Super Callum, Tom’s Fantastic, VAR’s Audacious

Late drama at the London Stadium and Molineux plus VAR controversy made it Saturday 3PM kick-off to remember as West Ham overcome David Moyes’ Everton to boost hopes of survival.

In the end it was an inconclusive set of weekend results as far as the relegation stakes were concerned. With three of the runners carving out victories, it is as you were but with one fewer round of games to play. And no clearer indication of who will claim the final drop spot.

Internet speculation suggests that wins for West Ham and Tottenham have dragged Forest, Leeds (and even Newcastle) back into the frame. But this feels no more than an extravagant talking point to me. Newcastle already have sufficient points (and goal difference) in the bag to keep them up. Leeds enough easy games – including trips to Tottenham and West Ham – to pick up the point or two required. While a Forest side with nine goals in their last two matches are highly unlikely relegation fodder.

What that leaves, of course, is the impending theatrical showdown between ourselves and the long-standing arch-rivals and nemesis from north London, Tottenham Hotspur. Good versus evil. Light versus dark. Right versus wrong. Jam versus clotted cream first on a tea-time scone.

In theory, destiny remains in our own hands. Win all the remaining games or out-point Tottenham and it will be them rather than us with the largest stadium rattling around in the Championship. But relegation battles rarely work out that easily. A slip here, a lucky break there, a bad injury, a Pablo goal, a bout of nerves, under committed opponents, and poor officiating. All are potential unscripted game changers.

As expected, Nuno opted for the same personnel and formation that has served him well since the January transfer window. This meant starting berths once again for the enigmatic pairing of Taty and Pablo. They move in mysterious, unconvincing ways but somehow it get results. No-one quite knows why, how or what purpose they serve other than their presence makes a difference. A little like your appendix or tonsils.

Incredibly, since being robbed blind by incompetent VAR officials in the home fixture with Forest, West Ham have accumulated 22 points from 13 games. Extrapolated to a full season this would equate to 64 points and possible European qualification. Not bad for a team of misfits – even if they are misfits with an exemplary team spirit.

The first half at the London Stadium was as cagey as they come. Perhaps no surprise with two managers who would consider a bouncy castle as the epitome of an extreme sport. A couple of quick Everton breaks which Barry was always going to miss. An enterprising Hammers attack, a teasing Jarrod Bowen cross, but with no Callum Wilson on the pitch to finish it off. That was as good as it got.

The second period started much brighter and with greater intensity from the home side. Within five minutes they had taken the lead. A characteristic high lunge assault on Taty by England’s Number One warranted no more than the award of a corner. Everton’s relief was short-lived, however, as Tomas Soucek rose above everyone else to glance home Bowen’s kick.

I’m generally conflicted by the value Big Tom brings to the team. How his limitations in open play balance out against his aerial contributions in either box, and his overall impeccable attitude. Right now, there is no-one better and the same rationale applies as it does to the inclusion of Taty and Pablo. Don’t fix what isn’t broken. Yet this was to be Tom’s special day. Even more satisfying than the most delicious potato salad as he followed up his opening goal with two superb clearances that looked certain equalisers

For a brief period after the goal it looked as if West Ham would press forward in search of a second goal. But it didn’t last for long. When Moyes made an uncommon early substitution, replacing a defender with a midfielder, the complexion of the game changed immediately. The Hammers dropped deeper and deeper. Nuno had nothing up his sleeve.

Everton sensed their opportunity. They were getting plenty of joy down their left-hand side where KWP struggled with the overload and the crosses rained in. The world and his wife knew an equaliser was on the cards, it was only a matter of time. Nuno eventually turned to his bench but never subscribes to the attack as the best form of defence philosophy. The extent of the game management was to pack the final third and hope for the best. It’s never worked in the past, but you never know your luck!

The tension grew. Tottenham had scored at Molineux. Around the stadium and in front of TV sets, knuckles were cracked, feet tapped, hands wrung, nails bitten, lips chewed, phones checked, teeth ground, and arms folded sternly. And then it happened. An Everton goal and West Ham were back into the bottom three. What a disaster!

Miraculously, the drama didn’t end there. West Ham did what they should have been doing all along and went back onto the front foot. The ball was worked across field to Malick Diouf. An excellent cross to the far post. An intelligent downward header back across goal by Bowen. The ball rolling in slow motion into the path of Callum Wilson. Right player at the right time. 2-1.   

Naturally, it wouldn’t have been a Premier League game without a few quirks and idiosyncrasies of VAR thrown in. In an era where there is an increasing arbitrariness to the decisions made by officials, it more often comes down to precedence and current practice than what is written down in the rule book. That’s why it was such a shock that the Fernandes ‘handball’ although unintentional was not given as a penalty. Yet Everton’s indignance could equally countered by the unpunished Pickford assault on Taty, and the blatant two-handed push by (the already booked) Garner on Axel Disasi. But with offences now only being offences in certain areas of the pitch, and subjective judgements routinely made on acceptable duration of a shirt pull, how long a challenge is deemed to carry on for, or the comparative force of any push, officiating is more lottery than understandable.

And where was the protection for Crysencio Summerville who was systematically fouled by a succession of Everton players throughout the game. Four Toffees finding their names in the referee’s book as a result.  

The whole relegation circus moves on to Brentford next weekend. The Bees have yet to play this weekend, but whatever happens at Old Trafford tonight they will still be in with a chance of European qualification. Everyone knows what to expect from their aerial bombardment and the keeper and defence need to be operating at peak concentration and bravery to keep them at bay. More importantly, Nuno must go there with victory rather than avoiding defeat at the front of his mind. It is an opportunity to put further daylight between us and the enemy who will be travelling to Aston Villa.

What might ultimately carry the Hammers through to safety is the outstanding spirit pulsing through the squad. It might make all the difference over the final few weeks. In the words of honorary cockney, Dick Van Dyke: “No where is there a more ‘appier crew, Than them wot sings, chim chim cher-ee, chim cher-oo.” COYI!

With Everton visiting the London Stadium this weekend, here is West Ham’s Five Game Survival Path

The Under the Hammers Supercomputer, Deep Block has nailed another one. We escaped Selhurst Park with a point. Views differ as to whether or not this was a good point, or whether it was a chance missed to open the gap over Tottenham to four points. Spurs also stalled. Their ridiculous celebrations when they went 2-1 ahead contributed to an additional eight minutes and hence Brighton’s equaliser in time added on. Their own fault you could say.  Forest and Leeds took maximum points. That combination matters because with only five to play, the maths are starting to bite. Leeds and Forest have daylight, while West Ham and Tottenham may now be arguing over one chair to finish seventeenth. Or are there more twists to come?

