West Ham Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 25/26

Probably would have taken a point from Man City at home and Villa away beforehand. Still, frustrating to let a gap develop again. While it'd be great to get to Wembley, wouldn't put a huge amount of effort into the Leeds game after the break. Next four games define our season (Wolves (H), Palace (A), Everton (H), Brentford (A)). I'd be thinking a minimum of 8 points would be needed. Forest have Burnley and Sunderland coming up which they're likely to get some points. Spurs will surely pull the trigger on Tudor before the end of the break (and will have players returning) so will almost certainly pick up points, as much as I'd love it for them to go down instead of us.

Honestly, nothing's changed my opinion of three months ago that we're as good as down.

A handy reference table for those with a shred of hope left in the prediction game of survival, and can handle hope being tempered by realism.

Shedite27

Still reckon that Leeds (h) game on the last day might be a winner takes all clash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350401#Comment_124350401

As in - a dogfight on the day, where in a win scenario the loser gets related, and winner stays up?

Last-day dog-fight is almost certain, but I think Leeds will stay up regardless, even with a draw (and possibly even a loss). So we could win on the final day, and still go down. Notts Forest are slipping points less than we are, which if it continues, means they will stay up. Assuming the Hammers show up with fire in the belly, unlike last game, which I hope/assume was a blip, Spurs' self-destruction and free-fall at this juncture seems to be the only thing that will save us. That said, as Greavsie remarked - "It's a funny old game." It's not over 'til a particular type of opera singer does their thing.

Wonderful! Another 120 minutes resulting in two injuries and we end up going out anyway. Kilman should never be allowed near a pitch again!

Wolves on Friday where they're looking to get off the bottom and you know we'll oblige.

jonnreeks

At Nuno's Press conference preview for the Wolves game, he confirmed that we will have a fully fit squad which will be good. Summerville, AWB, Todibo, Hermansen & Wilson are all available

The only eye-brow raise would be KWP instead of AWB, who's on the bench.

pjmn

going to be a long 90 minutes…😱

Undeservedly overall in the lead at half-time with an under-par performance, mostly all-round, except for Fernandes and Mavropanos. So disappointing given the situation. Fantastic goal though.

I can easily see AWB for KWP, and Potts for Pablo (though he has showed some good football). Also Summerville out unless he improves, with Scarles in for Diouf to push forward. Maybe the goal will give an injection of positivity to get better switched on in the second half.

Well there's the positivity.

Only saying to my son before the match that Castellanos would score because it's all starting to click in terms of set-up. I didn't expect 2 from him in fairness. Clean sheet would be mannah.

Mavropanos' redemption arc is something to behold.

pjmn

Jesus I'd have settled for far less but thrilled with that result…. COYI's

That emphatic 3 points was a real psychological blow to the other teams around us, especially Spurs, who'll be cackin' themselves now in the relegation zone - next playing away to Sunderland on Sunday.

Thoroughly unexpected, and probably flattering after the first half. Still no guarantee that we'll be out of the bottom three by the end of the weekend. I'm expecting Spurs to finally wake up this weekend. If they win and Forest lose, it'd mean four teams within a point at the bottom.

Though actually being out of the bottom three at the end of the weekend would be huge. Looked back, and we haven't been fully out of the relegation zone by the end of a match week since November.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124389776#Comment_124389776

And Sunderland do us a massive favour and we finish a weekend outside the bottom three for the first time in over 4 months.

Palace next which is a Monday evening kickoff. So we'll either need a win to get back out of the bottom three or will have a chance to put some real daylight between us and the relegation zone.

thebiglad

IF we can win at Palace and Spurs lose then I reckon 1 more win would see us safe - not too many games left and Spurs have a very tough run in and they'd have to win 3 of 6.

Next weekend will be huge!

Goal difference is the killer and little time to improve it at this stage of the season do less focus on Forest and Leeds (if Leeds make it to the FA Cup final they may put out a weakened team for final game too).

