David Moyes seeks to maintain West Ham United’s unbeaten start to the 2023/24 Premier League as the team head to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
The Irons go into their third game of the season in good spirits following a 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth on the opening day and a 3-1 win over Chelsea last time out.
The Gaffer reflected on the victory over the Blues last Sunday and also looked back on impressive debuts for James Ward-Prowse and Edson Álvarez, with the boss looking to add more quality before the transfer window closes
The arrival of Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos was also discussed as Moyes heads to Sussex looking for the Irons’ first Premier League win over the Seagulls...
On Mavropanos' arrival...
He is not fit at the moment. He had a couple of injuries when he came in which slowed things down a bit. We don’t want to put a time on it, but we don’t think it is too serious.
We have one game before the international break so hopefully we will see him before the end of that.
But we are really pleased to get him. We were looking to add in that area, as we had a couple of problems last season. We played the first few games without any recognisable centre-half. We needed extra cover and we have got it.
We start in Europa after the [international break] so we are going to need all our players fit and available to deal with Europe and the Premier League.
On any incoming transfers
We will look and see what we can get. The Club are working really hard and are being really supportive in trying to add to the squad that we have. We are hoping we can bring a few different players in but there is no guarantee.
I said last week that I do believe by the end of the window we’ll have added a couple of players and I still believe that. But let’s see.
Ideally, we would have had it done a bit earlier, but we have to go and try and get one or two more players in if we can.
Unbeaten start
It was an unbelievable result on Sunday. To play Chelsea with eleven men for 90 minutes is really difficult, but to play them for 40 with ten, and to get a result was incredible. It’s a great, great result for us. We have had two really good results opening the season for us.
I thought Micky took his goal really well and, in that form, he is a threat against anybody.
James had a brilliant debut too. And I think getting boys that are ready for the Premier League, and know what the league is about already, makes a big difference as you are not worried about players settling in. Let’s hope James can put in a similar performance against Brighton this weekend.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s form
We are playing a team that we have found it really hard to beat over the last few seasons. It has been a bit of a bugbear that we have not been able to beat them.
We go there in good spirits, but they have won their first two matches by three goals or four goals in each game just about. So, they are in really good form, and we have to play extremely well to get a result. There is a first for everything so let’s hope this is the one.
They’re difficult opponents and they are arguably as difficult as they have ever been. They are showing that by their league position. But I am looking forward to it. We have had a great start and it gives us flexibility and the ability to change things to try and have a go at Brighton and beat them.
New signing boost
I think the new signings have given us a huge lift within the camp over the last week. They have also added lots of different qualities.
We can’t judge them too much yet because you are only talking about training and for Edson you are talking about 20 minutes [match time]. But I think there has been a huge buzz and the result as well was incredible to win with where we are and what is expected of Chelsea.
We are in a good position, and we have a bit of a chance to see if we can go and beat Brighton.
De Zerbi Ball
He is messing up a lot of manager’s heads! But this is the world at the moment, with so many different varies of football. He has a team, where I think he has some really talented players and some really ‘Steady Eddies’, who turn up week in and week out. He has done a really good job but so did Graham Potter when he was there as well.