TeamPositionPointsCushion vs 18th
Leeds15th39+8
Nottingham Forest16th36+5
West Ham17th33+2
Tottenham18th310

Fixtures remaining (5)

West Ham: Everton (H), Brentford (A), Arsenal (H), Newcastle (A), Leeds (H)
Tottenham: Wolves (A), Aston Villa (A), Leeds (H), Chelsea (A), Everton
Nottingham Forest: Sunderland (A), Chelsea (A), Newcastle (H), Man United (A), Bournemouth (H)
Leeds: Bournemouth (A), Burnley (H), Tottenham (A), Brighton (H), West Ham (A)

So who has the hardest run-in? One way to look at this is who still has fixtures where they can realistically pick up an important three points. West Ham’s run is high-variance: Arsenal at home would seem to be the obvious near-zero / free hit but how are Arsenal going to react to their lead at the top disappearing? Brentford and Newcastle away are perhaps “one point is fine, three points is a steal” trips. Brentford, for example have now drawn their last five games whereas Newcastle have lost their last three. The saving grace could be Everton (this weekend) and Leeds at home. Two games where the stadium can drag us over the line, but only if we turn up. We are the only one of the four teams in question who have three of our final five games at home. Could this be an advantage? We certainly really need to win this weekend, and not losing is imperative. If it goes down to the wire as many predict then the final day could be a party or a very nervous affair. It depends what points are in the bank before then.

Spurs have the opposite problem with fewer obvious bankers and loads of “pressure fixtures” stacked together. Wolves away is the gateway; lose or draw that and Spurs are chasing away wins against Villa and Chelsea. And just like West Ham they face Leeds and Everton at home. If they are to survive they probably need to turn ‘not losing’ into winning.

Forest’s difficulty is top-heavy, and Deep Block believes they may have the toughest run-in of the four. Sunderland, Chelsea (if they can recover from their disastrous run) and United away are not the easiest of fixtures, and home wins against Newcastle and Bournemouth may be what they need to ensure safety. Their five point cushion may seem good at this point but if West Ham and Tottenham can win at the weekend and they lose then it may become nervous for them too.

Leeds have the biggest cushion and the game against Burnley at home could virtually clinch safety. They still have a big say with visits to Spurs and /West Ham so it’s not quite a done deal yet but very close to it.

So what is the current verdict? Leeds and Forest look the most survivable profiles because they have points already earned and perhaps at least one fixture you can pencil in as “gettable” without squinting too hard. The battle line is West Ham versus Tottenham for 17th. West Ham’s path is clearer if they can win home ground fixtures against Everton and Leeds and treat Brentford and Newcastle as bonus territory. Spurs’ path is narrower. If they don’t beat Wolves away, they’re basically asking to hit an improbable points target and hope that everyone else plays along. If they beat Wolves though and West Ham don’t win then it changes again.

Looking at their last five games and projecting forward to the final five then it would seem very simple. Forest have collected 9 points, Leeds 8 points, West Ham 8 points and Tottenham 2 points. On that basis, Tottenham remain by far the likeliest to finish 18th unless they finally turn a draw and loss streak into a run of wins starting immediately. But we all know it doesn’t work like that. Football is an unpredictable game. End of season games are perhaps even more unpredictable. Anything can still happen. COYI!

West Ham Struggle To Escape Choppy Relegation Waters As The Baroness Abandons Ship

A topsy turvy week in the West Ham soap opera where the Hammers fail to take advantage of a Crystal Palace side going through the motions while boardroom intrigue comes to a head with the sudden departure of Karen Brady

As the plot of the Premier League season drifts inexorably to the defining battles of its third climactic act, the cast of protagonists remaining in the fight for death or glory gradually trends towards two. At the top, it’s between Manchester City and Arsenal. At the bottom, it is West Ham and Tottenham.

Just one short week ago, we might also have been scrutinising the results of Leeds and Nottingham Forest. But both have hauled themselves clear of the drop, and barring a last-minute calamity, their safety is assured. We should assume the relegation stakes is now a two-horse race. Just like in the movies, the minions, henchmen and associates have each fallen by the wayside to setup a final one-to-one showdown.

On one side, the down at heel, drifter hero. Sculpted from the school of hard knocks; defined by grit, loyalty, chaos and occasional big moments. On the other, the tragic north London prodigal villain. Arrogant, deluded, condescending, promising the earth but repeatedly falling short.

Who will be the last man standing? It’s a question of nerve, spirit, camaraderie, effort and the ability to score goals. And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night, and he’s watching us all – with the eye of the striker.

The Hammer’s ongoing lack of cutting edge was to the fore again at Selhurst Park on Monday night. Goals were always going to be at a premium against Crystal Palace. Their games in the Premier League this season have yielded fewer goals scored at both ends (71) than any other club. Their goals against record bettered only by the top two.

But it was a good time to be playing the Eagles. Prepared to go through the motions in the league, the prospect of European silverware on the horizon, assorted injuries that wouldn’t be risked, and a soon-to-be departed manager. A priceless win was by no means out of the question.

Victory would have provided a massive psychological boost for West Ham. Providing extra daylight over Tottenham so that the gap was more than a three-point win. A goal was urgently needed during the Hemmers first half ascendency, but they were unable to find one. It was a stark reminder of the scant resources available to Nuno. Impossible to rely on Taty and Pablo as regular source of goals despite their obvious effort and nuisance value, the setup can only pay dividends if Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville are on their A-game. Which they weren’t. Summerville still finding his way back from injury; Bowen mysteriously out of sorts. No surprise that the Hammer’s best chance again fell to Dinos Mavropanos – who might have done better, as they say on the TV.

The introduction of Mateta, Sarr and Kamada on the hour mark would ultimately change the complexion of the game. The hosts now on the front foot. Nuno had no such luxury upgrades on his bench, and it became a case of holding out for a point. West Ham did make two late substitutions – Wilson and Kante on for Pablo and Taty – but the game, which offered little in the way of entertainment, fizzled out even further. A fitting game for the I Don’t Like Monday’s graveyard slot.

