Europe Hope Up In Smoke?

We had a bad, bad feeling at The Org ahead of the crucial game against Everton, and unfortunately those thoughts came to pass. The team selected to play against the Toffees was the same one that had just dismantled Burnley, so there couldn't be many who would have doubted the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it philosophy ahead of the game.

But for the want of...it should be remembered this was as close to a full strength team as Hammers meagre squad could provide, albeit without the services of one of the best defenders on the planet! Not only that, a team devoid of a defender capable of bringing the ball out of the back with intelligence and aplomb, in the form of Masuaku.

The absence of Rice in particular has had a collateral effect on the team, without him in midfield Tomas Soucek is unable to make the probing runs from midfield that had become his trademark, covering for Rice's absence has virtually nullified his goal scoring opportunities.

Both Rice and Masuaku were key components in the team that ripped others apart during Hammers early 'golden years' part of the season, never the less, the visitors out thought and out fought Moyes's team, and as a result realistic hopes of obtaining a Champions League place have all but vaporised, just like our dreams, how prophetic?

There is no point in indulging in the blame game, the club have come up short when the business end of the season arrived, the players did put in a shift today, maybe not up to the high levels that they attained in the past, and possibly had it not been for the width of the woodwork, and a Said Benrahma effort not quite hitting the target things might have been different.

The next 'target' is to get in to the Europa League at the 'top table', as opposed to having to play endless qualifying games, a scenario that Hammers' squad, despite any summer reinforcements would find hard to navigate. - Ed