Football is full of uncertainties in the face of the coronavirus outbreak and resulting Premier League suspension with players, backroom staff and fans unsure if the 2019/20 season will be played to a conclusion or scraped, results declared null and void.
Chiefs at UEFA informed clubs across Europe it was their intention to see leagues played out in full when it was safe to do so. Euro 2020 and the summer Olympics have been put back 12 months, giving clubs an opportunity to complete fixtures. Keeping up with news and rumours suggest this could all change, however. UEFA may be forced to reconsider, accepting that any continuation of the current season could put lives at risk and have a major impact on the 2020/21 campaign.
Hammers under the cosh
At the London Stadium, West Ham are no clearer on their future than the other 19 Premier League member teams. Season stats of seven wins and six draws against 16 defeats has The Hammers on 27 points. The Londoners have scored 35 goals and conceded 50 so far. Their points tally leaves them 16th in the pecking order, a dozen points off Burnley and the top half but level with AFC Bournemouth and the relegation zone.
Just three goals separate West Ham United from the bottom three. David Moyes side have conceded three more goals than The Cherries but scored six more, gifting them a little breathing space. If Bournemouth were to be relegated without a complete season on goal difference it would be difficult for any lover of football not to feel sorry for them, although sympathy would be rather thin on the ground in Stratford with the short season helping keep them up.
Squad back to full fitness
If football does return this season, what can we expect to see from West Ham? The break in play would have allowed the club’s lengthy injury list to ease and we could see players return to full fitness following a mini pre-season. A full squad would, undoubtedly, help The Hammers as they bid to distance themselves from the drop zone.
When the team is back on the training field it will also give Moyes – a man with a history of saving clubs from the Championship – a chance to instil some much-needed confidence back into the ranks. The Scotsman’s priority would be in stopping the rot present in Stratford and improving form. West Ham have won of their last five league games, losing four of their five most recent starts. They were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal across the capital on 7 March, their final outing before lockdown. Alexandre Lacazette scored the only goal of the game that day, gifting The Gunners all three points.
Relegation betting will be popular
There may be no fixtures or results to speak of at present, but sports bettors can have their say on the Premier League with several markets covered and attractive betting odds available. Betting on the team’s relegation chances at top football betting sites is sure to attract plenty of attention between now and the official end of season.
Sports bettors can make their call on West Ham’s future, placing their stake on them to survive or be relegated. It’s also possible to call each of the three teams that will plummet into the Championship, a market that gives bettors a shot at bigger odds. At present, three of the bottom five are locked on 27 points and just two points separates Aston Villa in 19th and West Ham, the former club having a game in hand.