I doubt there has ever been such a short highlights reel as the one posted by the club on YouTube. No overtime for the media team this week after he video and social media splurge that followed the Wolves game.

Our thoughts now turn to the return of the Moyesiah for Everton’s visit to the London Stadium on Saturday. The Toffees are another of the sides whose games rarely feature a goal fest – a total of 79 for and against. Both West Ham and Everton have each managed just 40 goals in 33 matches this season, although the visitors have a far superior record for goals conceded (39 to 57).

They come to London with an outside chance of European qualification in their sights. One of a cluster of clubs still dreaming of Europa League or Conference football next year. It’s been a good season for the former Hammer’s supremo and illustrates how effective he can be with Alan Irvine beside him in the dugout.

The wind was taken out of the Toffees sails somewhat last weekend when Liverpool grabbed an added time winner in the inaugural Merseyside derby held at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Even more damaging was a probable season ending injury to defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

The main threat posed by Everton comes in midfield where the Hammers can be easily overrun. Although no Kendall, Ball and Harvey, they have very capable players in Garner, Ndiaye, and Dewsbury Hall. It could all prove too much for West Ham’s pivot of Mathias Fernandes and Tomas Soucek which sees the latter almost exclusively on sentry duty these days.

The other big news story of the week was, of course, the sudden departure of Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge from her role as Vice-chairman of West Ham.

While the news was universally welcomed by Hammers fans across the world and saw spontaneous outbreaks of cockney knees-ups, the timing of the announcement is very odd – with just a few weeks of the season remaining. Perfect breeding conditions for all manner of theories and reports about the future scandalous revelations and changes in the club’s ownership.

The fascination with Brady has always puzzled me. A business career based entirely on her role as David Sullivan’s fluffer able to create a TV persona that presented her as a powerful and successful businesswoman. Riding the slipstream like the Andrew Ridgely of W Ham.   

The statement put out by the club following her departure – signed by Daniel Kretinsky as Joint-chair – struggled to dig up too many notable achievements from her lengthy 15-year association with West Ham. Some guff about the London Stadium deal, shareholder transition and (for some reason) the British record transfer of Declan Rice.

As we now know, while the stadium contract might have been a great deal from a cost saving perspective, it is a millstone around the club’s neck when it comes to revenue generation. A massive own goal in an environment where revenues are increasingly the driver for assembling a strong and competitive squad.

The most plausible explanation for Brady’s exit, is that she finally fell out with Sullivan – probably over the disastrous appointment of Graham Potter. Our thoughts and prayers that he quickly follows her out of the door in the summer. With the B of ‘No More BS’ now out of the picture can the London Stadium generate an even greater buzz this weekend? We live in interesting times. COYI  

From Fragile to Manageable – West Ham’s Six Game Survival Path

The Under the Hammers Supercomputer projects the future.

West Ham’s survival maths has tightened again, but crucially, it’s tightened in our favour. The Under The Hammers Supercomputer, Deep Block, correctly called the Villa defeat and the Wolves win, and after that, and results elsewhere, the run-in now looks less like chaos and more like a plan. It’s in our own hands. We were right again, Villa away went as expected, Wolves at home had to be won, and was. Now at West Ham we have six games to save ourselves. And the pathway to survival is clearer than it’s been all season.

With six games now remaining, Deep Block has been rebooted once more. West Ham are still not safe, still not comfortable, but the survival picture is shifting from fragile to manageable. Since the last computer run, two fixtures have moved from projection into reality. West Ham lost 2–0 at Aston Villa and then thrashed Wolves 4–0 at the London Stadium. Both outcomes were in line with what the model expected, and that matters, because the difference between surviving and going down is often less about one surprising result, and more about reliably banking the points you must bank.

Villa Park was always low-probability for points, and so it proved. The 2–0 defeat was a blow at the time, but not a surprise, and not a result that rewrites the model. This was never the fixture West Ham’s season hinged on. You don’t build a survival plan around winning at a top-four side. You build it around what comes next.

That’s why Wolves mattered. And West Ham didn’t just win, we flattened them (at least in the second half we did!). In the original equation, Wolves at home sat in the “decisive” category, exactly the kind of game we couldn’t let slip. Those three points reduces uncertainty and reduces the number of “must-do” outcomes ahead.

The original model ran with twelve games to go. It predicted a draw at home to Bournemouth which was correct, a win at home to Wolves also correct, defeats at Liverpool, Manchester City and Villa, two correct and an unexpected free hit produced a point against City, and a draw at Fulham which turned out to be a win. We predicted that it was one of the away games where we could hope to turn a draw into a win which we duly did. So now we sit on 32 points, three points ahead of the original predictions, and two points above the bottom three with the run-in underway. We are last to play this weekend. Will we still be out of the bottom three when our game comes round on Monday?

Deep Block’s broad conclusion remains consistent with the previous run. The likely safety line sits around 38–40, which means West Ham are no longer chasing something outrageous. We are chasing a target that can be met with competent, repeatable outcomes rather than miracles. Weighting the final run-in correctly, home games like Everton and Leeds remain the true win fixtures, while Palace and Brentford away still profile as the likeliest draw opportunities, and perhaps even Newcastle too with their recent poor run. Newcastle’s recent form in the past 10 or 12 matches doesn’t match Leeds, Forest or West Ham. Statistical opportunities exist for wins in those three away games too. Deep Block’s value isn’t “perfect prediction”. It’s correctly identifying which matches are the ones that define our season, which are opportunities, and which are free hits.

1. Crystal Palace (A): Mon 20 April: Projection: Draw
Why: One of the away fixtures that still profiles as a realistic one point but with a potential to replicate what happened at Fulham. Palace have been on a run of winning every other game and drawing or losing the one in between. They won their last game, so a draw or defeat is likely if the pattern continues. They are stronger away from home, fifth in the away games league table, but just four home wins in sixteen games leaves them fifteenth in the home games table. Seven of their home games have ended in draws.

2. Everton (H): Sat 25 April: Projection: Win
Why: Previously identified as a decisive home match in the survival pathway. This will not be easy given Everton’s form with 10 points from their last six games. However, with just three home games to go, and one of those against the league leaders this game somehow has added significance for us, although Everton are one of several teams jostling for European qualification. They are strong away from home (fourth in the away games table) so we’ll have to be at our best as this is a game where we could slip up if we are not.

