Those who believe the Hammers season is over with the team nothing to aim for whilst remaining 100 per cent safe from relegation obviously don’t inhabit the same universe as Manuel Pellegrini.
Seventh place remains a big prize in his world as it gives the club a chance of the European football which has always been a part of his managerial career.
In our world it has been a dream but under this manager we can start to dream that this is soon to become the reality of life as a Hammer.
The Cardiff game at the weekend clearly offers the opportunity of another three big points with Watford and Wolves needing to be overhauled if we are to grab that position before the end of the season.
They currently sit four points in front of us in eighth and seventh places but with Watford at Manchester City and Wolves visiting Chelsea the chance is there to go level on points.
And Pellegrini insists it could be on to finish in the coveted position declaring: “We are not going to give up until we don’t have the mathematical chance to do it
Speaking to www.whufc.com he said: “We must go game-by-game, we have Cardiff away next and we will see at the end of the season which is the best team to arrive in that [seventh] position.”
He was delighted with the honouring of Billy Bonds and added: “We continued to celebrate with two players from the Academy scoring both goals. It was a complete day.”
He explained: “Declan is a young player, starting his career and he must continue to do what he is doing every day, listening to the players who have more experience than him that can help in his development.
“He is a complete player, and I said last week that for me in this moment he is the best English holding midfielder. The other important thing is that he is trying to learn every day.”
7th place is an achievable goal — plenty of winnable games left, and if the Irons can manage a point here and there against the likes of Chelsea, Spurs, and MU, then they will be in a good position for that last match against Watford.
Right now that home loss against Wolves is coming back to haunt us… Wolves with 2 less points and Irons with 1 more point would have helped quite a bit.
Seems clear to me that our best signing of the season by a long long way was Manu Pellegrini and his backroom staff. Not only has he restructured and considerably built the squad, changed and significantly improved the style of play, been very clear of what he expects indeed demands from the team he has taken no nonsense from any of our so called ‘stars’ (step forward Arnie). Plaudits to David’s Sullivan and Gold for acting and getting Manu on board. And when Pelle says he is looking at Europe and 7th spot I absolutely believe him – and getting there should give him extra funds for the transfer window over the summer so there’s the incentive……
Not 100% sure I’m right on this, but didn’t Watford win their first 4 games and thus we gave them a 12 point start? ..
Agree with Pelle, it seems Wolves and Watford are all benefitting from a good rub of the green, they are also playing good football so no sour grapes there but if we do not make it this season so be it, we should with good investment do well next season.
You get 4 points for a win in Wales then ?
Momentum is the key, we have three winnable games left in March so if we can get nine points from those we could go into a very tough April with confidence.
A tough ask but whatever way it ends up I think the signs are good for next season.