David Moyes On Top Six Targets Jarrod Bowen & Lucas Paqueta: So Many Qualities And Improvements

David Moyes has been speaking to the press ahead of their game against Newcastle on Sunday. The Hammers have just come from Germany where they were victorious in their Europa League display beating Freiburg 2-1.

Moyes also broke a record last night with West Ham. They won their 17th successive European game – the longest run of any English side ever. This is a record that has been held for over 60 years by Don Revie’s Leeds team from the 60s and tied Bill Nicholson’s Spurs side from the 1970s. Moyes is absolutely delighted to have broken that record:

“17 matches unbeaten in Europe fills me with so much pride. I got told about the record yesterday and I was quite thrilled to even be level with the two managers who were in question, Don Revie and Bill Nicholson, and I have to say I was delighted with getting the win.

The record is always really good to get, but more important was winning tonight, and getting those three points is so good, particularly when many would consider this the hardest game in the group.”

They might not hold the record for that long though as Manchester City are currently on 16 wins and will look to pounce if West Ham slip up.

Moyes was full of praise for both Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta – two players that have been linked heavily to top 6 clubs – including the likes of Liverpool and Man City. Bowen recently received the news that he had been recalled to the England squad:

“I think Jarrod is getting to a stage now where he is maturing with his all-round play. I’m thrilled he’s been called up for England as he works really hard and never misses a day’s training, puts himself out there every day and practises to do what he does best.

“He’s scoring goals for us, we played him last night in a European game as a centre-forward, he’s beginning to become a much more talented player all round.

“You have to remember he’s a boy who started at Hereford, had a period at Hull City and now has stepped up – it’s great when you see boys who progress through the leagues and he’s doing brilliantly well here at the moment.”

Moyes on Paqueta:

“From after the World Cup last year, I think Lucas has started to show some form but we said many times that a lot of new players coming into the Premier League can take time to settle in and have to be given that opportunity.

“He’s an incredibly talented footballer who has shown everybody his worth in many ways – he scored a great goal last night and he did a lot of good things.

“We’re enjoying having him, he’s a great character and he works hard for the team, and he’s got so many good qualities.”

Moyes was also asked if this is the best time to play Newcastle after they thrashed PSG 4-1:

“I don’t know if it’s inevitable [there will be a comedown] but what I will say is that they had a night in Europe that will be remembered for so long. I remember when I was a young player at Celtic, the European nights were incredible.

“We had a great night the other year against Sevilla when we won in extra time to get through. I think there will be nights in football clubs’ histories you always remember and I’m sure Newcastle will always remember the night they had against PSG.

“I think Newcastle are one of the best teams in Europe at the moment. There is so much quality in their side and the manager has done such a good job.

“He (Howe) has steered them into a good organisation and shape and I think they are up with some of the best teams in Europe at the minute.

“But I feel like we are in a good run of form, have won a few games and I am really pleased with how the players are performing.

“I think when you go into football management you are never going to get it all rosy and you need to be lucky to have a period where you don’t have bad spells.”

“When you started to become involved with European football and Premier League games as well, it becomes a difficult cycle – whether it be psychological because of a good or bad result or just the process of having the extra games.

“We’ve had to play on a Thursday and Sunday now for two years and I think it’s very difficult to explain how tough that is but the level of the Champions League, how well you have to play, the standard of the players, the preparation you need to put in becomes huge as well and all those things add up.”

And finally Moyes spoke on a slight worry for West Ham regarding Michail Antonio’s fitness:

“I’ll need to see – he’s not trained yet. He’s done some running with the medical people. Over the next couple of days hopefully we’ll find out whether he’s fit to play.”

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