3. Brentford (A): Sat 2 May: Projection: Draw
Why: Still one of the likeliest away draw opportunities in the model’s framing. Despite their lofty seventh place in the league they have drawn their last four games. A realistic one point is achievable with a potential to snatch three, similar to the game at Crystal Palace. But Brentford have only lost three of their sixteen home games so no guarantees of any points here although the draw in the recent cup game gives us hope of another one.  

4. Arsenal (H): Sun 10 May: Projection: Defeat
Why: A higher-difficulty fixture where the model doesn’t need points. The key is not letting it derail the plan. Despite their apparent faltering form they have still collected 13 points from their last six games. But if we have faltered ourselves in the previous 3 games then we might need something from this which will be tough.

5. Newcastle United (A): Sun 17 May: Projection: Draw
Why: Our final away game and despite their current form with four defeats in their last six games, it could still be another tough one. A point is possible and an unlikely win would ease the tension, especially if the previous results have not gone to plan.

6. Leeds United (H): Sun 24 May: Projection: Win
Why: Alongside Everton at home, Leeds was already identified as one of the defining fixtures. Who knows whether they will be safe at this point and ‘on the beach’ or still fighting for survival? It’s too far ahead but the belief is that home advantage will drive us over the line. Leeds are eighteenth in the away table so relegation form on their travels but this week’s win at Old Trafford has eased the pressure on them and the win in the cup here recently shows an upturn in away form.

Below is a projection consistent with the model’s earlier weighting that there are decisive home fixtures, that away draws provide the most plausible value and the best chance of exceeding expectation, and acceptance that a couple of games are likely free hits:

If all goes to plan the projected finish is 41 points. Two wins, three draws and one defeat: nine points from the final six games. The last six games have yielded eight points. Matching these lands us directly in the previously stated “likely safety” band, and it does it without demanding anything exotic. But it could all go wrong still. The predicted wins might not happen, and the draws could be defeats. But one away win in the last three away games could compensate for that. But a predicted win that becomes a defeat reduces the projection to 38. Will that be enough?  

When we lost at home to Forest (perhaps controversially?) it didn’t look as though there was any way back and relegation seemed inevitable. The massive improvement since then has seen us climb out of the bottom three, keeping pace with Forest, and thanks to Tottenham’s decline moving two points ahead of our North London neighbours. But there are no easy games. We need our recent form to continue.

So let’s recap. The original model which ran with 12 games to go predicted a finishing position of 18th place and likely relegation. The likely safety line at that point was predicted to be 38-42 points and that still stands. Of course, it is not just our own results that will decide our fate but also those achieved by Leeds, Forest and Tottenham.

How far do you like to go back to consider current form? Deep Block has some alternatives for you. Points gained in:

Last 4 games: West Ham 7, Leeds 6, Forest 6, Tottenham 1

Last 6 games: West Ham 8, Leeds 6, Forest 6, Tottenham 1

Last 8 games: West Ham 12, Leeds 10, Forest 7, Tottenham 1

Last 10 games: West Ham 15, Leeds 11, Forest 11, Tottenham 3

Last 12 games: West Ham 18, Leeds 14, Forest 15, Tottenham 3

However far you go back it looks good. BUT! We are not safe or comfortable. Will Tottenham will end their disastrous run of form? We hope not, but can they really continue to be so bad? Will there be a new manager bounce? Have Leeds turned the corner with their win at Manchester United? Are they already safe with a six point cushion? And what about Forest? Their fixtures aren’t straightforward but surely they will pull a further three points clear this weekend at home to Burnley?

The computer projections are based on current form, historical data, fixture difficulty and multiple other factors. But football is an unpredictable game. End of season games are perhaps even more unpredictable. Like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates analogy, you never know what you are going to get. Football forecasting is not a perfect science. And this is nothing too serious. It‘s a bit of fun really. Anything can still happen. COYI!

West Ham Bulletin: Friday I’m In Love But I Still Don’t Like Mondays

A near perfect weekend of football sees West Ham escape the bottom three at the expense of Tottenham. The tussle to avoid the last relegation place is now looking like a three-horse race. Can West Ham carry recent good form into the remaining games?

The dream of a near perfect weekend of Premier League relegation football was rudely disrupted by Leeds victory at Old Trafford last night. The result provides the Yorkshire club with sufficient headroom to suggest the struggle to avoid 18th place is now a three-horse race between Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Tottenham.

The practice of stringing out the weekend’s fixtures over four days is a feature of modern football that I’ve never come to terms with. I can accept the rationale for multiple weekend kick-off times, but Friday and Monday games for your team leaves the weekend with an empty feeling. As the number of clubs participating in Europe competition has increased, these have become the Cinderella slots whose only purpose is to fulfil broadcast quotas for the less glamorous participants.  

In the past, it was only clubs such as Southend and Colchester who would dream of playing on Friday nights. Hoping to attract casual fans who would rather spend Saturday afternoons watching one of the bigger clubs in the capital. And while Monday once held a certain prestige in the earlier days of limited live televised games, that too has become more of a contractual obligation.

As a vaguely interesting aside, if your memories go back as far as the 1960s you might remember that West Ham would regularly schedule their early season midweek games on a Monday night (kick off 7:30). This would occasionally allow a day or two at the very top of the table courtesy of having played an extra game.

Anyway, even the negatives of the Friday night anomaly can be forgiven and forgotten when your team run out as 4-0 victors. It was not an expected outcome from the evidence of the opening exchanges where the visitors started much sharper and stronger – without necessarily creating too many clear-cut chances. The complexion of the game changed, though, with a perfectly timed Hammers opener on the cusp of half-time. It followed the game’s first corner which although initially cleared was played back in for Dinos Mavropanos to powerfully head home. The neck of the gods had done it again.

The second half performance evoked flashbacks to the swagger of the brief Moyes/ Lingard purple patch of 2021. A team playing on its toes, attacking with pace and imposing themselves on the game. It may have been a long time coming, but Nuno has finally hit upon a way of playing that magnifies the player’s strengths and conceals their shortcomings.

From the tireless running of Taty and Pablo, the liveliness of Bowen and Summerville and the strength and solidity of Disasi and Mavropanos. Where Soucek has been deployed in a simpler role where his slow tempo is not exposed; with Fernandes the reliable anchor and conductor; and Mads encouraged to use his superior distribution skills but without taking unnecessary risks. There are still weaknesses though. The formation allows the midfield to be overrun by greater numbers on occasion, the front players cannot keep up the pressing for a full 90 minutes, and we are one significant injury away from all the improvements falling to pieces. Survival will require both committed performances and a generous slice of good fortune.

