4-1 to the Cockney Boys – How far from relegation are West Ham?

The first half was dire. It was nil nil but the Saints were far better than West Ham. But the second half was essentially one way traffic. Nolan, Noble, Noble (pen) and a blinder from Maiga offset by one cracking Southampton goal left it 4-1 to the cockney boys. Triumph. I watched it on the internet and was shouting pretty loud by the end. If the Irons can replicate that second half form week in week out this will be a great season. They will not.

And so after 8 games the Irons are on 14 points with a +3 GD. Exactly the same as Spurs and in 7th place. If you support Spurs you are at this point thinking that you might get a European spot. Naturally I hope that they do not.

As a West Ham supporter I find myself thinking that we are now exactly 1/3 of the way to safety. Yes, I repeat myself in disbelief, with only eight games played we are a third of the way to safety. Amazing. I fear that if we are on 21 points or even 31 I shall be doing the same sum. That is just how history teaches me to think.

Anyhow, Reading, Norwich, QPR, Southampton, Villa and QPR are now the bottom six. I am pretty sure that I flagged those 6 up at the start of the season as being the teams that were palpably worse than West Ham and offered up our buffer zone. Long may they all keep losing. At least two, if not all three, of the three teams to be relegated will come from those six.

Next Week for the Irons a trip to Wigan. Again that is winnable. Wigan brings nothing to the Premiership. Back with my second team, a disappointing 1-1 home draw and Paulo’s Swindon are now 6th. Time for some of di Canio’s unique man management skills methinks.