West Ham star James Ward-Prowse has aimed an unashamed dig at David Moyes over his tactics ahead of the do-or-die clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
In the summer David Moyes really dug his heels in to sign James Ward-Prowse from Southampton in a £30m deal.
For the first half of the season that looked like a great decision as he chipped in with a number of goals and assists for West Ham.
But concerns over what Ward-Prowse brings to the team besides set-pieces have looked well-founded during the second half of the campaign.
West Ham have just four wins from their last 20 games.
Moyes is looking increasingly likely to leave the Hammers when his contract expires this summer.
Many supporters are unhappy with the Scot’s risk averse approach and philosophy.
Especially when the defensive solidity he preaches is not evident on the pitch with West Ham having failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League games.
West Ham have mountain to climb against Leverkusen
Moyes took his approach to new extremes by going ultra defensive in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final at Bayer Leverkusen last Thursday night.
The players carried out the manager’s orders but tired legs and minds saw the Hammers concede two late goals to give them a mountain to climb in the second leg at the London Stadium.
The Hammers have it all to do when they take on the newly-crowned German champions in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
West Ham will be hoping that Leverkusen have a hangover from celebrating their first ever Bundesliga title.
Moyes’ side know they have to somehow claw their way back into the tie at 2-0 down from the first leg.
West Ham know they must score two unanswered goals to take the tie to extra-time at the London Stadium.
Ward-Prowse aims dig at Moyes over tactics
But they will have to do so without suspended duo Lucas Paqueta and Emerson Palmieri.
And possibly injury doubts Jarrod Bowen and Konstantinos Mavropanos too.
Many West Ham fans have been angry about the tactics used by Moyes in the first leg. Especially as the Scot ignored a tip-off from a German football expert prior to the clash.
Michail Antonio made his feelings clear after the game, telling Moyes he must completely change his tactics for the second leg.
Now West Ham star Ward-Prowse has aimed an unashamed dig at Moyes over tactics too.
Speaking on West Ham’s official website, the midfielder says the tactics showed Leverkusen far too much respect.
“It’s not hard to get yourself up for a European quarter-final, so we just need to utilise the time we’ve got, take what we can from the Fulham game, and do what we need to do to come back stronger,” Ward-Prowse said.
Not the first time midfielder has questioned boss
“We all know Leverkusen are a good team, but personally I think we showed them a bit too much respect in the first leg, and we didn’t quite pack the punch that I think we can.
“We need to go into Thursday all guns blazing, and we know the first goal is going to be crucial. We’ll have to make sure it’s us who get that goal, and we need to use the occasion and the atmosphere to our advantage.
“These sorts of nights are what I came to West Ham for, and it’s going to be a really special spectacle. Let’s hope we can create some more amazing memories under the lights.”
It’s not the first time Ward-Prowse has been critical of Moyes’ tactics.
After a win at Spurs, Ward-Prowse said he felt the Scot put too much focus on nullifying their opponents in the build-up and not enough on how West Ham’s talented team could hurt their rivals.
And he suggested the players rallied themselves to show they can play football too as they turned the game around to win 2-1.