David Moyes met the media for the first time since West Ham United’s arrival in Western Australia on Friday morning.
Television, radio and print journalists from Perth, across Australia and the UK quizzed the manager during a lively press conference at Macedonia Park, the home of National Premier Leagues Western Australia club Stirling Macedonia.
Among the talking points were the Hammers’ two-match tour, which will see them meeting fans, attending community events and civic functions, training at Macedonia Park and facing A-League side Perth Glory (Saturday 15 July, 6pm AWST) and Premier League rivals Tottenham (Tuesday 18 July, 6pm AWST), Spurs’ new Australian manager Ange Postecoglu, and summer transfer business.
Here is what the Scot had to say…
Happy to be Down Under
We're just getting over the jet lag, but we’re very much enjoying it and looking forward to seeing around.
I've been to Australia before and it’s been great, but this is my first time in Perth, though and we’re all looking forward to seeing around in the next few days as well.
We’ve done a little bit of training in the last day or so and are just getting over the jet lag, as I said.
We're still buzzing and we’re still dancing after winning the UEFA Conference League final, but we’ve moved on as well and are getting ourselves ready for the next round of games coming up, but we still have fantastic memories that won't fade too quickly.
Growing awareness of Australian football
I watched a couple of A-League games not too long ago on the TV. Obviously there is so much football we can watch now from throughout the world, like South American football, and we can see all sorts of games on TV now.
Probably because of Tim Cahill is why I’m always keeping an eye on Australian football. He did such an unbelievable job for me [at Everton]. He had an incredible career, and will I’m sure go on to do well in what he is doing at the moment.
I have kept an eye on Australian football and the national team as well because we’re always looking to see which players are coming to the fore.
We know a little bit about it, but not as much as you guys will do!
Scouting for Socceroos
I know West Ham signed Stan Lazaridis after he played against us here in Perth in 1995 and, of course, we will be on the lookout [for any players with potential].
Someone has already tipped me off on a player, but I won't tell you which one!
Of course, it's part of the job to see what else is out there.
We’re in pre-season training and we’re preparing. It's very difficult to concentrate on the opposition when you’re interested in your own team [during the competitive season], but at this time of year you can sit back and watch the game and see it a bit better.
Admiration for Ange
Ange Postecoglu has taken over as Tottenham Hotspur manager and he is very good.
I was fortunate that I managed against him [and his A-League All-Stars] with Manchester United out here in Melbourne [in 2013] and that was the first time we met.
We also played Celtic in pre-season a couple of summers ago and I always remember he gave me a really nice bottle of Australian red wine! I gave him a nice bottle back when we met again in Glasgow and I’m looking forward to seeing him.
I have to say he sent me a great message when we won the Conference League, he's done a remarkable job at Celtic by winning the treble and I think Tottenham have got a very good manager.
He’s proved himself in a few countries but he’s in among the sharks now, so it won’t be easy!
Transfer talk
[Regarding Declan Rice potentially leaving the Club] I've just been listening to and taking the news from Sky because I know nothing about it. You seem to know more about it than me and getting the news quicker than I’m getting it, so I'm happy to listen to what you people are saying.
Until it's done, we can't plan anything, really, so we’ll wait and see what happens. Everybody knows the situation. We're expecting something to happen, but I think you were saying it was done two weeks ago and it's still not done, so…
I don’t think we can replace Declan like for like, but we’ll add to the squad as time goes on. We won’t be giving you any names or any thoughts on what we’re going to do.
A great opportunity for the Club and its young players
For West Ham to be coming out here as a European champion is huge for us and the Club brand.
Everywhere we go at the moment, the numbers are incredible as was the support here on Thursday.
Let’s be fair, I don’t think travelling halfway around the world would ever be the best way to prepare for pre-season, but everybody knows Premier League football clubs are viewed all over the world now and it’s a global league that everybody watches and wants to see the players, so we’re trying to make ourselves available to the fans.
We don’t have all our international players with us because of our late finish and their late finish with international games, so it’ll be a great opportunity for our young players and the senior players we have with us just now.