Perhaps the most important factor is to ensure Max Kilman never gets anywhere near the pitch. No surprise that he didn’t make the bench on Friday. What to do with him though? Maybe ending up being passed around on loan like a recycled raffle prize for the remainder of his seven-year contract?

The rare convincing victory certainly gave a boost to the West Ham media team who, if my social media algorithm is anything to go by, have been posting daily celebratory posts as if we’d won the Champions League. A consequence of having so little to cheer for so long. Even the ‘Behind The Scenes’ crew managed to see action this weekend.

A further upshot of the weekend results is a first sighting of the old cliché that survival is in our own hands. This a consequence of Tottenham’s defeat at Sunderland leaving them two points adrift of the Hammers and without a league win in 2026. Yet when you are mired in a relegation battle having averaged only a point per game across the season, the idea of ‘being in your own hands’ is somewhat illusory. However, the simple fact is that winning more points in the remaining games than Spurs will keep us up and potentially doom them to the Championship – which would be a shame😉

Forecasting games is notoriously difficult at the tail end of the season. I watched the first hour of Crystal Palace versus Newcastle on Sunday and what a tepid end of season affair that was. Neither would provide an insurmountable obstacle if they offered the same lethargic approach against us. With Glasner leaving Palace and Howe surely on his last life on Tyneside how much will they be up for the games?

On the other hand, both Everton and Brentford are in with a shout of European qualification and unfortunately have more to play for than just mid-table pride. Then there’s Arsenal. Looking odds on for the title a few weeks back they are having a serious wobble. What situation will they be in by the time they face West Ham on May 10, a few days after a probable Champions League semi-final second leg clash?

Ideally, it would be great to go into the final day with nothing at stake. Last day survival bids are not good for either health or sanity. At least, it is highly likely that Leeds will have reached safety well before then.

What might happen over the coming week is pure speculation and with so many variables that it can only lead to madness. As my Scottish grandfather might have said: “If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there’d be no work for tinkers’ hands.” COYI!

West Ham Bulletin: Marathon Cup Exit, Keystone Kilman and the Pablo Paradox

West Ham’s hopes of taking the long and winding extra time needed road to Wembley Stadium came to a disappointing end in Sunday’s penalty shootout showdown.

Put the claret ribbon back in the loft. Cancel the orders for face paint and the inflatable Hammer. Stop worrying about the best route to travel to Wembley Stadium. There’ll no FA Cup glory for West Ham this season. The best chance in years of a showpiece semi – and/ or final – dashed in the penalty shootout lottery at the end of Sunday’s marathon encounter with Leeds United.

So, our name wasn’t on the cup this year despite all the minutes played. As in the previous rounds, it was a game of two halves with some extra bits tacked on the end. Now we can concentrate fully on the league. There were positives to take from the match, and we must dust ourselves down ready for another big game on Friday night. We will take each cliche as it comes.

News stories headlined ‘How to watch West Ham versus Leeds United’ never fail to amuse.  Surely, it’s obvious. Sit yourself down, face towards the pitch or TV screen with your favourite cold beverage or snack of choice to hand. Except that when it comes to watching West Ham, sometimes it’s preferable to look away to avoid undue disappointment.

The first half on Sunday was one of those times. Nuno had opted for a spot of squad rotation – either enforced or discretionary depending on your point of view – and resorted to the 4-2-3-1 formation which has rarely borne fruit in previous outings. Even more worrying was the appearance on the team sheet of £40 million, £100 k per week, seven-year contract, Lopetegui marque signing, Max Kilman. If you had feared the worst, then you weren’t to be disappointed.

In the opening 45 minutes, the Hammers were dreadful, dismayed and disjointed. And although Leeds were energetic and competent rather than outstanding, they were well worth their one goal lead at the break. Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa struggled against the opposition’s constant harrying and were forced into a succession of misplaced passes. Mateus Fernandes is never as influential when deployed in an advanced role. The experiment of Jarrod Bowen on the left was interesting but ultimately ineffective. And Taty was once again isolated up front.

At least Adama looked like he meant business. A series of powerful, snaking runs from the right threatened to cause panic in the Leeds defence. That they eventually came to nothing was not down to his own rush of blood on this occasion. It was regrettable that his team-mates did not think to bring him into the game more as an outlet.

The half time changes finally brought us back to the team Nuno should have started with. Tomas Soucek and Pablo Felipe on for Potts and Magassa. Bowen and Adama swapping wings and Fernandes dropping deeper to direct operations. It created a better balance and there was an obvious uptick in performance.

The Pablo Paradox is difficult to explain. Here is a player who makes minimal impact on the game with the ball. But his very presence, chasing and pressing somehow provides a setup in which others can flourish. The Hammers were a different team after the break.

As the game progressed, the only question was whether West Ham would find the breakthrough they needed to draw level. Kilman though had other ideas. Having got away with one reckless last ditch penalty box tackle in the first half, he opted for a 73rd minute reprise. It was so clearcut that it was a surprise that referee Pawson required the intervention of VAR before awarding it.

The second Leeds goal knocked the stuffing out of the Hammers. With no meaningful goal attempts fir the remainder of normal time, and large swathes of the crowd heading for a quick getaway, it looked like game over. Then all hell broke loose. Bowen’s shot thumped against the post but (for once) bounced kindly for Fernandes to reduce the deficit. Too little too late, perhaps? Only for Axel Disasi to prompt the wildest scenes at the London Stadium by steering home Adama’s cross.

The extra time momentum was with the home side and for a few moments we believed the turnaround was complete as Taty capitalised on a goalkeeping error to flick home. Cue ecstatic celebrations until VAR discovered an offside shoulder infringement in the build-up.

To think that if this had been a VAR free 4th round tie, there may have been no penalty and no disallowed goal. But then referees seemingly delegate more and more of their decisions to VAR whenever it is available.

West Ham finished the game in the ascendency. There were near misses but no more goals. As the minutes ticked by, thoughts strayed to who will actually take our penalties. Only Bowen and Soucek remained from the group who had dispatched the perfect set in the previous round. Was it wise to replace Taty at that stage of the game? To make matters more interesting, rookie keeper Finlay Herrick was called upon to replace the injured Alphonse Areola. No pressure on your senior debut for a player who doesn’t yet have a Wikipedia page. If his ability matches his swagger he will become an excellent keeper.

