Well there is to be no more cup glory for Swindon this year. Dumped out of the FA Cup against non league Macclesfield at home two nil. One red card, three yellow cards and one of the goals was an own goal. One imagines that Paulo di Canio will have had a few words with his players and that they will not have been “cheer up, let’s all concentrate on the league and promotion now.” What a shocker.
As for West Ham a nil nil home draw against Manchester City is a bonus point. From what I have seen either side could have won and West Ham played with pride, skill and organisation. Surely this is a West Ham in a parallel universe or we have all been transported back forty years, it is all rather hard to believe. Anyhow, I am not complaining and feel that I did my bit by staying away, given how my presence seems to ensure defeat.
Reading and QPR managed a one all draw today and those two look increasingly certain to go down. It is harsh to say that but 5 points after 9 games and 4 after 10 respectively is a woeful haul. Unless both teams can start to pick up points rapidly then by Christmas it will be all over for them. Southampton play tomorrow but seem hot faves to book the third relegation slot.
And although West Ham are now eighth (or as I prefer to look at it, ignoring GD we are sixth equal with Arsenal and the cottagers) it is still relegation fears that haunt me. There are a tough few games ahead and as I wrote yesterday HERE
we need 10 points (nine now) from the remainder of the games in calendar 2012 to feel as if we are heading to safety. I forecast 0 points for the City game, we secured one. That is a bonus. Next week is Newcastle away where I forecast 0 points and then Stoke at home where I am hoping for a win and three points.
But as the chant goes “Same old West Ham, always taking the piss.” This is a side that could easily finish in the top seven if it played every game like it did yesterday. But if it plays like it did against Wigan then relegation is still possible. West Ham could easily secure those 10 points by Christmas with Wins against Manchester United, Chelski and the Scum (Spurs) but get thrashed in every other game. You just never know.
For now I would happily pay a few quid for a video of Paulo’s post match talk at Swindon and have to regard the Upton Park result with some pleasure.