The Dreaded Number Eight (No Not David Bentley)

At the beginning of the season Big Sam addressed the West Ham faithful stating “This season in this league we cannot lose eight games if we expect automatic promotion.” Two weeks ago, on a 7 game unbeaten streak, taking 13 points from a possible 15 in the month of November, it looked as though we were on course and well safe of that mark, almost half way through the season with only 3 loses on our record.

Fast forward to today and it’s a very different story. The last two matches have seen our boys almost double their losses. We’re not yet half way through the season and already we’ve suffered 5 defeats and now the dreaded number 8 looms menacingly not so far in the distance, gaining ground. Another loss before the years out and alarm bells will inevitably begin to sound in the terraces of Upton Park.

It’s not all doom and gloom however. We’re still second in the league, just 3 points from the top spot. Sure we’ve lost our last two matches but with West Ham it seems to be a case of a couple of dodgy results, as opposed to Southampton who, judging by their actual performances, seem to be in gradual decline. They no longer see themselves as unbeatable and that’s beginning to show. You have to question if they have the confidence to pull themselves out of a downward spiral. Don’t forget as well that this “8 defeat maximum” is not some omen which guarantees our failure but rather a line the sand which Allardyce has drawn for himself and his team. Perhaps he did not expect this league to be quite so close knit, supposing there would be more distance between the front runners and those in their wake.

With 3 games left in 2011 the question remains, will our two consecutive defeats serve to make or break us? What do Sam Allardyce’s claret and blues have to offer? Fire in their bellies? Or butterflies? We’ll find out at the Boleyn come Saturday.

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

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.