Hugely popular KUMB podcast presenter Chris Scull blogs for ClaretandHugh after Mr Southon provided him with some free and winning tips on a successful recent day out at Ascot Races.! lol. Chris is always welcome here – one of the genuine nice guys – and here casts his passionate Irons eye over all things Hammers. Welcome Scully you old scally.
By Chris Scull
Everything feels so much better after a win; the birds seem to sing a song you’ve never heard before, everything tastes a little sweeter, but most importantly, you can watch Match of the Day safe in the knowledge that it won’t make you angrier. It’s a feeling I’d almost forgotten of late.
Let’s be honest though, I don’t think the club shop will be stocking a DVD of the match against Sunderland anytime soon. Although that first 20 minutes was a blistering start; it looked like it might be a cricket score. In fact, that’s the one thing I really want right now, more than anything; to go to London Stadium and for us to destroy a team 3-0.
I want to sit at the very back of my seat, as opposed to the edge of it. Just relax and enjoy the match without the frustration of us chasing a game or of blowing the opportunity for maximum points or even one!
Sadly, the match against Sunderland was very much an edgy affair. We had our chances to score, but they had too. Every time Defoe got the ball I got worried and it looked like our defence did too. I know we have something of an unsavoury history with Jermaine, but I really wish we had brought him back when we had the chance a couple of years ago.
He’s a striker that can almost guarantee Premier League goals, whereas our current strikers (with Carroll and Sakho out with fitness issues) remain unproven at this level. As great as it was to see Reid smashing a last minute strike in from outside the box (with a Cruyff turn I might add), I want to see a West Ham striker doing that.
For all his work rate, and a relatively good showing against Palace, the jury remains very much out on Zaza. If the rumours are true about Juventus needing a big pay out after he plays 15 games, I wonder how many more opportunities he’s got to prove himself before he finds himself back in Turin.
Fortunately for us, we’ve got a proven Premier League attacker in Ayew back possibly in action tonight against Chelsea in the league cup. He’s going to be a huge player for us as we face up to ten league games before New Year.
Which brings me to ‘Relegation Watch’. It’s so important we got those 6 points against Sunderland and Palace when you look at our upcoming fixtures; Spurs, United, Liverpool away and Arsenal at home all within our next 6 games.
I would feel a lot less stressed to be on 22 points by New Years day. To do that we need 12 points from now until then; which I work out as wins against Stoke, Burnley, Hull at home and Swansea away.
But you know our results will look nothing like that; expect a surprising win against someone like Liverpool away and a crushing defeat at home to Burnley AKA the real ‘West Ham way’.
The big saving grace for us this year is how shocking the teams at the bottom look; Hull in particular are in freefall and it’s difficult to see Sunderland surviving.
My pick of the rest is Stoke. With the quality of the players we’ve got we shouldn’t be down there right now – and it seems as though the squad are slowly remembering that they are, actually, good at football after all.
We were lucky enough to have Danny Gabbidon on the KUMB podcast this week; a man who was on the team sheet the day we last got relegated from the Premier League, Wigan away 2011. It’s well worth checking out if you get the opportunity.
His description of the farcical times of the Grant era is a chilling reminder of how bad things can get at West Ham. Whatever we think of current results, it’s fair to say the team of today has a mettle that was clearly absent back then!
So to Chelsea in the league cup tonight, from “London Stadium to Stamford Bridge”… time to get used to singing a song you’ve never heard before… or maybe not. Interesting to see how we adapt to that!
COYI!!
I will happily take a 3 0 tonight, anything during normal time would be good so the players are still fresh on Sunday for the Toffeemen, would love us to get a win against them, we certainly deserve one.
Only one thing to say ::: COME ON YOU HAMMERS .
Talk becomes irrelevant with the Ball at your feet . So massive effort is needed tonight .
Looking forward to sleeping happily tonight after we put Chelsea to bed .
If we don’t ; then ok . We can still look forward to a reasonable season which I feel is coming after so much upheaval , what with Stadium , injuries ect ect .
We are known as bursting our own bubbles continuously ,, but tonight I feel the Bubble will be too big for Chelsea to burst . Tonight we make the LS our Home .
Pink Floyd , Gold over Gold .
Lol Kev, I remember how you were 1 year ago, you’re the good twin now… 😉 the C&H air must have done you good… lol your positive attitude is contagious 😉
Love over Gold , but you know what I mean .