“We were really close” claimed Nuno Espírito Santo after West Ham’s goalless draw signalled two points lost and an opportunity to draw level with Nottingham Forest dissolved in the London Stadium rain last night. The chances to ‘escape’ the relegation zone will diminish as the number of games ticks down and for West Ham, this may be one of those small signposts on the way to relegation that only become apparent when viewed in hindsight.
Despite the gloom, the guardian.com manages to find an upbeat tone to their prognosis:
“Their side’s continued resurgence does provide some encouragement for the home fans, however. From a position of hopelessness in mid-January, West Ham have lost just one of their last six league games, and the gap to a safe position is down to two points, at least until Nottingham Forest host Liverpool on Sunday.
That is something to take heart from despite the fact they largely overwhelmed a Bournemouth side whose unbeaten run extends to seven league games.”
Of course, as a snapshot of current form, that may be true. Hermansen unrecognisable from the shaky, flappy keeper of September. A back four that can stay solid all ninety minutes. Nuno has done a great job of fixing the broken West Ham defence.
But without winning six of the next eleven, financial disaster and second tier football awaits. As the storm clouds grow bigger in the boardroom ahead of the seemingly inevitable thunderstorm which lies ahead, events on the pitch might just not be enough to turn Nuno into West Ham’s saviour.
Much depends on Liverpool, this week and next. Which is a perilous state of affairs.
Nuno’s words start to sound like an epitaph for the season:
“That is the feeling that stays with us – that we feel it is almost there for us to take – and we didn’t take it.”
Fair enough Matt just me being a grumpy old man
The problem summed up exactly, Martin. This team has made great strides – & has been somewhat unlucky with recent results eg Man U – but the situation has not really improved much for us; we are still chasing the pack &, in particular, Nottingham Forest. The further problem is that the teams we are closest to & which we could conceivably catch – Leeds & Forest – are also picking up points. We could do it, but it is a big ask. My opinion is that – regardless of our improvement – we have left it too late. I hope that I am wrong, because we have the makings of a good side; which would be lost if we are relegated.
Premier league last 6 form table – Bournemouth 4th, West Ham 5th, so a draw not unexpected. (Even better news- Spurs are 19th!)
We don’t necessarily need 6 wins, 5 plus a couple of draws will do. Of our next 4 games I think it possible to pick up 3 points against Fulham and Brentford.
Would agree with that assessment we need to have our future in our own hands by the last day of the season. Brighton are now realistically out of reach, probably it is us, Leeds, Spurs and Forest in this battle arguably Palace though I suspect they will get enough points.
What I am happy about is that we look solid now, Rayan had that unbelievable run yesterday but apart from that we kept Bournemouth to mostly long range shots and set pieces all of which were hoovered up by Hermanson.
We created enough good moments that with a bit more composure we should have won, it’s difficult to win against Liverpool at Anfield but we have done it before and will need to try hard too again though a point would be also a great result.
If we keep picking up points that’s the best we can do, Leeds will be disappointed as we were against Utd they didn’t take 3 yesterday if we are within 2 of them on the last day of the season we would have to fancy ourselves, am mindful we have to find the extra that is missing which has cost us 20 points this season from winning positions but also can see we are moving in that direction and if that continues we are giving ourselves a great chance COYI!!!
I don’t see how we fancy ourselves at Leeds on the last day if they are 2 ahead of us, number 32. Right now they are a better team than we are. They have been unlucky in the last few games to come out without wins and Farke has found a formation that suits them. Even if we need a draw at Leeds on the last day i don’t think we’d get it. I think the best option for us is if Leeds are safe and we need to get points rather than them be in the mix to go down too (outside of us already being safe that is!).
I don’t think we go into games against the top teams with as much fear as in the past, however, i think there are points to be had against Liverpool and Villa
Great result against a TOP team ….🙏🏻👀
I’m positive Mike! Thought it was a decent performance. Shame we couldn’t do a bit more with some of the chances and positions we got into, but that just says to me that there’s still room for improvement and with a couple of tweaks, we’ll start scoring more. Thought every player did well, just maybe Bowen, Summerville and Fernandes need to hold onto the ball a bit less at times. Missed chances to play in Taty and Diouf. Need more crosses from Diouf too!
Bournemouth are on good form, that wasn’t a bad result it was another point. We have been catching both Forest and Tottenham for a number of games now, as things stand we are running both of them down.
Both have difficult games today and after this weekends games it might well be that we’re one point closer to both of them.
Both of them have sacked the manager is a roll of the dice that needs to pay off for both of them to be a detriment for us.
If things keep going as they are we will run both of them down, it takes the situation to change for that not to happen, for either us to get worse or for both of them to get better.
The real issue for me is that we should not be in this vulnerable position
I don’t think we can blame any one thing for yesterday not winning apart from Sullys continued lack of investment over the years. Consequently we don’t have a good striker that can last 90 minutes. We are now much more difficult to beat whilst also becoming more entertaining. I think Hermadsen look better because of the defence
If the cheapskate owners would’ve invested or loaned decent defenders and attacks last summer, we wouldn’t be in this mess.
They gambled on the fact that the 3 promoted sides often go straight back down. So, they did the bare minimum in terms of recruitment.
It’s backfired on them big time, and this is what they deserve.
Same all season…needs to win this game,need to win that game and never do. Games lost from winning positions, we can bemoan but these are the facts and we are where we are because of it. I keep my fingers crossed.
Nice to see everyone being positive as usual