OPINION
There’s not usually a lot going on on the last day of the season for a mid table side.
Unless you happen to be playing a title contender or a relegation candidate, then it can be a bit of an anti-climax – one last day out for the fans before the lull of preseason, attentions firmly rested elsewhere.
For players, however, it can be a big indicator of what they can expect in the coming months.
For those on the periphery, this is the last chance to prove themselves worthy of a place in the side next season, one last shot at ensuring they aren’t shipped out over the summer.
Because of that, there will be a few nervous player in the West Ham dressing room after their 4-1 pummelling of Watford on Sunday.
Aaron Cresswell, Samir Nasri, Pedro Obiang, Lucas Perez and Grady Diangana were all absent from Manuel Pellegrini’s match squad.
Ordinarily, that wouldn’t cause too much of a stir, but according to Football.London, none of them were carrying injuries, and were left out purely at the discretion of their manager.
That cannot be a good sign.
While Diangana is likely to have a long term future at the club, and while Cresswell has had a patchy season with injury, he should be okay.
Nasri, Obiang, and Perez, however, must be fearing the worst.
All three have been on the outside looking in recently, and with the boss failing to give them one last chance to prove themselves, even in an end of season dead rubber, Pellegrini’s decision must surely spell trouble.
