It's been a truly depressing season for West ham in which a narrative of decline has tested fans patience and belief. On field, the Hammers have stuttered with a leaky chaotic defence, slow and porous midfield and disorganised attack. Managerially, Graham Potter was unable to impose any purpose or system and eventually had to be shown the door by a board that looks to have run out of time and ideas.
In a league as unforgiving as the Premiership there can only be one outcome and inevitably West ham have found themselves trapped in the relegation zone, at one point a whopping eight points adrift of salvation.
Enter Nuno, a portuguese managerial wizard. Initially, it looked like the circus would continue. The form improved but the results didn't as he managed only two victories in his first 14 matches.
Come January, the Hammers looked doomed. After a Christmas campaign that offered four winnable matches a mere 2 points were accumulated. Our 'best' player in Lucas Paqueta decided that he wanted to go home to daddy in Brazil and Nuno was left scratching around the unwanted leftovers that the January transfer window offers.
The stage for a complete implosion had been set: ruin ourselves paying over the odds for overpriced misfits and rejects trying to avoid the inevitable. Fire sale in the Summer and returning to a half empty Olympic stadium to host Chumpionship footy with a demoralised squad.
But Nuno had other plans. In came Taty, Magassa, Pedro and Disasi. Potts was elevated to regular game time. Wilson stayed put. Wan Bisssaka and Diouf returned from the Afcon.
Taty and Pedro added a much needed edge up front. Summerville hit form, terrorising right backs and scoring goals. The midfield suddenly had legs and Fernandes stepped into Paqueta's playmaker role. Disasi added muscle and guile to the defence while Hermansen came in from the cold.
The results have followed. The relegation-soaked bad luck has continued to pulse hrre and there as vital points have been squandered against Brighton, Chelsea and Man Utd, but our spirit has been strong.
Last night a weakened starting XI erased the horrible memories of Brentford's last visit to the London Stadium when they won 2-0 with hardly a punch thrown by a hapless Hammers side. Last night we erased that memory with passion and fluidity. Bowen is back on the score sheet and even Traore looked like he knew what he was doing.
And we have sneaked our way to a cup quarter final where Leeds at home stands between us and a Wembley semi final.
West Ham's penalties last night spoke of a team that has found it's groove and regained it's confidence. Kelliker is a tremendous penalty stopper but simply had no chance against any of the Hammers five spot kicks.
The injury to Summerville is a definite worry but hopefully is just a minor knock.
Two tough games loom with Man City (h) and Villa (a) but we look capable of competing with anybody just now. After that it's a 7 game run in with heaps of points on offer.
Happy days just now!
COYI!!!
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