West Ham United’s 3-2 comeback win over Nottingham Forest on the stroke of November’s international break relieved some of the pressure off manager David Moyes.
Returning to the upper half of the Premier League table has offered the 60-year-old respite after three consecutive league defeats, but his future is still up in the air.
Moyes is in the last year of his contract at London Stadium, and sources close to the club believe the ex-Manchester United boss won’t stay beyond next summer.
Despite steering West Ham to Europa Conference League glory last season, the experienced manager has been walking a tightrope for quite a while now.
West Ham have proved terminally unable to compete for high places in the league under his guidance, even though the Hammers have invested heavily in their squad in the past few years.
Their highest ranking under Moyes was in 2020/21 when they finished sixth, but last season’s disastrous 14th-placed finish renewed doubts over his ability to orchestrate a genuine top-four push.
Let’s look at the three potential replacements.
Kevin Muscat
If the story of Ange Postecoglou taught us something, it’s that miracles come from the strangest places.
Like his esteemed countryman, who spent three years at the helm of Yokohama F Marinos before taking charge of Celtic in 2021, Kevin Muscat is plying his trade at the Nissan Stadium.
Following an underwhelming stint in Belgium with Sint-Truiden, he took Postecoglou’s job in Japan and led the Marinos to their seventh J1-League title in his second year in charge.
Before moving to Europe in 2020, the 50-year-old inspired Melbourne Victory, the club where the Tottenham Hotspur manager spent a year prior, to two A-League triumphs in six years.
As it looks, where Postecoglou goes, Muscat follows. Since the former is now in the Premier League, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the latter join up with him next season.
Will Still
In one of the most romantic football stories in recent history, a true enthusiast assumed the reins at troubled Reims midway through last season and helped them avoid relegation without coaching badges.
Will Still, the author of the most incredible story in Ligue 1 history, was spotted in the stands during West Ham’s win over the Tricky Trees, tickling the imagination of the Hammers fans.
Still’s appearance at London Stadium triggered absolute madness on social media as West Ham supporters flooded X and Instagram with posts calling for the 31-year-old’s appointment.
Considering Reims are currently fifth in the Ligue 1 standings, only seven points clear of leaders Paris Saint-Germain, it’s fair to say Still has already played down one-season-wonder talks.
That doesn’t change the fact his potential arrival would be a double-edged sword.
Jon Dahl Tomasson
Speaking of up-and-coming managers, Jon Dahl Tomasson perfectly fits the narrative despite Blackburn Rovers’ mid-table struggles in the Championship.
After leading Malmo to back-to-back Allsvenskan titles in 2020 and 2021, the 47-year-old filed a request to leave in December 2021 for undisclosed reasons.
Tomasson’s impressive work in Sweden attracted interest from Rovers in 2022.
Blackburn fell narrowly short of the last play-off spot in one of the most enthralling season finales last term, with Sunderland pipping them to a coveted sixth-placed finish on goal difference.
Tomasson’s side seem destined for another season-long street fight for the play-offs, but he’s unlikely to stay at Ewood Park next season if they fail to win promotion.
His attacking-minded football is what the doctor ordered for West Ham, so keep an eye on the Dane.