The shootout began promisingly for the Hammers when Herrick saved Piroe’s opening effort. A score from the reliable Bowen would surely provide us with a psychological advantage. But his poor spot kick was saved also. The next four were all scored.  

As Pablo stepped up for West Ham’s fourth, I’m certain we were all convinced he wouldn’t score. In a Family Fortune’s style survey, 100% would have given the same answer. Even Pablo’s body language agreed. At least he was brave enough to give it a go.

What effect being knocked out the cup – and taking 120 minutes plus to do so – will have on the team is a matter of speculation. Will the team spirit which inspired the astonishing late revival survive intact. Or will those extra minutes take their toll. The hope is that several important players will be fit and ready to return for the Friday night encounter with Wolves. Identified previously as the most winnable of the remaining games it’s now starting to look like a more formidable obstacle against a side who haven’t played for a month. But it is an obstacle which must be overcome if survival is to be a realistic outcome. COYI!

FA Cup Quarter Final, West Ham v Leeds. One step from Wembley

West Ham stand one victory from Wembley. Who would have believed that in this miserable season? The FA Cup has always held a special place in the history of this Club, with some of my best memories in the last 68 years tied to the FA Cup runs of 1964, 1975, 1980 and 2006. We won three of them and should have won the fourth too. Sunday afternoon’s quarter‑final presents a powerful opportunity to progress in the competition.

Progressing even further will be difficult to say the least with Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea all involved in quarter final matches and three of those are likely to be in the draw alongside the winner of today’s game when it comes to the semi-final. Nevertheless, it provides a trip to Wembley and a chance to build on the confidence gained in the last few weeks from a run that has picked up more points than those of our fellow relegation candidates.

I’m aware of those fans on social media who would be happy to forget the FA Cup this season and concentrate on the fight to remain in the Premier League, but those challenges will return soon enough. For now, our focus should be singular. Ninety minutes, and if required thirty more and perhaps penalties, separate us from a place in the FA Cup semi‑finals. The prize is clear and the stage is set at the London Stadium on Sunday.

This is our first FA Cup quarter‑final appearance in ten years, earned through a determination to progress in the competition, and to continue recent form in the Premier League, (although admittedly the performance at Aston Villa was poor). There are no replays at this stage of the competition. This is knockout football in its purest form. When the final whistle sounds, one club will continue its journey toward the semi-final at Wembley Stadium. Our aim should be simple and that is to ensure that Club is West Ham United. The penalties in the last round showed how much we wanted it.

Our progress to this stage has been built on resilience to continue in the competition. Victories over Queens Park Rangers and Burton Albion which both needed extra time were followed by a dramatic fifth‑round tie against Brentford, settled by penalties after a fiercely contested 120 minutes. It was a performance that captured the spirit of the squad, disciplined, committed, and united under pressure. We’ve had to fight for every inch in this FA Cup run.

The London Stadium has been an important source of strength in the second half of this season. We arrive in today’s tie having only lost one game at home in all competitions in 2026, and that was a game that we should never have lost against fellow relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest.

Leeds United arrive in East London seeking to extend their own FA Cup run, having reached the quarter‑final stage for the first time in more than twenty years. They are a committed, energetic side capable of pressing aggressively and challenging opponents physically. They will come here believing they can progress. But their record away from home is poor. They have only won one game in the Premier League away from Elland Road all season (that was at Wolves back in August), so their record on the road is not good.

The draw has been relatively kind to us this season, Win this, and although the odds are likely to be stacked against us in the semi-final, who knows? Come on you irons!

Indiana Santo and The Villa of Doom: Roof Collapses on West Ham Escape Plan

Defeat might have been expected in Sunday’s Villa Park encounter but it was the disappointing nature of the performance which raises serious questions about the Hammer’s survival credentials.

A pivotal moment in the genre of action-adventure movies – the Indiana Jones franchise popular in the 1980s and 90s, for example – is when the protagonists must navigate a series of perilous traps, rotating blades, and concealed pressure plates to avoid an ancient booby trap that would seal an inevitable fate.

The West Ham escape plan seems very much like that. Either by accident or design, Nuno had hit upon a balance of personnel, formation and style of play which, with a good following wind, might just get them out of trouble. The problem is that there is zero margin for error. Take away a single component, attempt anything in the wrong order then an ancient curse is activated and the ground beneath our feet crumbles to dust.

The bad news had already been received a few days previously. Crysencio Summerville, the talisman of West Ham’s current revival, had yet to recover from the injury picked up in the FA Cup tie against Brentford. Will we come to regret this half-time substitution? But there was even worse news to come.

When the teams were announced it was no surprise that Nuno had opted to start with the eleven who had wrestled a precious point from Manchester City a week earlier. The subliminal message was clear. Another point here would do very nicely. Let’s face it, away at Villa Park wasn’t high on anyone’s the list of winnable games. The only grain of optimism being the hosts poor recent run of form in the absence of several influential midfielder players.

Whatever the game plan was going to be, it was thrown into disarray when Jean-Clair Todibo was injured in the warmup. Assuming they had trained all week with a three centre-back formation in mind, the obvious solution would have been a like-for-like swap. But nothing says a lack of trust in your £40 million, £100 per week backup better than deciding to disrupt the entire plan instead. If he can’t be called upon for this type of emergency, why is he on the bench in the first place?

What actually happened was a repeat of one of those genius Nuno moments from earlier in the season. A plan which, in his mind, was imagined as a complex game of four-dimensional snakes and ladders. Aaron Wan-Bissaka man-marking Morgan Rogers, Jarrod Bowen filling in as emergency right back, and Pablo Felipe deployed in wide left midfield. With Pablo and Tomas Soucek about as mobile in midfield as a pair of clowns on stilts, the game was lost before it had begun. No structure, no cohesion and no goal threat. The trap had been triggered. Darts flew, tunnels collapsed, and a giant rolling boulder thundered towards the West Ham goal as Villa awoke from their slumbers awoke to rediscover Champions League bound form.

To think that a few years ago the two clubs occupied a similar position as hopeful pretenders to the rich six throne. Oh, what a sprinkling of boardroom competence and ambition can bring you in the right hands. In contrast, all we have learned (to our cost) from West Ham’s board is that incompetence not only makes them bad at running the club but also prevents them from recognising how bad they are.

