Forum | General Discussion

West Ham United have been tipped for relegation by numerous fanbases, as well as statistical sites, such as Opta - Whilst Nuno’s side are still in the relegation zone, we’re level on points with Nottingham Forest and three points away from Leeds, but many have suggested that if relegation occurred, players will be able to leave on the cheap…

With slow media and the rumour mill back up and running, it was bound to see a ludicrous relegation clause be implemented into the media, where there’s now a handful of other clubs who believe they’ll be getting their pick of the cherry in the event that the Hammers go down, how wrong they are.

There is indeed a clause for relegation… but this clause only relates to the player’s wages! A lot of Hammers players have a 50% wage reduction if the club do suffer from relegation, but in terms of exit clauses, that simply isn’t true.

West Ham United do not have exit relegation clauses for ANY players at the club.

It is, of course, inevitable that player sales will be made if relegation occurs, especially given West Ham’s financial situation at the moment, but clubs will not be sniffing out a clause to exploit, seeing as it doesn’t exist.

This news won’t come as much of a surprise to Hammers fans as it will to those of Manchester United, given that other sources have suggested that they’d be able to secure the signature of Mateus Fernandes for a price cheaper than what the club initially paid for him in the summer, due to the relegation clause.

It certainly will be a busy summer transfer window with a lot of exits planned to help West Ham’s financial situation, not to mention, business will also be swung in Nuno’s favour who tends to usually enjoy having a big squad with a lot of options, but for this to be achieved, a window of clear-outs and buying players on the cheap will have to be done - this of course all varies on what division West Ham find themselves in next season.

Championship or not, no transfer clause will be triggered.

How much heart-strain would you like, sir? Happy Hammers might’ve slept well, but that would’ve come at the expense of a few years knocked off the heart.

Against all odds and despite West Ham having such a woeful season, Nuno has managed to kickstart this club’s engine, and in 2026, we’re pushing to see where the limits are.

Nuno’s side initially perfectly started the game, a lovely looped in ball by Mateus Fernandes, headed down by the returned Pablo and placed in by Jarrod Bowen gave us an early lead - though it would last minutes.

Brentford found their fortune and made sure to use it. A header by their Captain, Collins, rebounded off the chest of Igor Thiago, which subsequently found its way past Areola, bizarre! Excitement occurred when screams of handball surrounded the stadium, but a VAR inspection concluded it was the chest.

Disappointment? The Hammers didn’t fancy letting it simmer. Adama Traore drew a foul, which concluded in the Hammers getting a penalty, though Andy Madley had his best efforts to avoid doing so - it was only the phone call from Stockley Park which triggered the review. Jarrod Bowen did what he does best and converted the penalty into the bottom left corner, sending Kelleher the wrong way.

Brentford should’ve had another penalty despite having one later in the second half. Mateus Fernandes stamps on the Brentford player, causing him to lose the ball and go down. How on earth was that not given? Brentford’s ‘dismay’ is West Ham’s ‘wheyyy’ as that is what rang round the London Stadium when the VAR check was dismissed.

As mentioned, Brentford did eventually get their penalty they should’ve had, after the Brentford player made a meal of Summerville’s shunt, in fact, it was a three-course one, that’s for certain.

Albeit, Igor Thiago’s brace sent Brentford to extra time, where neither side posed significant threats throughout, bar the ludicrous effort from range that Axel Disasi nearly scored, which certainly would’ve been a contender for goal of the tournament.

To penalties it was, where a certain side hadn’t been doing their homework, will people learn that, since the embarrassment of Lookman at Fulham, it’s not recommended to take Panenka against West Ham! Brighton also attempted this and that too didn’t work. They can be absolutely beautiful if they are pulled off, but if they aren’t, it’s nothing but disappointment.

Overlooking Brentford’s miss, West Ham’s penalties were absolutely sublime, world beaters. They were persistently thumped angelically into the back of the net, served with power and strain on the heart.

Nevertheless, neither Nuno nor we could admirably watch the penalty shootout, but the result has sent us into raptures. The victory means we will face Leeds United in the quarter-finals, while elsewhere, Manchester City face Liverpool!

Many fans would’ve been laughing had you told them they’d be close to the gates of Wembley just a couple of months ago, but that laughing comment has hatched into a possible reality.

West Ham will face Leeds United at home in the FA Cup between the 2nd and 4th of April.

West Ham United are set to take on Brentford on Monday night in the FA Cup fifth round, but given the circumstances, could Nuno decide his line-up based on the next round?

West Ham will be the last game to commence in the fifth round of the FA Cup, meaning that all other teams would’ve been decided by the end of Sunday, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City already confirmed to be through at this moment in time.

Due to the fixture taking place on Monday night, the draw for the Quarter Finals will take place BEFORE West Ham take on Brentford.

Given West Ham United’s situation at this moment in time in the Premier League, playing an extra game isn’t necessarily ideal, but if an entertaining cup run can provide players and fans with further hope, then why not go all gung-ho!

But… that all depends on which team West Ham get in the next round, hypothetically speaking, if the ball was drawn and West Ham got Manchester City away, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising to see a sudden weaker side being played against Brentford, but if a favourable draw was made, perhaps some willpower would be used.

For the select few that are concerned about the extra games, let it be assured that all relegation candidates forcibly have extra games, ourselves and Leeds United are still both in the FA Cup, whilst Spurs and Nottingham Forest have to endure a double leg in their respective European competitions, a minimum of two games, with that possibly being four or more.

All confirmed teams in the FA Cup through to the next round will be confirmed by the end of tonight, barring West Ham or Brentford, and tomorrow the draw will take place around 19:00, an hour before kick off.