Some of West Ham’s most vociferous critics these lats few weeks have been the media pundits, along of course with a slice of their own fan base which seems as polarised as ever between ‘Lope-in’ and ‘Lope-out’: However, there appears unanimity on one issue. West Ham need a win. Yes of course three points will feel much better at 5 pm tomorrow: We have two weeks to do nothing domestically except stare at the Premier League table whilst international friendlies take centre stage.
The Hammers will look far more healthy with eight points and looking up the table.
It seems that some of the pundits share the upbeat ‘mood music’ coming out of London stadium. Speaking to sportskeeda one of the Irons’ biggest critics during the last few weeks, Paul Merson, is in much more optimistic mood for Claret and Blue fans.” I would be shocked if West Ham lose this game if I’m being honest” the former Arsenal man says. “I have a feeling they’ll come alive in this fixture and get that much-needed win”.
..”The gulf in class is still quite evident and that could swing the tie in the Hammers’ favour”.
After ‘steadying the ship’ last week with an away draw against Brentford, Julen Lopetegui has had another seven days with his full squad apart from injured Niclas Fullkrug to get his ideas across and plan to improve on that disastrous last home outing against Chelsea which – I don’t know about him – but still gives me nightmares. No more strategies thought-up on the hoof, a nice solid back four, Alvarez back in midfield, Summerville starting on the left? What more could we ask.
Merson’s prediction is for a home win, three – one to West Ham. And don’t we just know Kalvin Phillips will get the ‘one’.