Fourth win on the spin, top of the form table, most clean sheets in the Premier League and now a point better off than at the same stage last season…what a month February has been.
The decision the board made in sticking by Sam Allardyce is now fully vindicated; all the sides that made a switch at the first sign of trouble are now below us in the league. If as some fans demanded we’d made a switch and plumped for Glenn Hoddle, Malky Mackay or Roberto Di Matteo would we now be sitting 10th after 27 games? Somehow I just don’t think so.
The win over Southampton epitomised the spirit flowing through this West Ham side, yes they had the majority of possession, yes they do play some slick footy at times, but ultimately they were all filler, no killer. The Hammers on the other hand were ruthless when opportunities presented themselves; typified by Kevin Nolan’s goal which came after a sustained period of Saints pressure and killed Southampton’s uprising stone dead.
West Ham and it gives me great pleasure to write this are not going to go down; barring a miracle of biblical proportions Cardiff City and Fulham will slip through the trap door and the 3rd side joining them will be one of West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland or Norwich City in my opinion. The Irons can now set their sights on attempting to catch Southampton and Newcastle United in the league; the impending return of Andy Carroll can only help as the big Sam’s gang continue to look upwards.
West Ham received a lot of stick for daring to attempt to overturn Andy Carroll’s ridiculous suspension; (how dare someone challenge the FA’s draconian and patently unfair rules?) Well surely now the club deserves endless praise for getting on with it, accepting the FA’s decision and going on to win all three games Carroll was suspended for. Chico Flores’ play-acting cost us our big man, but fortunately it didn’t cost us any points.
A mention now for the captain…after two sending’s off in quick succession many Hammers myself included wanted Kevin Nolan stripped of the captaincy and dropped…five goals in four games since his hiatus and it seems Nolan is desperate to make up for his indiscretions and prove he is deserving of the West Ham United captaincy. The skipper is in fantastic form and Everton away next weekend will give Nolan the chance to renew his glorious partnership with Andy Carroll; their phenomenal goal scoring record currently standing at 63 goals in 73 games.
We’re now looking highly likely to stay up, 2/3 more wins will virtually guarantee it and I think we’ve proved two very important things this season; we can win without Andy Carroll and changing your manager when things aren’t going to plan isn’t always the answer.
Spot on mate! Only thing I would disagree with is, in my opinion we were never going down and we were never going to sack big Sam! I know its easy to appear wise after the event but I always thought if we could get our injured players back we would be ok! (Fingers crossed!), And that there were at least 5-6 teams that were either worse than us, had had their new manager boost or had peaked and were now slipping after a good start to the season. All of these teams were getting worse while we could only get better! Just glad that all my hopes have come true and we have been able to put some daylight between us and the relegation places! But I must admit the run we have gone on is beyond my wildest dreams! Agree Fulham (what the f&€k has gone on there?good riddance though after ravel affair!), cardiff( what the f£€k was ole thinking managing that loonies club?!), and one other. Hard one to call though and I think it will go to the wire. Not that it should concern us as we can now look upwards and onwards! COYI!
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC WEST HAM. YOU NOW KNOW HOW TO WIN. WHATEVER EACH & EVERYONE OF YOU LADS ARE DOING, JUST KEEP ON DOING IT, AS WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS WORKING FOR YOU. Don’t forget West Ham’s hit list of 10 games for revenge in 2014 resumes with Everton V West Ham Sat 1 Mar;15:00pm, for a 2-3 home loss on 21st Sep 2013. We’ll make Leighton Baines & Co pay for those 2 free kicks & Mark’s sending off that resulted in us losing a 2-1 lead. And you are right Kwame, as this win was the tester for me, after 4 wins in a row we ain’t going down as we now have the points on the board. I am absolutely proud of the lads, & what a pay back for Andy’s ban injustice. GREAT STUFF COYI!!!