I see the video doing the rounds of Palace players on the lash in Florence after their quarter final win yesterday. Also lots of Palace fans basically saying that, given they're more or less safe, they don't care a jot about the Premier League. Hopefully we're on it and Palace have their eyes on Europe. If we're 5 above the drop zone after Monday, I may start to believe!

Dodged a bullet there. Slightly worried about the amount of fight that Spurs showed but they're still winless this year. Need to take this opportunity to put more daylight between us and them. You'd expect them to beat Wolves in their next game if they play like that.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124410539#Comment_124410539

Well that was a fcuking disappointment. Fully expect us to be back in the bottom three come Saturday evening. No way are Spurs not beating Wolves and we ain't breaking down Everton the way we're playing.

Shedite27

Spurs winless in 6 against Wolves and their last 15 PL games.

Wolves have taken points from Arsneal, Liverpool and Villa in their last 3 games at Molineux.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124410539#Comment_124410539

How was it a disappointment ? It was a bad game, but Palace are a decent side who just made it to the semi finals of a European tournament.

I'd have loved a win, but a draw is not a bad result. We just have to do better than Spurs, which seems possible.

pavb2

It’s all about context a draw away to Palace is usually a decent result but when you’re fighting relegation probably less so, at least not losing maintains the two point cushion. Last night seemed like a repeat of other performances generally the team played ok but attacking wise unless the ball went to Bowen there was no threat in the last third or opposition box.

Taking the positives it is still in your hands and two wins and a draw may be enough I see a win at home against Leeds and looking at the remaining fixtures Everton at home offers the best opportunity

pjmn

Overall happy with the point, as long as we beat Everton at home. Hard to see Spurs not wlnning at Wolves, but there again it is Spurs so all hope is not lost! Looks like this will go down to the wire.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124411131#Comment_124411131

Palace seem to be changing their focus to Europe and were absolutely there for the taking yesterday for us to put 4 between us and Spurs. That would have put an immense amount of pressure on them whereas now, they know that one win will likely lift them out of trouble for now.

Spurs showed a lot more promise on Saturday and, were it not for one lapse in defence at the end, would have gotten the win they needed. Wolves have conceded 9 in their last 3 games and we can't keep relying on Spurs to continue failing to win. They will start picking up wins eventually. And if they do so on Saturday, anything but a win against Everton (who are fighting for Europe) means we're back in the drop zone thanks to our goal difference and matters are out of our hands again.

Also means we've lost more ground on Forest.

Well this isn't exactly good… Anyway, I see a lot of drama on KUMB for example but I kind of feel it would have always been between us and Spurs anyway ever since they got dragged into it.

Let's hope for a good result against Everton (although I'm not confident). I think we can beat Spurs' performances overall and as long as we do that we're safe.

Given the timing/context, probably the most important game of the season.

I'm detecting at this stage defensive mode away from home, and attack at home, i.e., basic survival mode. Unsurprisingly, then, Castellanos spear-heading the attack in front of Pablo, though given the importance of a win, surprised it's 4 at the back - with KWP instead of AWB. If no lead, and Nuno smells blood, maybe he'll change it up.

Phew! After Soucek's whirling dervish show early in the second half, then us conceding the lead for a draw, and Spurs going ahead of us just before the 90 minutes, in the end, we looked done for. The expected 'at home' high-octane attacking never really materialised. That was edgy cagey stuff; I really did expect a better attacking performance. The late replacements, Potts and Wilson in for Pablo and Castellanos proved decisive, but Jesus, it's sailing close to the wind.

scottser

Man U supporter here. It must be great craic being a Hammer right now; a chance to deny Arsenal the title and in a race to put Spurs down, with the possibility of meeting Millwall next season if you stay up. You won't get too many days like these, so enjoy them while you can ;)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124419734#Comment_124419734

I stand corrected :D What a result!