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Joe Cole says he is stunned by criticism of West Ham boss David Moyes and has urged supporters to get behind the Hammers’ boss.
Moyes’ contract at the London Stadium is due to expire at the end of the season and talkSPORT understands he is well-placed for a new deal.
Moyes' style of football has come under fire among some West Ham fansCredit: GettyBut despite the Hammers sitting in sixth place in the Premier League, the 60-year-old has still yet to win over some parts of the club’s fanbase.
Some West Ham fans have been critical of the club’s style of play under the Scotsman and there were chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing,’ from some sections of supporters during the 2-2 draw with Sheffield United last weekend.
Moyes returned for his second stint in charge at the London Stadium back in 2019 and guided the Hammers to the Europa Conference League title last season.
The Hammers have also secured two top-ten Premier League finishes under Moyes’ stewardship and are safely through to the knockout stages of the Europa League this campaign, too.
talkSPORT understands Moyes also played a crucial role in bringing England midfielder Kalvin Phillips to the club on loan this month.
As a result, former West Ham midfielder Cole has called on fans to get behind Moyes, given some of the players the Scotsman has been without in recent weeks.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, Cole said: “It stuns me. I’ve been lucky enough to cover West Ham. We have to remember where the club was when David walked in the door and what he’s achieved. It’s incredible.
“If anything, it’s one of the biggest three years of David’s career. It’s been incredible. For a club like West Ham to win the trophy they have [the Europa Conference League], reach another European semi-final and to achieve knockout European football three years in a row [is brilliant]. I’m not saying it to try and list all the achievements. For me, it’s just facts.
Cole remains a popular figure in east London after coming through the Hammers academyCredit: Getty“At the moment, West Ham are having a difficult spell and I can’t see them coming out of it soon because no matter how good you are as a player [and] as a group, to lose the amount of players they’ve lost, they’re going to be struggling.
“The lads that are coming in have got a big job because [without] Kudus, Bowen, Antonio, Paqueta, there’s a lot of quality out of the team there.
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“In terms of David Moyes, I find it incredible that any West Ham fan or anyone in and around the club would think anything other than give him the contract he’s got, get behind him and lets carry on and build and see where we can go.”
Cole was speaking to talkSPORT outside Wembley Stadium to promote Green Football Weekend, which takes place from the 2nd – 5th February.
Green Football Weekend is an annual charity campaign which aims to bring together fans, clubs, players and pundits to help take action to tackle climate change.
“Working with TNT Sports, you get the opportunity to come on these campaigns and spread the word and I think it’s just case of little things we can do as football fans, as ex-players [and] as pundits to help the planet,” he finished.
“Everyone thinks you have to become a vegan or vegetarian to make an impact [but] if you just cut it down by one meal a day or a couple of meals a week, it makes a huge difference on the scales. They do a great job, particularly Dale [Vince] at Forest Green, of spreading that word. It’s a case of spreading the awareness.”