We’re at the mid season point now and the Hammers lie second in the table. Of course we would all like to be first but we’re not far off. For the first time since I can remember I can actually feel confident of victory going into a game. We’ve got a great squad for the league we’re in but will it hold up in the ‘big time’? Next season is going to be very tough regardless of the division we’re in. Another season in the Championship would be truly disastrous but lets not even think about that.
Promotion is well within our grasp and I feel confident that, as long as we stay away from (yet more!) injuries we can be a Premiership side by the time August comes back around. I do, however, harbour a few concerns and while I’m hoping we will have that Premier league badge emblazoned on our arms next season , I’m apprehensive. We do not want to be thinking about relegation again this time next season and that is why I think our current squad needs a bit of scrutiny. While our current players are far superior to their counterparts in the Championship, it is hard to see them setting the world alight in the Premier league. For me, the gulf between the top flight and the second tier is increasing year on year. Rubbish! I hear you cry, look at Norwich!. Fair enough, Norwich have excelled this season. Swansea and QPR haven’t done too bad either. But wait just a minute! A couple of seasons ago everyone was raving about Hull until they decided that they were safe and didn’t need to turn up for the last 10 or so games. Just last season it seemed that Blackpool developed the same syndrome that plagued the Hull squad in the second half of the season. No longer is it second season syndrome. Its second half of the season syndrome!
I am fearful that, should we get promoted, West Ham will suffer the same fate. I don’t want my team to just be happy to be in the Premier League, survive on adrenaline for 6 months and then like my dreams, fade and die. We belong there! And it is only right that we don’t become one of these clubs that are constantly up and down. I am going to be optimistic for a change and say that WHEN we get promoted there is a serious need for investment. We are by no means dominating this league and there is a lot of work to be done if we are to become a regular feature of the Premier League.
We can gain promotion. First we need to strengthen in January to counteract the string of injuries we’ve suffered, and then in the summer we need to be ambitious and invest.
Find us on Facebook for more Hammers news, competitions and polls http://www.facebook.com/pages/ForeverWestHamcom/200938616608282
Looking for experience? Just want to be heard outside of the Boleyn? We are currently looking for writers, drop us an email at foreverwestham@snack-media.com for more details.
Imagine getting PAID for reading about the Hammers, sounds impossible doesn’t it? Sign up now and make a dream, a reality http://bit.ly/ffc-foreverwestham
