What a glorious week for West Ham United, winning the European Conference League Cup in the last minute of the final.

The celebratory trip from the Boleyn to Stratford Town Hall the evening after was thronged with more than 70,000 supporters. It was an electric atmosphere, as people sang and danced together. The bubbles blew as the players paraded the cup.

I went down to the parade with a mate from my Wanstead High School days. We were at East Ham Town Hall back in 1980 to see the FA Cup come home then. Let's hope there is not such a long wait for the next trophy.

What a change from a few weeks ago. Then there were calls for manager David Moyes to be sacked for the poor Premiership form. Now, the question has changed to whether Moyes is the greatest West Ham manager ever.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Paul Donovan is a huge West Ham United fanPaul Donovan is a huge West Ham United fan (Image: Paul Donovan)

His record is superb, saving the club from relegation twice, finishing sixth and seventh in the Premier League, getting to the semi-final of the Europa League last year and now winning the Europa Conference League Cup.

For my money,though, Moyes is still slightly behind Hammers legendary managers Ron Greenwood and John Lyall but only those two.

Greenwood was a brilliant coach, changing the way football was played in England, as well as bringing through the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Trevor Brooking.

Greenwood also won the last European silverware - the Cup Winners Cup in 1965, following on from the FA Cup a year earlier. Many Hammers fans also credit the club's famous trio with winning the World Cup in 1966.

Then, Greenwood's protege Lyall took over, winning the FA Cup in 1975 and 1980, reaching the Cup Winners Cup Final in 1976, winning the Second Division in 1981 and finishing third in the First Division in 1986.

I would say Lyall shades it as the greatest manager in terms of results. The one criticism of Greenwood was that with the talent at his disposal, West Ham should have won more, though, in another era, entertainment always came first for the man who later managed England.

Moyes though, could yet eclipse the greats - a couple more cup wins, Champions League qualification.

The hard work starts again now, with the club seemingly resigned to losing talismanic leader Declan Rice. All of the money from the Rice sale plus at least as much again will be required if Moyes is to consolidate and push on with his exciting project at West Ham.
Reinforcements from the triumphant FA Youth Cup winning team should help with this quest.

If, Moyes, gets the backing and makes the right choices, the fans could be back next May to celebrate another cup win and a top six Premiership finish. Come On You Irons.

  • Paul Donovan is Labour councillor for Wanstead Village ward, Redbridge Council and a blogger (paulfdonovan.blogspot.com).