With West Ham having a weekend off, and a week of no news, no drama, and only one picture of a shirtless Kevin Nolan doing the rounds (this time in a swimming pool) it’s been a very quiet week for the Hammers. Throw in a massive 28 day gap between home games and I’m already bored witless— although I must admit I’m relaxed and sleeping well.
Whilst West Ham have been relatively…calm, a lot has been going on elsewhere in the Premier league that could affect the rest of the season— and while it’s not good news for the teams concerned, it’s good news for West Ham.
I’m totally not the sort of person who delights in others’ misfortune (unless it’s to do with Spurs or a person walking into an automatic glass door at a Sainsbury’s) yet I can’t help but hope that West Ham take advantage of the below opportunities to get positive results out of others’ negative luck.
1. Charlie Adam’s Retrospective three-match ban
If we ever return to playing football, our next game will be against Stoke City – who are perhaps the strangest team in the league. They have lost nine and won none of their last 12 away games in the Premier League (OptaJoe) but yet they’ve collected scalps from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United – and I believe the latter used to be a very good team.
Losing one of their players for the game against us will certainly have a disruptive effect on the team, a sentiment voiced by Stoke City Chief Executive Tony Scholes, who says he is “extremely disappointed for the effect this is going to have…on the football club.” Hopefully West Ham can make the most of the missing midfielder, and come out with a strong attacking stance.
2. Chico Flores’ red card.
Bless. One day you’re a cheat on top of the world, and then all of a sudden you play Crystal Palace and -bam- just like that you’re a cheat with a red card and a three-match ban. We’re done playing Swansea City, but in a league where nearly every other team can be classed as a relegation rival, it’s bad news for Swansea that they are without one of their best players for their next three games— and like Stoke, are certain to drop points as a result. It’s hard luck for the Swans because, after all, Chico was right; that just wasn’t in the box was it? And don’t you just hate it when a referee gets it wrong?
3. Everton’s Lacina Traore trauma.
Yes, on paper this doesn’t affect us—I realise we’ve already lost to Everton as many times as we can this season, but sometimes it’s good to know that as a club, we actually got a transfer decision correct.
Many fans were furious knowing the deal for Traore fell through, even with rumours that he was not match fit and had hamstring problems. Given that he has yet to play for Everton because of match fitness and a hamstring injury, it would appear to be good that West Ham didn’t end up with him on our books. Hopefully this has earned the board and Sam Allardyce a little trust and faith in their decisions, which will go a long way to the relationship between club and fans.
Of course the best thing we can do as a club for the rest of the season is to keep a positive attitude, keep the belief up, and have the players give their all on the pitch—but we also need to capitalise on any bits of fortune that manage to come out of hiding and blow our way.
Hopefully we can start by getting a good result against an Adam-less Stoke, and build from there.
Why are Stoke certain to drop points just because Adams is out for 3 games – we lost Carroll for 3 games and did we lose any points – no so no certainty that they will. Although Walters got a red card as well yesterday so that may help with 2 players out. COYI
Adrián, Demel, McCartney, Taylor, Collins, Tomkins, Jarvis, Noble, Cole, Nolan, Downing
8 out of the 11 players as above, (+ Andy Carroll making 9) are native of England, who played in the only English Premier League team to have won every game in February 2014. Yet none of this invincible squad are currently included in England manager Roy Hodgson’s squad for the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
This West Ham starting 11 won all 4 games in February with Andy Carroll playing approx 1 hour of the 1st game in Feb before being dismissed & banned by the FA for the next 3 games.
9 winning players from a top 10 English Premier League club and yet none of them + Ravel Morrison! are currently under serious consideration for Brazil 2014. Why???
(Oh, & don’t forget that Jon Walters of Stoke is also banned, so that could help us as well!)