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Post by empresstouch on May 20, 2023 7:29:36 GMT
In one of the most compelling of relegation battles in living memory, for all kinds of reasons, one club’s name has been mentioned, but not in the context it perhaps ought to be.
Standing six points and three places above the drop zone, with an eleven goal differential advantage on Leeds United, most pundits and observers re considering them safe, leaving Nottingham Forrest, ourselves and Leeds the pleasure of trying to avoid following Southampton and (in all likeliness,) Leicester City.
Two fixtures to play out. An eleven goal differential in hand. More-or-less an opponent needing to generate three snookers out of you on the green baize, so to speak.
“Not likely..?” Think again.
The two clubs in the ‘goal differential’ equation face off this Sunday in east London, with the Hammers (not so) fresh from the adrenaline buzz of reaching a European club competition final for the first time in their history. Except recent Premier League results would suggest a little too much (if not complacency), an exuberance of confidence that they ‘have done enough’ to deserve ‘the right’ to coast to the finish line.
And except their final home fixture is against… Leeds United, in 18th, but with only two away Premier League victories to their name all of 2022-23.
So, whilst form doesn’t necessarily look good on either foot, the fixture represents the best possible opportunity for the club Everton – according to most – should fear being overtaken by – to catapult from 18th to 15th by 6pm on Sunday 28th May. (West Ham closing their season out in Leicester, whilst Leeds hosting a fast-fading Tottenham.)
Those Hammers dropping from 15th to 18th, all on the assumption Everton were to take maximum points at Molyneux and at home to Bournemouth, coupled with Forrest a perfectly feasible four from a home fixture against a burst-bubble Arsenal, before concluding at Palace’s Selhurst Park – all in dependency of Leeds beating the Londoners by an absolute minimum of three clear goals (a differential swing from -11 to -5), more realistic a necessity of four clear goals (a goal swing from -11 to -3).
You’d think somebody would’ve told this to Mr Moyes, if he wasn’t already aware that the job isn’t yet done. 7-0 at Highbury, 2005..? It’s HIS players who have to see the job through...
So, whilst many of the legal and political chess-matches taking place in and out of the public domain haven’t mentioned West Ham in the ‘r’ word sense: to conclude this pre-analysis – who has been promoted to the Premier League for the 2023-24 season ahead?
“Burnley?”, well yes, of course. And..?
Remember the 2006-07 season climax that saw [you-know-who]’s Carlos Tevez score a solitary goal at Old Trafford – three priceless points Sheffield United wanted deducted over that very player’s transfer dealing?
Oh, politics – with a very big ‘S’. These are the days…
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Post by Avinalaff on May 20, 2023 16:57:02 GMT
99th minute goals are too much for my mental health.
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Post by rugbytoffee on May 20, 2023 18:21:02 GMT
My worry is both Leeds and Leicster have to play the Hammers - and their mind will ne elsewhere.
Still we deserve to be where we are and we can only do our bit - but it is gonna be a stressful watch
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Post by jimmy on May 26, 2023 13:35:21 GMT
We could survive with 33 if the others get beat. It will probably be a record. If we go down on goal difference it will hurt the most.
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Post by halewoodblue on May 27, 2023 8:50:18 GMT
We could survive with 33 if the others get beat. It will probably be a record. If we go down on goal difference it will hurt the most. Think 34 or 35 is the record, WBA, A few years ago
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