While West Ham’s Premier League campaign so far is not very enjoyable for Hammers fans right now, the FA Cup could provide a glimmer of light. As history shows, West Ham are more than capable of putting a good cup run together.
The unforgettable, victorious UEFA Europa Conference League run of 2023 is still fresh in the memory and the FA Cup presents an opportunity to turn the season around.
How Nuno Santo’s Managerial Record Shows Reasons To Be Optimistic
While manager Nuno Espirito Santo has come under fire due to the recent results, there is no denying that he has the potential to get the best out of this West Ham team. At Nottingham Forest, he unexpectedly guided the team to the top spots of the Premier League, before a fall off in form at the end of the 2024/25 season led to a seventh place position.
He also helped Al-Ittihad to win the Saudi Pro League and Saudi Super Cup in 2022/23, and his time at Wolves saw him win the EFL Championship to gain promotion before taking them to a 7th place finish in the Premier League for two seasons in a row, also reaching the FA Cup semi-final in 2019/19.
So, there is every reason to be optimistic that Santo has the credentials to bring some joy for West Ham fans in the FA Cup this season. Plus, based on current form, the odds for a good FA Cup run will offer some good value bets, so a mid-season bet on some success in this competition could be a smart option.
How Many Wins Does It Take To Win The FA Cup?
With Premier League teams entering the competition at the third round stage, to win the FA Cup, it only takes six wins, as each round only has one leg. Crystal Palace showed last season that you don’t have to be a top six team to win the FA Cup, beating Manchester City to lift the trophy.
Current Odds For West Ham To Win The FA Cup
You can currently get odds of around 40-1 for West Ham to win the FA Cup. Meanwhile, odds for Liverpool to win the FA Cup are around 4-1, despite their recent run of bad results.
Of course, you don’t have to bet on outright winning the FA Cup, South African bettors can also choose to bet soccer outcomes for the next FA Cup fixture when the third round draw is made. However, by that time, West Ham United could go on a better run of form which could mean the odds are not as high.
Another smart bet could be to bet on West Ham to reach the quarter final or semi final stage. With players of the caliber of Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquetá amongst the ranks, a good FA Cup run is certainly not out of the question.
Could A January Transfer Boost Help A Cup Run?
There have also been reports that the West Ham board is prepared to back Nuno Santo in the January transfer market, and bringing in some new faces in January could kick start a better second half to the season, and this could also be in time for the first FA Cup fixture.
The FA Cup is always full of surprises with giant killing exploits and unexpected runs, so it is a competition that often goes against league form, so for Hammers fans, a mid-season bet on a cup run could be the best betting option right now.
As three-time FA Cup winners, West Ham have history with the competition but the last win was in 1980. However, the recent UEFA Europa Conference League victory showed that anything can happen in a knock-out competition. Bowen, Areola, Paquetá and Souček were all instrumental in that run to lift the trophy and they will be extra motivated to experience that trophy winning feeling again.
The season hasn’t been helped by Fullkrug sustaining injuries, leaving Callum Wilson as the only recognised senior striker for numerous games. If Fullkrug can get a run of injury-free months and West Ham bring in another striker in January, this could start to deliver some positive results. Hammers fans can also keep an eye on the progress of young South African player Cebo Ndamane who has been impressive for the under 19s.
Betting on the FA Cup can be a welcome distraction and provide something to look forward to in January and now is the time to get the best odds for a mid-season bet on a good West Ham cup run.
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