Now it’s Watford on an uneven playing field

By CandH’s top blogger Allen Cummings

I’m not  a betting man but at the beginning of December even I would have fancied putting a few quid on West Ham to beat Watford on Tuesday.

We’d been literally flying in the Premier League, while the Hornets were struggling and looking stingless on their return to the big time.

But now as we approach the end of the month I’m not so sure. I’m the most optimistic of Hammers – glass half full never half empty – but the match odds have change dramatically in the last few weeks.

The level playing field we all demand of the Premier League is now looking anything but with covid related postponements wreaking havoc with the fixture list.

As we stand right now David Moyes’ team are no doubt still trying to shake the tiredness from their legs after the roller-coaster ride, and eventual defeat at the hands of Southampton on Boxing Day, that encounter being our sixth game in just 25 days.

The Saints having arrived following an 11 day break after their last game. Meanwhile Watford will welcome us to their patch after an even longer 18 days break to rest their tired limbs, their last game being against Brentford on the  10^th December.

Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp, two of the biggest and loudest voices in the league, with two of the strongest squads, have both spoken out at the demands being placed on their players while Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has used the word ‘integrity’ when questioning the events surrounding the fixtures and who they have favoured – or disadvantaged.  Club captains and in particular Jordan Henderson, have been highly critical.

Vladimir Coufal touched on the subject too in his comments after the Southampton game. “In this period the schedule is like any other Christmas period, “ said Vlad before  adding “unfortunately this time it is more difficult because some teams have a rest, some teams are playing.”

The trip to Vicarage Road will be our eighth competitive game in the month of December – Watford will be playing their fourth – just half the Hammers’ workload.

To his immense credit David Moyes hasn’t used the horrendous fixture list as an excuse for what has clearly been a disappointing month for the team but I think in the circumstances we should cut him and the players some slack.

Moyes will send his troops out to fight another day, with the hope that we don’t get another performance as disappointing as we saw in the first half on Sunday. He’ll be banking that the togetherness and spirit which has been such a feature of our play this season will surface again to see us through.

A few weeks ago I’d be looking to take all three points. In all honesty right now I’d happily settle for one and a chance to settle the ship!