Forum | Non-Football Related

The Blades, Burnley and Crystal Palace all helped West Ham's push for a top four spot by taking points of other top of the Barclays Premier League clubs. Aston Villa lost to 10 man Sheffield United, Burnley drew 1-1 with Leicester and Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Manchester United.

Villa's unexpected loss removes their game in hand from the equation, and Leicester's dropping of two points, and even also United's loss of points might still have some bearing of the final outcome of what will be a tightly contested top four shoot out.

Liverpool and Chelsea play each other tomorrow, and either way one of the teams will climb above the Irons irrespective of the outcome, and as the numbers and algorithms get more and more concertinaed as the final dozen match days occur, a draw would be the best outcome for David Moyes as he sets his team up for the tricky and possible seminal game against Bielsa's Leeds United.

Everton are the other club who can technically go above West Ham, they play the Baggies tomorrow as well, it is to be hoped that Big Sam can do himself and the Irons a favour by taking points off the Toffees.

Day 1 of the wait before Hammers next game, results have gone well, where the club will be in the League by the time the game kicks off against Leeds is anybody's guess, but at least results have bee kind so far, well done the 'BBC'. -Ed

Conspiracy theorists who were around in 1986 might just be starting to feel a little bit of deja vu as Hammers begin their final run in of the Barclays Premier League season. For those too young to remember, or those who weren't even born then, here is a brief resume˘of what occurred.

Believe it or not West Ham were top of what was the old first division, ahead of both Liverpool and Everton, the season was already unique in that there were NO broadcasts of any top flight games due to an impasse in the negotiations between the FA and the Television companies over broadcasting rights and revenues.

As the season drew to a close there were many fixtures that were back logged due to the fact that there had been a very harsh winter, as a result of which, the schedule dictated West Ham had to play three games in six days, which was bad enough, but worse was to come in the form of a 'happy clapper' agreement between the Mersey side clubs that saw them draw when they needed to, in order to ensure Hammers were unable to retain their top slot.

Had football been televised that season, such rescheduling would have been brought in to question, but as the owners of Liverpool at the time, the Vernon family, were also incredibly well connected with the powers that be at the FA, the situation was glazed over without so much as a whimper from the Irons hierarchy at the time, rumour has it that certain shares changed hands between the Cairns family and the Vernons around then, members of staff at the Boleyn who questioned what had gone on were summarily dismissed.

Yes the current fixture list looks further distorted by need to play the outstanding FA Cup fixtures, and the International break. In May the boot will be firmly on the other foot as West Ham have to play a series of 'catch up' games in a very short period, like most mangers, David Moyes would have preferred to have the games evenly dispersed, but alas it is not to be.

Perhaps dropping out of the top four won't be a particularly bad event, it would enable Hammers to sneak under the radar again, and maybe teams will start to underestimate what they are going to be up against in the final dozen games of the season again.

There is nothing fans, players or staff can do to stop other results from happening, it is to be hoped by the time Hammers play their next game, which is at home to Leeds next Monday night, that they will be closer to 4th than 9th in the Barclays Premier League table. - Ed

Glenn Roeder sadly passed away today at the terribly young age of 65, he had been 'medically troubled' ever since having the need for surgery to deal with a brain tumour while he was the manager of West Ham. He returned to the dug out seven months later and endured torrid abuse from the supporters of some visiting fans, and unfortunately from some home fans as well, they know who they are!

Roeder led West Ham to a seventh place finish in his first term as manager, and should probably taken a bit more time off after his initial illness, but he was determined to return to what he loved, football. Some Hammers fans nicknamed him Glen Rodent, due to his fine dental attributes, but all recognised that he was a fighter.

Our condolences go out to his family, loved ones and friends, Glenn Roeder 1956-2021 R.I.P