[David Moyes](https://www.claretandhugh.info/dithering-dave-no-more/) used to have a yardstick by which he judged players before considering signing them: Labelled the _‘Moyes MOT’,_ it was a judgement of a player’s ability to become part of a team, whether they had the mindset he wanted, rather than just their skill or ability.
It was about ‘attitude’. Many players failed the test and went on to have stellar careers elsewhere; adding an extra hurdle to his recruitment often got Moyesie criticise for ‘dithering’ when he simply didn’t believe a player would be good for his dressing room.
Moyes had his own test of character
How often West Ham have dived into the transfer marked and brought in players who’ve subsequently caused ructions in the dressing room – recently the club have suffered a spate of divisive ‘want-aways’ from Jean Clair Todobo to Mohammed Kudus and Niclas Fullkrug: Splashing cash big time doesn’t buy loyalty.
Which makes the almost indecent haste with which the Hammers flogged off one of their most loyal players ever to wear the shirt even more of a sad reflection of the ‘here today gone tomorrow’ instant-results oriented spectacle that football has become.
**Freddie Potts** just last year made his PL debut – with a man of the match award to boot – and yet he’s now another piece of West Ham history, gone for £10 million. His final message shows his true passion for the club which has just unceremoniously jettisoned him:
_“For the past 16 years, West Ham has been all I’ve ever known. It’s always been far more than just a Club, it’s become my home. As a lifelong West Ham fan, I grew up walking through Upton Park dreaming of one day wearing the shirt. To have gone on and played in the Premier League in front of over 62,000 of you is something I could only ever have dreamt of as a kid…._
_..To the fans, thank you. You’ve supported me through every high and every low. As one of you, I know exactly what this Club means. Your support has never gone unnoticed, and I hope I’ve been able to give you memories that mean even a fraction as much as the ones you’ve given me._
_I may be moving on but one thing will never change, I will always be a West Ham fan before anything. At the end of the day, I’m just a kid who was lucky enough to live out his dream._
_Thank you for everything.”_
Humble, loyal, still a Hammer despite being flogged off unceremoniously. Shame. Of course, with twenty plus academy graduates every year ,you can’t keep ’em all. But you can’t buy loyalty like that, no matter how many millions you throw at the transfer market.
Good luck, Freddie Potts.