Mark Warburton is under the microscope as wheels come off and West Ham continue their alarming slide this season.
How often do we hear in football tales of assistant managers and coaches who made some managers great.
Carlos Queiroz was hailed as a major influence behind Man United’s success during his time alongside Sir Alex Ferguson.
And here at West Ham both Alan Irvine and Stuart Pearce – but particularly the former – were said to be absolutely key to the rapid progress at the London Stadium since Moyes’ return.
Both have departed over the last 18 months or so and many fans still point to the loss of Irvine – Moyes’ most trusted friend in football – as a huge blow.
When Pearce somewhat surprisingly stepped down in the summer he was replaced by Mark Warburton.
It does not take an expert to see West Ham this season are a shadow of the team they have been in the last two.
There are several mitigating factors. The departure of Mark Noble from the Hammers dressing room cannot be underestimated.
The huge turnover on the playing staff with 10 out and eight in during a hectic summer.
And the sudden departure of Pearce must also be on the list.
Now Mark Warburton is under the microscope as wheels come off and West Ham continue their alarming slide.
Of course Moyes will always take the brunt of West Ham’s horrendous form – which it must be noted stretches all the way back into the second half of last season.
But fans are rightly asking what exactly Warburton has brought to the party. On the evidence we are seeing on the pitch the answer thus far is ‘not a lot’.
When he arrived at the club, the former Rangers boss declared he wants to help West Ham improve and work on playing attacking football.
Well it is fair to say that is bearing no fruit whatsoever thus far. West Ham have scored just 13 goals all season – the third worst in the top flight.
Forget the statistics, though, our eyes don’t lie and we have been watching a team with no clear patterns of play or attacking style. At 2-0 down against Brentford it felt as if you could watch West Ham play for a week and they wouldn’t score.
As is the way with social media and fan forums, rumours have abound about Warburton of late as his role comes under scrutiny.
There have been unverified claims that West Ham’s players do not enjoy working with Warburton. But there has also been talk claiming the polar opposite is the case.
It can’t be both. And usually with these things the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Moyes admitted earlier this season his ‘deep regret’ at losing Irvine and Pearce.
And while the Scot said Warburton would bring something different he also insisted he would have to step up and show he could coach Premier League players.
West Ham’s problems on the pitch are obvious. But could a change or addition in the dugout with a new assistant coming in be the way for Moyes to save his own skin at the London Stadium?
