David Moyes got the send-off he deserved at London Stadium on Saturday.
A lovely warm day, a clear blue sky, a thrilling victory and a final goal from a home-grown youngster. It could not have gone much better.
As he made his way around the pitch, trailing his players on their annual end of season lap of appreciation, Moyes waved at fans, having signed autographs beforehand.
The warm and genuine acknowledgement at a job well done came back from the stands. The majority of a 60,000-plus crowd remained long after the final whistle.
They did not need to be told to pay Moyes due respect. Their growing irritation at negative results and performances was set aside in justifiable recognition at the superb job Moyes has done over the past four and a half years.
West Ham now are a different club to the one Moyes returned to in December 2019. They have had three European campaigns and, famously, won their first trophy in 43 years.
But even last summer, Moyes knew some fans wanted him to move on. That number has grown significantly over the second half of this season, during which time they have won four of 20 domestic matches.
It was similar last term, when they won five out of 20 domestic games, culminating in a four-goal hammering at Brighton.
This is not to downplay the job Moyes has done. This season alone, West Ham have beaten Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United.
Two weeks ago, they drew with Liverpool. They are assured of a top-10 finish for the third time in four years.
But West Ham are a different club now. Their aspirations are greater.
“David Moyes has done a good job and when you see what has happened to Aston Villa, it shows hard hard winning a European trophy actually is,” said Kent-based fan Philip Gambrill before the Luton game.
“But he doesn’t use his substitutes and he hasn’t played the young lads.
“Maybe we don’t have the strength in depth other clubs have but the fans still don’t understand why. I think most do accept it is time for it to end.”
