Relegation: That is the very real fear hanging over London Stadium just now as West Ham sit rooted to 19th spot with four points from nine games. A bleak picture indeed compared with the optimism that appeared-fleetingly- to break out when Graham Potter was dismissed a few short weeks ago.
The only benefit of early action – Potter was sacked just weeks into the campaign – is that there are still something like 87 points up for grabs in the 29 remaining games. More than likely West Ham need to secure thirty five of them to survive. Which means ten wins and five draws in the remaining matches. A mountain to climb? Not it would seem according to one ex-player turned broadcaster who plied his trade in north London.
Groves is confident that West Ham United will not be at risk of relegation
Speaking on talkSPORT former Arsenal winger Perry Groves offered his own somewhat surprising assessment of the Irons’ survival chances- as reported by insidefutbol.com. ‘Local lad’ Groves, born in Bow, gave his own upbeat opinion:
Most Read on West Ham News
“ I don’t think West Ham will be [in trouble come May]”, Groves said on talkSPORT…I think it will take Nuno Espirito Santo a while to bed in his ideas. He is playing players out of their positions, which is very, very strange. He’ll be backed in the transfer window in January.
You just have to make sure you are not too far adrift by the time you get to that January transfer window. At the moment I don’t think Nuno has put his identity on West Ham.”
Such optimism isn’t shared by many who support the club. Indeed, ‘very, very strange‘ team selections have got to stop if the points are going to start to flow. The faster Nuno works out his best eleven – which clearly wasn’t the starting eleven against Brentford or Leeds- the better. And the clock is ticking.