David Moyes slams West Ham deadline day fixture - "It's unfair we're playing!"
David Moyes has hit out at the “unfair” burden of playing a game on deadline day with West Ham “in the market right up to the last minute.”
The Hammers will be first to experience the party atmosphere and underdog spirit of Kenilworth Road as promoted Luton christen their rebuilt £10 million Bobbers stand, knocked up in 94 days over the summer, tonight (Friday). But Moyes, buoyed by a fine start to the season, is deeply unimpressed that Sky have lumbered the Irons with a live game that will finish around 60 minutes before the transfer window shuts.
And the short straw has needled the West Ham boss with the door still ajar on possible moves for Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike and Corinthians' Brazilian forward Yuri Alberto. Moyes scowled: “I think it's a little bit unfair – most clubs get their transfer business done before deadline day, and that's the way it should be.
"But I think there has only ever been three games on (summer) deadline day, and we're one of them. Sky rely a lot on deadline day – you lot live by it – and it's unfair we are playing.
“The reality is we're still in the market – maybe not heavily – but we'll be in the market right up until the last minute, but it's really difficult for myself and everybody else at the club to be involved when we're got to prepare for a game. I don’t think I will be taking a sub off and saying, 'Hey get yourself stripped and showered, you’re on your way somewhere else!’
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“You can imagine, we could find we have players who maybe could be outgoings and, if that is the case, it does make it a difficult day. What can we do about it? I trust the people behind the scenes to do the right things.”
Kenilworth Road prepares to host its first Premier League game (Getty Images)The Hammers' trip to Bedfordshire pits the two sides with the lowest possession in the Premier League over the first three rounds of matches – with West Ham's 27 per cent ownership of the ball undercutting everyone else in the top flight, including the Hatters (32 per cent). But Moyes, whose sit-and-break game plan at Brighton worked a treat last weekend, is in no rush to convert his team from containers into destroyers.
He grinned: “I think I'd like to refer to Jose Mourinho's quote. They went home with 80 per cent possession, I went home with three points.”
Moyes will also insist on maximum application at a venue often ridiculed for its limitations but now regarded as Luton's trump card in the battle for survival. He warned: “Everybody is well aware of the incredibly small dressing rooms, the tight tunnel and the supporters being close to the pitch. Kenilworth Road might be the worst Premier League ground where teams have to go, but I'm sure they will try and use that to their advantage.
“Luton are a Premier League team, they got themselves there on merit, and whether they play on a small pitch or big pitch, whether we play in a 100,000-seater stadium or 10,000-seater stadium, our job as professionals is to be ready for the occasion.”
Midfielder Tomas Soucek has been ruled out under Premier League concussion protocols following his head injury in the 3-1 win at Brighton. But Jesse Lingard is closing in on a new contract after impressing Moyes in an extended trial after the former England winger was released by Nottingham Forest in the summer.
Moyes said: "Jesse's doing quite well and he's getting his shape back a little bit. He's shown a great attitude to his work and he's knuckling down, but I think his last game was in January, so it's taken a bit of time to get him back into condition."
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