Two defeats out of two over the Christmas period have dampened the festive spirits of West Ham supporters this year, especially as the results came after such a terrific run of form. True, the matches were against very difficult opposition in Chelsea and Arsenal, but such was the optimism that has been around East London this season, that many thought that at least Arsenal would be there for the taking.
It was not to be, however, and West Ham continued their longstanding run of bad form against the Gunners. Still, there are far many more reasons to be happy than not looking forward, and we certainly shouldn’t get too down on what has happened over the past few days.
I’m sure many of the pundits and experts will be quick to write the club off now after the two defeats. The predictable comments about how West Ham have been found out against the big boys and that the defeats are proof that the club have been punching above their weight etc etc this season will no doubt appear.
I do not see it like this, though. Against Chelsea we were absolutely battered in all honesty and came away from the match merely grateful that we had only lost by a two goal margin. The Arsenal fixture on the other hand could have easily gone either way. West Ham were the better team for most of the first half but failed to take any of their chances (apart from the disallowed effort), and were punished by two sucker punches late on in the half. Even then, the Irons rallied in the second period and were so close to stealing a draw at the end.
Indeed, the Hammers have more than held their own against all the top sides in the league so far this season. They have defeated both Liverpool and Manchester City and suffered arguably unlucky narrow losses to Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Everton and Arsenal. In only the Chelsea game can it be said that the side went in with a negative attitude; they certainly took the game to near enough every other side they have played. This enterprising approach has been a particular feature of our whole season.
Despite the last two results, West Ham are in sixth place in the table at the halfway stage of the season, which is a brilliant achievement considering what a turbulent time it was for us Hammers fans last season. Whilst I do not believe that a top four finish is a realistic aim for the club, we are still just two points off of the coveted 4th place, and by no means have the Hammers dropped way of the pace as some people seem to be suggesting.
I think most supporters have realised just how much has been achieved by Sam Allardyce and his players this term; after the final whistle against Arsenal, the West Ham faithful burst into a round of ‘We love you West Ham’, which was very refreshing to hear.
So Europe is still very much on for West Ham; although I suspect the owners may need to get their chequebooks out in January for the Hammers to remain genuine contenders for a Europa League place. Whether this is going to be possible with the club still looking to reduce debts before the lucrative Olympic Stadium move remains to be seen but either way there is much to look forward to for Hammers fans next year and beyond.
I would love to agree , but the continued inclusion of. Kevin Nolan will only lead to more defeats and a dissapointing season after starting so well . Seems like we are slowly but surely drifting back to our old habits . Against West Brom we must field our most talented players and kick start 2015 ,,, if we don’t , then all dreams of Europe will be out the window .
Spot on Kevin. The Allardyce “fixation” with Nolan, because that’s all I can describe it as, is now well beyond a joke. We may as well take the field with ten men, such is the total lack of MEANINGFUL contribution supplied by Nolan, and for me Allardyce is letting us down, himself down, and Nolan down because the bloke is finished at this level. It is lazy management: stick with your old mate and HOPE he nicks a goal. It is just not good enough.
Isn’t it funny that after two not unsurprising defeats that the anti BS brigade are coming out of the woodwork again!
Where are we in the league? 6th I think!
But at this rate, not for long mate
I knew it, I just knew this would happen, in that once Sam brought his darling AC back into the team that he would split up the great and DYNAMIC relationship up front that Sakho and Valencia had. Those 2 were blazing a trail and that was a dynamic relationship that brought us the great start to the season we have and stacks of goals, but with that partnership now being just pushed aside, it has broken up a formidable strike force and broken those 2 players hearts a bit, as all of a sudden we’ve let in 5 goals and scored just 2 in our last 3 games while gaining just 1 point. Let’s face it, AC is nowhere near the level, whoever he partners up front, that those 2 had, we haven’t had a Sakho Valencia relationship since the days of Cottee and McAvennie and now Sam, as I knew he would, has broken it. After yesterday’s performance against West Brom, I found myself incredibly thinking that “thank heavens we’ve got 32 points from 20 games”, and if we lose again against our bogey team in tomorrow’s FA cup, well that could be it for the season, but at least we know, that with just 8 points required thanks mainly to Sahko and Valencia, that we won’t go down, that’s how much confidence I have in AC being our dinosaur strike force once again. Everyone’s got AC worked out, but with what Sakho and Velencia, and to some extent Zarate have, well no one is anywhere near working those out. It’s always the same with West Ham, they get good players playing for them and then don’t know how to use them, or else, worse still, we lose them, as we did with Diame. Teddy Sheringham where are you? Can’t you knock some sense into Sam?
And as I said in a previous article, after having Nolans good goal disallowed at old Trafford, a goal that was offside from lukaku v Everton, a penalty conceded that wasn’t a penalty at Sunderland, a fantastic good goal disallowed from Song against his old club Arsenal and then the referee awarding Arsenal a penalty in the same game v Arsenal after reid was adjudged to have fouled while falling over (how can anybody possibly achieve that acrobatic feat?) there are many many points lost there due to match officials wrong decisions. The officials only seem to be protecting the money and protecting the gavy train. Match fixing is definitely acknowledged to exist, now we have the Y boys coming up and taking our 6th spot. How can anybody take this game seriously in it’s present state? The game is a laughing stock. I don’t believe in putting my emotions energy into lotteries and corruption.