West Ham’s resistance lasted barely 15 minutes. Villa had been looking to target Mads Hermansen’s obvious weakness and uncertainty in the air at set pieces. But it was an alternative and well worked passing routine from a corner that drew first blood. The ball ending up with McGinn on the edge of area whose curled shot evaded the desperate dive of the Hammer’s keeper – who should have done better in my opinion.

The closest West Ham came to a leveller was in the immediate aftermath. Taty failing/ not trying hard enough to get firm contact onto a Bowen cross. After that it was one-way traffic with only the heroics of Konstantinos Mavropanos keeping the score respectable. Quite how referee Paul Tierney saw the excellent tackle on Watkins as a penalty is indicative of the ever-declining refereeing standards. For once, VAR did its job – clearly and obviously.

Watkins would get the last laugh, however, scrambling home in the 68th minute to finally kill the game off. It was a textbook catalogue of West Ham errors. Bowen giving the ball away cheaply in the final third. Tomas Soucek so slow in tracking Roger’s run that even VAR had announced check complete before he caught up. And finally, Hermansen spilling Rogers’ tame shot into the delighted Watkins’ path. Game over!

There was just enough time remaining for a masterclass from substitute Adama Traore, showcasing his full repertoire of comical misdirected and overhit crosses.

In truth, it was a game that few expected to win. But nevertheless, it was a worryingly disappointing and passive performance from Nuno’s men. Yet, in the bigger picture; in the realm of take one game at a time management, nothing has been decided. The games that we might hope to win are still to come – home to Wolves, Everton and Leeds, away at Brentford and Palace. There are points still to win.

If something good can come out from the dreaded international break, it is the opportunity to get Summerville fit for the run-in. The future may depend on his recovery rate improving considerably on his previous seven-month absence.

Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest were the big winners from the weekend. Picking up three points from an unexpectedly comfortable romp at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. It turns out that reports of the north Londoner’s corner turning had been wildly exaggerated. They will no doubt now be looking for yet another replacement caretaker manager. What’s Ryan Mason doing now? Leeds will regard it as two points dropped against Brentford on Friday night.

Time to regroup then Hammers. The most recent battle was lost but the war is not yet over. As one well known presidential politician put it in a late night post:

“West Ham United, very underrated team, by the way. People don’t talk about them enough, but I do. I know football, maybe better than anyone, and I’m hearing VERY STRONG things about their survival chances. Very strong.

The so-called “experts” are saying relegation. WRONG! Total losers. They said the same thing about my many great successes and look how that turned out. West Ham has tremendous fans, really incredible people, and a beautiful stadium. London Stadium, fantastic place, I’ve heard.

They just need a little confidence, maybe a few better decisions from management (won’t name names!), and they will STAY UP. I guarantee it. People are coming up to me, big fans, tough guys, saying: “Sir, West Ham has plenty of bubbles left to blow.” And you know what? They’re right.“

MAKE THE IRONS GREAT AGAIN!

The Under The Hammers Supercomputer runs again – and the margins tighten further as West Ham travel to Villa on Sunday

With eight games now remaining, Deep Block has been rebooted once more. West Ham’s survival equation continues to shift, and while nothing is settled, the picture is becoming clearer. Survival is still far from comfortable, but it is increasingly realistic.

Since the last run of the Under The Hammers Supercomputer, one more fixture has been converted from theory into fact, and crucially it was one that was previously written off as a free hit.

The latest result that was added to the model is last weekend’s unexpected 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City. That was predicted to be a defeat and a free hit. That point matters a great deal. The original projection assumed zero points from Manchester City. Instead, West Ham added one unexpected but fully deserved point, further improving the underlying survival maths and continuing the recent pattern of outperforming expectation.

Across the four games now completed since the first model was run, West Ham have taken 5 points, compared to an original projection of 2. That three-point swing can make all the difference.

Just as important as West Ham’s own result was what happened elsewhere. And nobody pulled away from us. Last week Leeds drew, Tottenham drew and Nottingham Forest drew. In fact all six teams at the bottom of the table drew. For the second week running, none of West Ham’s direct rivals managed to create separation. That collective stalling is increasingly significant.

The bottom of the table now reads:

• 15th: Leeds – 32 points
• 16th: Tottenham – 30 points
• 17th: Nottingham Forest – 29 points
• 18th: West Ham United – 29 points
• 19th: Burnley – 20 points
• 20th: Wolves – 17 points

West Ham are still just one point below the lower safety line of one point per game. With eight matches left, Deep Block updates the numbers as follows:

• Likely safety threshold: 38–40 points
• Points currently held: 29
• Points required: 9–11 from the final 8 games

That equates to roughly 1.1–1.4 points per match, a rate that now closely matches West Ham’s recent form rather than exceeding it. The current form (last 6 league games) for the teams under consideration with points per game in brackets:

• West Ham 9 (1.5)
• Leeds 6 (1.0)
• Forest 3 (0.5)
• Tottenham 1 (0.2)

Even extending ‘current form’ to eight games the results don’t differ much. Points per game (last 8):

• West Ham 1.5
• Leeds 0.88
• Forest 0.88
• Tottenham 0.38

The margins remain tight, but the task is no longer extreme. Next up we travel to Aston Villa on Sunday, a difficult task but not meaningless. The fixture remains firmly in the low-probability column based on the season as a whole. Villa sit in fourth place in the table but current form is less impressive with just five points from their last six games, four points below our total. But Villa at home are aggressive, intense and well-drilled. It won’t be easy.

The draw against Manchester City has bought us a small amount of breathing room. This is no longer a game that must deliver points to keep hope alive. Instead, it is an opportunity to add further unexpected value. A draw at Villa Park would be an excellent outcome. Even defeat does not materially damage the model, provided West Ham continue to take points in the games that follow. The pressure here is asymmetrical: Villa need to win to justify their position; West Ham can afford to be pragmatic, compact and opportunistic.

Perhaps one of the most important fixtures of the weekend from a West Ham perspective happens elsewhere when Tottenham host Nottingham Forest. This is the definition of a relegation six-pointer between two sides struggling badly for form and confidence. So what are we looking for? A draw is perhaps the best-case scenario for West Ham, freezing both rivals in place. A Forest win drags Tottenham fully into the danger zone. A Spurs win prevents Forest pulling away but keeps Tottenham within touching distance. Either way they both can’t win and that matters. Incidentally Leeds are at home to an inconsistent Brentford side who are seventh in the table and have collected nine points from their last six, losing just once, results comparable to our own.

