Prior to the Premier League restart, West Ham looked poised for another painful run-in to another underwhelming Premier League season. David Moyes was tasked once again in January to steer the sinking ship, away from the drop.
With a renewed sense of optimism following a three-month hiatus, any signs of life in West Ham’s fightback were quickly dismissed, with a dismal showing in losses to both Wolves and Spurs. However, after a nail-biting 3-2 victory over London rivals Chelsea last week and a 2-2 draw with Newcastle on Saturday, there seems to be life in East London yet.
With four games to go, three of which against sides below West Ham currently in the table, it’s no wonder that the Hammers are being given great odds to avoid the drop.
After a tough midweek test against Burnley, three points away at bottom club Norwich, could put West Ham in pole position to be safe as early as next week, depending on other results elsewhere.
Since the restart, every team around the bottom end of the table have struggled to buy a point in seventeen fixtures played, until Watford’s 2-1 win over Norwich last night. It should give David Moyes’ side all the motivation they need to grind out the five remaining fixtures, if they want to stay in the top division next season.
I believe when you break down each side in danger of being relegated this season, West Ham’s squad depth and talent should easily pull them ahead of the pack. Whatever the aspirations for European football were before the season started, certain individuals in the squad need to take a long hard look at themselves before the start of the new campaign.
In order for us to survive it may be time to drop the luxury players, like Felipe Anderson or Sebastien Haller and give the chance to new boy Jarrod Bowen, converted striker Michail Antonio or stand-in skipper Declan Rice, all of whom in the previous two matches have shown dedication, passion and fight to the cause in order to survive.
If West Ham stick to that work ethic and sense of belief, I think they’ll be comfortably safe for another season, just.
[…] football. In the summer, Hammers fans were seething at a lack of investment and a seemingly obvious 5-way relegation scrap ahead. Perhaps, though, the club’s frugal approach is a wise way of running things in a sea of […]