A draw or a win on Monday night will see the Hammers finally stir themselves from nineteenth spot where they’ve been anchored for weeks thanks to the international break. Even three points, though, will only see Nuno Espïrito Santo’s team elevated by a single place, above hapless and manager-less Nottingham Forest who have currently the same goal difference as West Ham.
A win would see the Irons draw level with Burnley on points but without scoring four, not overtaking their better goal average.
The saga going on at Nottingham Forest looks set to continue with Sean Dyche looking the odds-on favourite to succeed Ange Postecoglou who now inherits the unenviable crown of ‘shortest reign ever’ as a Premier League manager.
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The Tricky Trees’ saga almost looks West Ham look like a ‘normal’ club: From the outside looking in, it surprises me that the fans aren’t yet in open revolt against their maverick owner’s increasingly accident prone decisions at the helm.
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Don’t for one minute though rely on ‘Forest to be cannon fodder at the foot of the table come the business end of the season. Eventually someone will repeat Nuno’s good work and get a tune out of their high-quality squad and the midlands side will likely pull away.
If West Ham cannot get their own house in order and start fixing years of terrible recruitment, relying on a lame Nottingham Forest to fill one of the relegation places will be folly.
Last year West Ham were saved simply owing to the lamentable performances of the three newly promoted sides. On first showing, that will most certainly not be the case this season with Sunderland surpassing all expectations. Chairman David Sullivan needs to take a long, hard look at the table and be ready and willing to buy.
The customary low ball offers and declarations that ‘we tried’ when the January window comes around didn’t work last year and if repeated again, will more than likely see the Irons’ condemned to the bottom three.
And that’ll be a whole load of financial trouble for the board.