham's first trip to the States since 2016.

Image source, Getty Images

Cesc Fabregas believes Julen Lopetegui could be a good coach for West Ham despite playing a "different style" to what fans have grown used to in recent years.

The Spaniard has agreed a deal to replace David Moyes as manager at the end of the season and speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Planet Premier League podcast, Fabregas rates him highly.

"I think he's a good coach - I shouldn't say that because he kicked me out of the Spanish national team. He's the one that stopped taking me - so that hurts," Fabregas said.

"He's had success, obviously. All that mess that happened in the Spanish national team when he signed for Real Madrid - they kicked him out before the World Cup but when Real Madrid signs obviously something is good around you.

"His Sevilla team for example played quite well - they won the Europa League playing some good football.

"At Wolves I think he did a good job - especially in the first year. Creating a good dynamic, a very good brand of football and getting them away from the relegation zone."

Lopetegui left Wolves three days before the start of the Premier League season and the club said both parties had "accepted their differences of opinion on certain issues and agreed an amicable end to his contract was the best solution".

Fabregas added: "He's definitely a coach that has very clear ideas of what he wants to do - he's had success a couple of times where he's been.

"I think he could be good - but again, he plays a different style than what West Ham have done for the last couple of years."

Listen to the whole episode on BBC Sounds