ClaretandHugh follower Good Old Daze has probably summed up the feeling of most in a post on the site’s website when discussing the next three games faced by the Hammers.
Playing the prediction game is always a dodgy old business – particularly around this time of the year – but Daze’s view seems about right to us.
He said: “I think the next 3 games against Brighton, Southampton and Everton will shape the rest of this season.
- 7-9 points will show we’re serious top half contenders (7-10th place)
- 5-6 points show we can expect a worry-free mid-table finish (8-12th)
- 0-4 points means we’ll still have to be looking over our shoulders (11-14th)
Personally, I’m going for six points. If anyone would have forecast our current situation 12 months ago, I would have jumped at it.
Steady progress and more to come from Moyes and his team. I’m looking forward to the next 12 months – and crossing my fingers that Antonio comes back asap and stays fit. COYI.”
Not the first time my predictions fall flat … I also predicted there was no way Noble would start today. Oh well …
Saul called the Chelsea match correctly and both Everton and Southampton are flying. If Antonio is back, alternating with Yarmo or Bowen as striker, and we can revert to 3-4-3, then we will do better than 4. If we play 4-4-2, we may scrape away a 4.
I agree with Saul that an away win at either Southampton or Everton would be tough and am still trying to work out why we play so badly against Brighton but hope that we can win today – I really think that 5 games in 3 days is madness and if we can escape from that with 4 points and no serious injuries then I will be happy
As for today I know that there have been good arguments made for Haller to be dropped, but if he plays I will be rooting for him to play well and score
COYI
I think 4 points would be a good return, 5 points would be great.
Everton and Southampton are two of this season’s form teams. To get points away at those two teams would be a very solid structure to start the New Year on.
Brighton are somewhat of a bogey team for us over the last few years and could be a tricky customer.
Tough to call these three games, especially as we don’t have a large squad to cope with 3 games in 5 days.
I’m going for a W-D-L. I wouldn’t be unhappy with that.