Hammers should be optimistic

So, ‘welcome’ Chelsea to Upton Park, with a rare amount of optimism amongst the fans.

Despite losing 3-1 to Norwich City the last time we were on Sky’s Saturday Night Football, just a fortnight ago, the international break has allowed us to somewhat forget our troubles and start afresh.

With England losing both their fixtures in the two week break, we’re all looking forward to the return of the Premier League, still without that welcomed feeling of victory.

The optimism amongst many fans is also greater because of the last meeting at the Boleyn ground between the two sides, lest we forget, which was a live TV appearance also!

With our poor form and with facing one of the league’s top sides, this optimism is rare. However, Chelsea are without a win in their last two league matches which by our standards would be the norm, but league title chasers have to be consistent to a different level.

Optimism can also be a very dangerous thing. When you expect a good performance and at least not give the opposition all three points, anything less can be seen as a huge disappointment, despite the fact that the opposition are far superior in terms of quality and depth.

Is this optimism unfounded? I think not when the above points are taken into consideration. Alongside the fact that the West Ham players will naturally be extra hyped for a London derby, especially in-front of a home crowd, who will be mainly hoping, not expecting. Then why should we not be confident of taking the game to Chelsea and not letting them play by their rules.

With West Ham we always expect and are disappointed when we don’t pick up three points against the sides around us (i.e. Stoke City, Hull City), but more than often the same team could play against Stoke and lose and the next week turn over a top four side, that’s football. The bigger sides usually get a tougher time as every team raises their game, of course not always succeeding to do so.

So, just because we lost away at Norwich 3-1 and Chelsea won away at Norwich 3-1, doesn’t necessary mean that a 6-1 is on the cards, that’s the beauty of football, and why the optimism is somewhat founded.

Bring them on I say, as against the bigger sides; there is no shame in a hard-working defeat. And although losing on TV can be more embarrassing, it doesn’t last forever, especially when followed by two losses for the National side.