Well, today’s (Saturday’s) Premier League results are all in and things couldn’t really have gone much better for us I’m pleased to say. With West Bromwich Albion getting hammered at home and Fulham taking a really bad defeat at Cardiff City here, in my opinion are two clubs that I feel are almost nailed on for the drop. Add a home defeat for Crystal Palace and Norwich City and Stoke City just sharing the spoils, then happy days for us Hammers.
It’s always a dodgy game relying on the other strugglers to come unstuck. Every Hammer will be scouring the results every week praying that the others have slipped up, and seeing the bottom sides lose or just gain a point is almost as satisfying as seeing West Ham win, such is the importance of keeping that oh so vital points margin between us and them for as long as it takes to see us safe.
Looking at the fixture lists of the sides in danger, us still included, I think we could have had it much worse. If we don’t take all six points against Palace and Hull City at The Boleyn, then you almost feel like saying we got what we deserved. Stoke and Sunderland away must give us at least two points I feel, possibly four if we have a good day in one of the matches, and an added bonus of any points against Manchester United and Spurs at home should be enough for survival.
With Cardiff (despite beating the awful Fulham) and Fulham now looking most likely to fall (famous last words that may yet come back and haunt me) I think we are looking at one from either Norwich or Palace for the remaining spot, provided we at least match the others, and that we can stay free from injuries to important players.
Because of the situation, I can see Sam Allardyce staying with the defensive minded policy, thinking one point is better than none. It isn’t going to make for pretty viewing I’m afraid, but he will feel the safety first game plan is justified if we stay in the division.
As each week passes and the results go in our favour, the pressure will slowly ease, but for me two home wins against Palace and Hull are critical, and there just cant be any room for error. It’s six points from these games or things will really become difficult, with us relying on results against the big boys, and that’s a situation we must avoid at all costs.
Look up, not down, that’s what I say. Look at how Wigan approached the 2 nd half against Man City, who instead of battening down the hatches & trying to protect a 1-0 lead? No they really go for it and add a 2nd goal. That’s how West Ham should tackle the rest of this season. They should look at 9th place. I admit that Saints 9th place does seem a bit out reach, but just supposing the Hammers went flat out and won 7 of the next 10 games?? while at the same time, a Saints team with all of those team members that are selected for England’s World Cup squad start taking it easy, by saving themselves for Brazil, then it’s quite possible that Saints could lose up to 6 out of their last 9 games. No, try and win as many games as possible West Ham. Look up the table, just the same way as Wigan looked at getting into a Wembley semi final. Don’t worry about what the other teams are doing below us. We are not there with them, so don’t behave like we are. Just go for it. There are around 6 teams being Fulham, Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, West Brom & Norwich who are looking like being the teams who’ll be fighting over getting that 17th spot & we aren’t one of them. Look at getting 9th, not who is going to get 17th. COYI