St James' trip highlights the gap Hammers have to close

Newcastle have strongarmed their way into the spot Moyes has long targeted

- Malik Ouzia

NEWCASTLE V WEST HAM (Tomorrow, 5.30pm, Sky) 

ACHIEVING David Moyes's stated aim for West Ham got an awful lot harder the moment Newcastle's Saudi takeover went through late in 2021.

Moyes spoke often and, despite the Hammers' lowly League position, still does, about his plan to disrupt the traditional big six', having managed it two seasons ago and almost again last term.

Now, though, the concept of a 'big six' is flawed, and not merely because two of its members sit ninth and 10th in the division, nor because Brighton are sixth. With the rise of the Toon, six is well on its way to becoming seven.

Even if the term 'best of the rest' another of Moyes's oft-quoted targets - now means finishing eighth, the Hammers are on track to fall way short.