David Moyes names assistant coaches

In an official statement on the club website today West Ham united announced David Moyes’ assistant coaches. Alan Irvine, Stuart Pearce and Billy McKinlay will make up the new coaching staff.

Alan Irvine last worked as an interim head coach at Norwich City. After Alex Neil was fired with Norwich loitering in mid table, Irvine took command and though performances improved, Irvine was unable to lead Norwich to the playoffs.

Irvine has worked alongside Moyes before, beginning his coaching career as a an assistant at Preston North End, where Moyes was head coach. The pair were reunited when Irvine joined Everton in 2011, where they worked together until 2013.

Stuart Pearce is familiar with West Ham, having played for the club between 1999 and 2001. Pearce has coached Nottingham Forest on two occasions, as well as Manchester City in the mid 2000’s. Pearce also worked with the English national team at various levels from 2007 to 2013.

Billy

Photo by Jeff Holmes/Getty Images

McKinlay briefly coached Watford and Stabaek in Norway. He was part of Moyes’ coaching staff during the Scotsman’s ill fated time at Real Sociedad and Sunderland. McKinlay was recently named interim head coach at Sunderland, a position he will be leaving to join West Ham.

The coaching choices reveal some insight into Moyes’ coaching plans, though admittedly, it is unsurprising. It is clear that Moyes plans to fall back on his standard tactics and style.

Another notable point is that every one of these coaches has experience managing teams. Hopefully this brings a depth of experience to West Ham’s bench. After all, given the dire, disorganized performances of the season so far, it will take every ounce of tactical expertise possessed by Pearce, Irvine, McKinlay and Moyes to get the team back on track.