Do we need a relegation thread this early in the year?

[pething101]

Well?

[amancalledmikey]

Pessimism, I like it. They need to stop faffing around with the 4-3-3, I don't think it makes us especially defensively solid. However, we need a couple of home bankers to get us on the board and it isn't until we play Burnley that we have a real home banker. It wouldn't surprise me to see us, much like last year, struggling by christmas but coming back strong in the second half, starting with Portsmouth at home after christmas. Our home campaign is very front-loaded and our away campaign back-loaded. So we need to win what we should win at home, scrape what we can away and try and win the four eminently winnable home games in January and February.

[blainehammer]

NO f....g way

[Footstomper]

Well it might help us avoid the reality

[hammer_scout51]

I'm with Mikey on the 4-3-3 don't like it at all. However i do think Diamanti and Jiminez are made for such a formation.

As i said on who 3rd from bottom with only 33 games to go. My knee is jerking out of control.

We outplayed big spending Spuds and Wigan with no luck. At least deserved to draw against Pool. I think we'll be lucky to take anything at City they really have bought a top 4 team. So come tuesday if we loose the average fair weather fan will predict doom and gloom. Lets ask Norway what he thinks.

[norwaytips]

Nope.

Bit daft I think. We lost a close match against Liverpool, who are playing really well. We lost to Wigan.......So did Chelsea; and we lost to Spurs; again a game we cannot expect to win. I still think that we'll be pushing for Europe, come the end of the season.

[chinesefootballfan]

There's no way you'll be relegated. I am visiting your thread because City played you guys today and I wanted to know what some of you thought of the game.

Firstly, the mod should close this thread because none of you should flirt with the idea of relegation. Portsmouth is already relegated as far as I am concerned. The next team is Hull City. The last one to be relegated, in my humble opinion, is among Bolton, B'City, and Wolves. With the side you have, I don't think top 8 finish is realistic, but anything between 9-13 is possible. 14th to 16th would be underachieving for you but at least you avoid relegation.

Secondly, come on now, you lost to Liverpool, Manchester city, Tottenham, and Wigan. Among those losses, only Wigan is a bit of a disappointment. But hey, Wigan beat Chelsea. You've had a tough fixture to start the season, but brighter days are ahead. You've only played 2 games at home and there's still tons of weaker opponents you haven't faced.

Finally, be positive. I need you guys to cheer your hearts out when you face the Old Trafford United, and I wouldn't mind if you upset Chelsea and Arsenal as well.

You are going to Hammer fullham this Sunday, I can feel it. Your players are frustrated with the results thus far and will play with hunger, and unlike Portsmouth, who's already given up, you will fight.

By the way, I am still mad at your team for beating City 4 years ago in the FA cup. Remember Richard Dunn's handball????

[pething101]

It was kind of a tonuge in cheek thread really.

Still, we are not off to the greatest of starts.

[harkes6]

we always seem to spring a few top 4 upsets a season. still, we should probably sticky this.

[west_ham]

By the way, I am still mad at your team for beating City 4 years ago in the FA cup. Remember Richard Dunn's handball????
Err...no. But I remember this, if it was the same game:

YouTube - Ashton goal against man city

You should take heart from fact that we reached the final that year and gave Liverpool a run for their money. The teams that knock us out the cup are usually too crap to get to the final!!

[chinesefootballfan]

Perhaps my memory served me wrong. I remember there was a game where Dunn took a handball to prevent a goal, ended up getting a red card and conceiving a penalty. I forgot which team that was against.

The game you're referring to didn't have the handball, but it was the game that broke my heart as back then, as reaching round 7 would have been very special. So yes, still bitter about that game. I'll only get over it if we win something this year or qualify for the Champion's League.

[amancalledmikey]

I still don't think we can be dismissive. Everybody thought we'd turn it around in 2002. We played well against quite a lot of teams then but didn't get the results until it was too late.

[amancalledmikey]

Zola issues a rally cry (http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/sport/4656632.WEST_HAM__Zola_issues_rally_cry_ahead_of_derby_clash/) so the Times gets in on the act in a surprisingly balanced way (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/west_ham/article6855931.ece).