The international break has provided time to ponder about West Ham’s situation, which raises the question of whether the near future could decide a bigger picture.
West Ham’s season has been full of ups and downs, with the good times coming more of late, closing the gap toward other sides in our attempt at retaining Premier League status, as well as an unexpected cup run, which now sees the Hammers have an opportunity to head to Wembley to be a part of the final four in the competition.
Within the next 12 days, West Ham are set to play two home matches: an FA Cup tie against Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers on a Friday night.
Regarding Leeds United, whilst no points are available for the occasion, that Premier League tie will have to wait until the final day of the season. It is an incredible opportunity to gain a world of confidence on the side.
The Hammers have been tipped to be one of the higher teams regarding levels of confidence amongst those fighting for Premier League survival, and this opportunity to be a part of the final four is one that could see us gain a monumental amount of confidence if victory is achieved. Having the tie at home gives us the edge before kick-off, given how good the home support has been as of late, though it will likely be hindered given that travel is expected to be a nightmare.
A gain of further confidence could be a massive boost for our Premier League hopes, which is exactly why it’s a crucial fixture.
Beyond Leeds United, just five days later, West Ham are set to take on Wolves, where Nuno’s side will hope to avenge Hammers fans who suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat back at the beginning of January this year.
Whilst peeling back your mind to the result is miserable, it’s an opportunity to admire how far we’ve come, seeing as at that point safety almost seemed impossible after that loss. Yet, we’re here three months later, just two points adrift.
The result of the Wolves’ match on Friday night could practically determine our season. A loss would be catastrophic, and a victory would be crucial in writing the survival story.
Elsewhere that weekend, Nottingham Forest is set to face Aston Villa, Spurs take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, and Leeds take on Manchester United.
The fixtures appear favourable, but Football’s not played on paper – though it would be reasonable to suggest that it would be a significant chance for West Ham to truly escape the relegation zone and perhaps begin to truly rise from the depths of the sea.
It wouldn’t be fair to sit here and suggest that it’s Wolves or nothing, but Nuno’s side walking away without three points would be nothing but a disaster and could write our fate heading into what’ll be then, just six fixtures remaining