Leeds are often thought to be strong at home but have only won six of their 15 games. Tottenham have won just twice. Forest, like West Ham have collected more points on their travels than at home.

What has changed since the original supercomputer projection? The pattern is now clear. West Ham are picking up points where none were expected. Rivals are failing to capitalise on opportunities to escape away from us. The psychological pressure has subtly shifted up the table. Deep Block originally projected an 18th-place finish on around 37 points. Based on real results, that projection now sits closer to 40 – and crucially, with a far wider range of viable pathways to get there.

The original conclusions still stand. Wolves, Everton and Leeds at home remain decisive. Palace and Brentford away remain the most likely draw opportunities. If that all happened then we’d reach 40 points. But the margin for error has widened. West Ham no longer need everything to go perfectly. In conclusion the situation is still fragile, but increasingly viable. West Ham are not safe, we are not comfortable, but we are alive, competitive, and very much in the fight. We didn’t really expect that a few weeks ago did we?

With eight games to go, Deep Block believes survival is now genuinely achievable rather than merely hopeful. It may yet go to the final day. It may yet hinge on a single moment. And if it does, well, this is the West Ham Way.

The Fall and Rise of Nuno’s West Ham: A Path to Safety Or Too Little Too Late

The last two months has seen an amazing turn around in spirit and fortunes at West Ham. Will that momentum be enough to keep their heads above the relegation line?

Do you remember the coin pusher machines that were a common feature in seaside amusement arcades? Where no matter how many pennies you fed in, the moving tray refused to push the huge pile of cash over the edge and into the collection trough. Well, this season’s relegation battle is starting to take on a similar appearance.

This time last year, it was all over bar the shouting. Ipswich and Leicester were 12 points from safety and Southampton a further eight points behind them. In the final table, 26 points would have been sufficient to survive. This season, the pieces are far more reluctant to fall.

The weekend’s results were as inconclusive as it was possible to get. Leeds, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and ourselves each picking up a single point. Forest will be the most disappointed having dropped valuable points at home to Fulham. A point apiece for West Ham and Tottenham, however, probably exceeded expectations. But then, predicting the outcome of games as the season draws to a close and attention is focused elsewhere always becomes increasingly troublesome.

For the briefest of overnight moment, the Hammers managed to climb out of the bottom three for the first time since 30 November. While there’s no doubt the situation remains on a knife edge, it is West Ham who are the side with moment. Another great escape feels possible but, as they say, “there’s many a slip ‘twixt cup and lip”

When West Ham lost at home to Nottingham Forest on 6 January, it was their tenth consecutive game without a win. The Guardian match report opened as follows:

“West Ham are drifting towards the most gutless of relegations. The London Stadium was half empty on another dismal night, encapsulating the apathy gripping this miserable club, and it is hard to see a way out for Nuno Espirito Santo’s accident prone side after a combination of misfortune and dismal defending left them seven points below Nottingham Forest in 17th place.”

As well as being seven points behind Forest, they were eight behind Leeds and 13 behind Tottenham. Those gaps are now zero, three and one point respectively. The last six games table illustrates West Ham’s current momentum advantage. It is a period where the three rivals have won just one game between them – ironically Leeds victory over Nottingham Forest.

After the Forest defeat, many of us had already resigned themselves to relegation even if we didn’t say it out loud. Now, making the drop from the current resurgent position would be doubly disappointing. So, what has changed?  How did we progress from gutless performances and dismal defending to the fighting spirit and dogged resilience that was on show against Manchester City?

The answer lies in a combination of factors. The arrival of Paco Jemez, an adventurous foil to Nuno’s caution. The signings of Taty and Pablo allowing higher pressing and creating space for Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville to operate in. The introduction of Alex Disasi, a formidable presence in the centre of defence that has brought the best out of Dinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo. Indeed, a defence that was once Keystone Cops and is now operating with all the competence and precision of a Formula 1 pit crew is one of the biggest turnarounds in my personal football memory.

The clincher, though, has been the ability to take the field without Lucas Paqueta and Max Kilman in the side. For different reasons each was detrimental to the cohesion, unity and team spirit we now see on the pitch.

The bottom line is a system that suits the players. One that is aligned with capabilities, that the players can understand, and which has bred belief and confidence. The antithesis of Potter’s ‘here’s how I want to play regardless of whether you can do it’.

Looking back, it is unfortunate that it took so long to get here. The slow recovery under Nuno could still be our undoing if we cannot outrun our opponents as the season draws to a close. In that sense, the improvement mirrors the Great Escape season of 2006/7 where Alan Curbishley only managed six points from his opening 12 games in charge – including a first day victory.

I am already starting to experience pre-match tension at the thought of having to win on the final day to preserve our Premier League status. I’m really hoping it doesn’t come to that.

As Richard pointed out in his latest Supercomputer article, the Manchester City fixture was something of a free hit in the run-in. They are the one team we rarely get anything from even in the best of times. So, to come away with a point was exceptional despite the ‘needs must’ pragmatic approach to the game. A 100% goals to shots ratio is a rare occurrence indeed.

It was a tremendous effort from the Hammers and further endorsement of the spirit that now exists within the team. I find it intensely irritating when the click bait sites feel obliged to hand out a 3/10 rating to whoever they claim ‘stank the place out’ this weekend just to justify a headline. These are not fan sites!

As much as it was a team performance, Mavropanos and Todibo were both superb at the back with excellent support from Disasi, Diouf and Hermansen in goal. It is a solid foundation for the remaining eight games and the FA Cup adventure to come.

As far as Manchester City are concerned, they are well below the standards they have set for themselves in previous seasons. They are not yet out of the title race – with a game in hand and a home fixture with Arsenal to come – but the current side lacks the charisma it once had in the shape of Kompany, Toure, De Bruyne, (David) Silva and Aguero.

It’s possible that we are seeing the end of days for Pep Guardiola as City manager. I would love to see him prove his chops outside a big two club in any league. Just to see how good he really is without boundless funds to support him.

Next stop for West Ham is Villa Park next Sunday. The Villains have experienced a massive injury inspired slump over recent weeks and have a midweek Europa League tie in midweek to overcome. It might not be as formidable a test as it once appeared. If Summerville makes a return from injury, I could even be quietly confident. COYI!