West Ham can beat Chelsea

I’m breathing a big sigh of relief this weekend because there isn’t any league football. Things haven’t been great lately between me and my beloved West Ham, and they seem a bit hell bent on destroying my good nature and mood on the weekends. The international break should hopefully give us some time to regroup – but there’s a giant elephant looming on the horizon in the shape of our next home game. Everyone wants to bounce back from a loss with a win, but our next game is against Chelsea.

On the surface, things are looking a bit bleak but, ever the optimist, here’s why I actually think we won’t do too badly against Chelsea.

1. We’ve done this before.

Lets cast our minds back to happier days – December 01, 2012 to be precise. Chelsea were third in the Premier League when they came to Upton Park last year only to be beaten 3-1 by an emphatic West Ham side (who went into the game with but 3 wins under their belts.) We did it with significant injuries including – wait for it, you will never believe who was injured – Andy Carroll and Ricardo Vaz Te. In their absence Carlton Cole was outstanding. It’s all aligned for history to repeat itself this year – so will it?

2. You know who scored against Chelsea last year?

Modibo Maiga. Not even joking.

Last year he actually scored against Chelsea. It’s the same Modibo Maiga too, not another striker with the same name (I checked.) If Maiga could score against a team containing Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, Juan Mata, and, er Fernando Torres (he’s alright this year) then just think what the prolific and outstanding goal-scoring talent of Ravel Morrison might be able to achieve.

3. Chelsea aren’t all that.

Okay statistically speaking, that might not be true. In fact it isn’t true (I guess.) However, this has not been their finest season so far. They are currently sitting a measly fourth in the table (behind Southampton. Southampton, for crying out loud!) They’ve also had some surprising results – having lost 2-0 to Newcastle United, and somehow salvaging a draw after going behind to West Bromwich Albion in their last game before the break. They haven’t won a Premier League game since October 27^th, and even though their striker Romelu Lukaku is having the season of his life, he’s having it while playing for another club.

We’ve not been at our best lately, but we cannot go into this game planning to lose. I’m certainly happy to focus on intensely defending (even if it involves parking a certain vehicle) but this game might actually be 3 points that we don’t have to write off before the players take to the pitch.

What do you think the outcome of the game will be? Will you be pleased with a point? Let me know below or tweet me @makingthemarrow