Opinion: Moyes poised for surprise Premier League return, but not to Everton as anticipated

Julen Lopetegui has faced a challenging start in his role as David Moyes’ successor at West Ham.

 

Following in Moyes’ footsteps was never going to be easy, as the former Everton boss left a lasting legacy at the London club.

 

Lopetegui isn’t the first to follow Moyes either, with Sean Dyche facing similar pressures at Everton.

 

Moyes had been at the helm for nearly five years, leading West Ham through a period of major progress.

 

His tenure was considered highly successful, which has made replacing him particularly difficult.

 

The same has been said about his time at Everton, where Moyes also left a mark.

For Lopetegui, following Moyes is a tough task not only because of the footballing expectations but also due to Moyes’ popularity with the media.

 

Moyes is well-regarded by many commentators, and some West Ham supporters were often warned about moving on from him.

 

The narrative frequently pushed is that Moyes was as good as West Ham could hope for.

 

Comparisons between West Ham and Everton have been a frequent part of the conversation.

 

Everton’s current struggles are sometimes used as an example of what could happen to West Ham without Moyes in charge.

 

Lopetegui, therefore, has the added challenge of proving that West Ham can continue progressing under his leadership, regardless of Moyes’ success.

 

During the summer, many West Ham fans were eager for change and hoped for a more entertaining style of football.

 

However, they were often met with warnings about the risks of parting ways with Moyes.

 

Supporters countered by asking if Moyes was so highly thought of, why didn’t any other clubs immediately try to sign him after he left West Ham?

 

Despite that, there have been calls from some quarters for Moyes to return to the club, especially after some disappointing results under Lopetegui.

 

While the West Ham board has already brought Moyes back once before, some suggest they might have to do it again.

 

Yet, for many West Ham fans, the idea of returning to Moyes is simply not an option, regardless of Lopetegui’s performance.

 

Similarly, at Everton, supporters have been vocal about their stance on the possibility of Moyes returning to Goodison Park.

 

While rumors have been circulating that Everton might be considering bringing him back, the idea has not been well-received by many fans.

 

Despite their concerns about Sean Dyche’s leadership, there is little appetite for a Moyes reunion at Everton.

 

However, it seems Moyes could make a surprise return to Premier League management, just not at West Ham or Everton.

Reports have emerged that Moyes is being considered for the managerial position at Crystal Palace.

 

The rumors stem from a top source linked to Hammers News, which claims that Palace has begun sounding out Moyes for a potential comeback.

 

Palace is currently managed by Oliver Glasner, the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss who notably knocked Moyes’ West Ham out of the Europa League.

 

Despite a strong finish to the previous season, Glasner has struggled so far this campaign.

 

Palace has yet to win a game since the summer departures of key players such as Michael Olise, Jordan Ayew, and Joachim Andersen.

 

Adding to their woes, Palace is the only team to have lost to both West Ham and Everton this season, both of whom have been struggling in the league.

 

Palace’s upcoming match against Liverpool is seen as a potential turning point.

 

If Palace suffers a heavy defeat, it could be the final straw for Glasner, prompting Palace chairman Steve Parish to make a managerial change.

 

Moyes is reportedly one of the leading candidates to replace Glasner if such a decision is made.

 

The recent 1-0 loss to Everton has reportedly accelerated Parish’s search for replacements, with Moyes high on the list of possible candidates.

 

According to the Hammers News source, Palace has already begun the process of identifying experienced managers, and Moyes is “very much in their thoughts” should they decide to part ways with Glasner.

 

For West Ham and Everton fans, who have both been linked with a Moyes return, the idea of him heading to Crystal Palace might come as a relief.

 

The period before the October and November international breaks is often seen as a prime time for managerial sackings, giving clubs the opportunity to make changes and allow new managers to settle in during the two-week gap in fixtures.

 

All eyes are now on Palace’s home game against Liverpool, which could have significant implications for Glasner’s future.

 

Another defeat for the Eagles could see Moyes make a surprise return to London, potentially taking charge of Palace in time for their match against Nottingham Forest on October 21st.