19 | May | 2021 | EXTRA TIME

Archive for May 19, 2021

Coming from behind – up to 6th again!

On the penultimate matchday West Ham already knew before kick-off that Spurs had lost their earlier game against Aston Villa 1-2. But when Declan Rice missed a penalty and West Brom took the lead, things didn’t look bright for the Irons. However, the Hammers didn’t give up and with their three goals scored, and this priceless win, West Ham are back in the driving seat now! They only need a draw against Southampton on Sunday to secure a spot in the Europa League!

A point at home to Southampton would ensure sixth spot for West Ham, a finish above Spurs (for the first time since 2008) and a place in the Europa League group stage. It would also mark the Irons’ highest league position since 1999 when they had finished fifth with a team including Paolo Di Canio, Rio Ferdinand, Julian Dicks, John Hartson, Paul Kitson, John Moncur, Trevor Sinclair, Ian Pearce, Ian Wright, Steve Potts, Shaka Hislop, Steve Lomas, Joe Cole, Eyal Berkovic, Marc-Vivienne Foe, Marc Keller, Scott Minto, Neil Ruddock and Frank Lampard. In the 1998/99 season Manchester Utd won the Premier League and the Hammers in fifth could celebrate 16 wins and amassed 57 points.

May 19, 2021 at 10:45 pm Leave a comment

Supporters, as well as friends, are welcomed back

Supporters will not only be back in the stands by next season, a reduced capacity of seats is already allowed to be filled in the penultimate and the last round of this season’s Premier League. In their upcoming two games the Hammers have to win twice and also need “A little help from my friends”, at least from one of Tottenham‘s opponents, to secure Europa League football.

Thanks to easing the COVID 19-restrictions in England, in the penultimate and the last round of the 2020/21 Premier League supporters can come back into the grounds. However we’re far from full capacities being allowed, e.g. 7,500 (25%) of seats are going to be filled at The Hawthorns when West Ham travel to West Brom for their last away game of the season tonight.

When the game starts, West Ham will already know Tottenham’s result against Aston Villa. Spurs are level on points but have a superior goal difference over the Irons and therefore sit in 6th which means they would play in the Europa League next season. The club in 7th will earn qualification for the inaugural European Conference League.

To leapfrog Tottenham, West Ham would need “a little help from my friends“ in claret & blue tonight or from Leicester on Sunday. In the last round Spurs will be hosted by Leicester which are fighting to qualify for the Champions League and could lose this spot to Liverpool if they fail to get points from that game, following their defeat to Chelsea last night. The Hammers are going to welcome 10,000 supporters and Southampton at London Stadium for the last match of this extraordinary season.

With a Little Help From My Friends
https://youtu.be/awBy_K30Pe8

With four points from the remaining games West Ham couldn’t be pushed away from the Conference League spot by Leeds, Everton or Arsenal, the clubs behind them. But to leapfrog Spurs and climb back into a place in the Europa League, the Hammers have to win their games and need help from Aston Villa or Leicester in their matches against Spurs.

I well remember that 2006 West Ham beat their London rivals in the last game of the season to deny them a place in the Champions League. It would be no mean feat for West Ham to qualify for the Conference League just one year after just avoiding relegation, but to come off ahead of Spurs and occupy one of the Europa League spots would really be a great finish to an unexpected successful season.

Come on you mighty Irons!

May 19, 2021 at 3:32 am Leave a comment