Seeing the Liverpool goalkeeper head in their winning goal against the Baggies in the dying seconds of the game will have left many Hammers fans with that 'sinking feeling', and all that after seeing 'Tottingham' go above the Irons on goal difference as well!
Scrapping for a spot in the aptly named 'Europa Con-ference" Cup against Hammers rivals from North London wasn't on the agenda six weeks ago, just ahead of the International games fans were eagerly anticipating the final run in of what could have been the club's most successful season ever.
As so often happens, fate conspired to deprive the club of it's main asset, Declan Rice, and the rest as they say is history. There is no use crying about it, the price a 'small club' pays for the privilege of having their player represent their country can be disproportionate to that of other clubs with huge squads and virtually unlimited resources.
Over the years so many Hammers players have been injured, usually severely, while away on International duty, it's the same for other clubs, but it just seems that West Ham who do produce and sign great players suffer more than clubs of the same size.
Realistically, wherever the club ends up it will be far higher than anyone dared dream of at the start of the season, particularly after the first two games. The manager will have his players fired up for the remaining two games, because he knows it is in their hands exactly what European competition, if any, they end up competing in.
The Europa League is still definitely possible, it is a far preferable destination than the 'Con' Cup that would involve enormous effort for very little return. The relatively disappointing end to the season can still have a silver lining , results may need to go West Ham's way in other games, but at least the club is still in with a shout, right up until the last minute of Sunday's season closer, against Southampton, in front of the fans at the London stadium.
Of course the Elephant in the room is Big Sam, he whose team lost out in the last minute against Liverpool, he is NOT going to play nice is he? Why should he anyway? Failure to get a result up at the Hawthorns on Wednesday will not render Sunday's game as value less, but it would mean the difference between Europa and The 'Con'Cup. It is probably politically incorrect to say it nowadays, but, " It ain't all over until the Fat Lady sings!"- Ed
Comments
Or in this case the big fat
Or in this case the big fat douchebag!!
You just know West Brom are going to be bringing fire and brimstone. Ironically, they are bang in form and that Pereira bloke is mustard right now.
I have 3 irons players in my Fantasy team and toyed with the idea of bringing in Pereira. But no, cup half full I thought. I can see these rose tinted specs going in the bin soon!!
If West Ham do grind out a
If West Ham do grind out a result versus Fat Sam's West Brom then it would go down to the wire on the last day of the season. Spuds have to play Leicester who will be under pressure to take all three points for Champions Football. Southampton will be the better alternative.
If West Ham do grind out a
If West Ham do grind out a result versus Fat Sam's West Brom then it would go down to the wire on the last day of the season. Spuds have to play Leicester who will be under pressure to take all three points for Champions Football. Southampton will be the better alternative. Just something I noticed about the West Bromwich v Liverpool game. Now extra times was supposed to be just 3 minutes. It somehow got stretched to almost five minutes. Did not see any injuries to stretch it by two minutes. That is when Liverpool scored. Yet I noticed especially when West Ham played Everton, yes it was 7 minutes of extra time. There were substitutions, kind of fake injuries with going down and stopping the game, in addition to time wasting by Everton which the referee took exception to and looked at his watch as if to stretch the game by a minute or 2. But not a second was added to the 7 minutes.
excellent point Toronto, its
excellent point Toronto, its interesting that the "media" never pick up on this point. Yes, they invented Fergie Time but its never actually analysed and more importantly the officials are NEVER asked to justify the additions or the lack of seconds. A move to the Rugby system, Union or League, where the time control is taken away from the ref makes a lot of sense to me.
Whistle stops the clock...
Simple as and have been saying it for years...there's a lot of rugby over here, league & union and both are run by the refs whistle to stop the clock.
No such thing as injury time or subs time wasting. Plain and simple stop watch.
I'd rather have that, than the VAR Bullshine every week...
I tweet the FA and premier League often about it and also the strip colours. Being colour blind is a pain enough but watching teams with similar colours with little or no contrast ruins it. 10% of the male population in CB so you think they's per mindful, but sadly they don't give one...have a look at the Burnley Leeds game...why the wotsits were Leeds playing in a dark colour? They normally play in white ffs.
I rest my case as it falls on deaf ears, sadly.
Looking forward to the last two games. Shame there's no CL to look forward to, but hey ho what a wicked season its been. COYI x
good point on stop the clock.
good point on stop the clock. This was discussed on Football Focus years ago and all the "experts" said the game would last 3 hours.
My other beef is the lack of actual game time. Apparently the ball is "live" for no more than 23 minutes per half! On that basis we could be looking closer to 4 hours and that wouldn't sell Global TV rights.
I get that...
But what about trialling it in the Summer friendlies for a kick off.
How much time does VAR waste every game these days... I think the referees whistle should run the game, end of story....starting a petition ! ! !
For my 65th birthday my son
For my 65th birthday my son brought me a pair of colour correction red/green sunglasses..they are unreal, seing red and green properly is a unique experience. You can also get them for indoor use, they are particularly good for watching footie when both teams appear to be wearing similar strips.
Do you have to be diagnosed
Do you have to be diagnosed CB ? done by an optician?
No, you are generally either
No, you are generally either red biased or green biased, in my case it was red. The glasses aren't cheap, you can get pony ones on e-bay for around £15 but they are useless. The good ones cost between £60-120 but are worth every penny.
Specsavers?
I'll have to have a look at them....Boils my piss that they put the away colour closer than both home colours used to be, defeating the object completely and great for sales I bet ! ! !
Fat Lady is already back in her dressing room
In all honesty the champions league dream faded in the "double" against Newcatle, the double against Chavski which even Toucel called a "6 pointer". I have to say my interest in Europe stopped at that point. I have absolutely zero interest in the Thursday Night Euro Disney Cup, we dont have the depth of squad and the Unholy Trinity are already making excuses for a lack of investment in the next window.
I am however delighted with this season, Bugeyes has done a great job, its an absolute discrace that he never got Manager of the Month this season... Even Mourinho got it!
I have always said Mid table Mediocrity would be fine... Satisfied and looking forward to the New Season without playing Astra Zenica in the first round :o)
Nice 1 mate
Astra zenica our bogey side!;)
Apparently the WBA keeper
Apparently the WBA keeper fancies a move to the London Stadium. He might also fancy European football next season.
Whats the betting a scoreless
Whats the betting a scoreless draw tonight Chelsea foxes