Jazz hands for the rich, trench foot for the rest! Published 05/04/18 on Irons United

A black cat saunters into a room, having just leapt through an open window and knocking over a tin cup onto the ground that rattled as it rolled. It looks around its environment, nose in the air sniffing for any whiffs of unsuspecting flesh…this is the predator who is out for the kill…this is the assassin whom we’ve mistaken for feline friend and cosy companion

As the weekend draws nearer, all eyes now focus on the next match…this time Chelsea at Stamford Bridge! Will there be prospect of the double over those Blues from the west and can the West Ham contingent duplicate such purpose as shown on Saturday last? There can be no comparison between the two opponents, as Southampton were particularly poor whilst Chelsea have merely been faltering, however they are but sleeping giants waiting to pounce and devour anything in their way if given half a chance.

The dilemma for David Moyes is whom to select in the starting line up and if there should be any changes to his formation and in game tactics…for he will have to react far sooner to changing situations than probably in most of his recent or earlier matches. Chelsea will be looking for some rehabilitation after their defeat to Tottenham and will view the Hammers as target practice for their inconsistent strikers and midfield who would spell danger with every passing move.

The question for the fans now is whether or not there should be a realistic expectation of being able to compete with the likes of Chelsea given the vast differences in wealth and spending capacity between the two clubs. This is not so much a David versus Goliath but more David & David against Oligarch Davidoff. Of course all the promises have been made and fallen flat with little hope of fruition albeit that many would still think that possible…if only the club had a spare £150million to flitter away.

Any fool can have their day in the sun and perhaps West Ham will have theirs whilst Chelsea incur more egg on face, but to bank on fortune would be folly in uncertain times, hence why Moyes will likely opt for a defensive approach to the game and pray for success in occasional counter attacks as the second half clock runs down. West Ham are not in the business of necessarily winning or losing now…this is a trial of accumulating enough points to steer the club clear before the final match is played. A three is nice but a one is vital…and that is how Moyes will probably see this game, regardless of how well they played against Southampton and how outplayed Chelsea were in their last too.

Many, if not most fans are embittered by the failed ambitions fiasco and would like nothing more than to see the owners pack their suitcases and fly off to a foreign destination without an extradition treaty in place. However many are simply weary from all negativity that has surrounded the club for the last two years and anything that would raise a smile and relieve tensions would be welcome indeed. 

There may be light still in the dying star and the players will be tasked to make incandescent of flaming hot steps on the pitch come this Sunday. Ogbonna will be charged to hold the rear guard together whilst Zabaleta and Masuaku will make tentative forays into the Chelsea half…the midfield will contain and Arnautovic will make opportunity where there is no hope!

To steal the riches, the team must be like the predator…observant, stalking and lying in wait until the opportunity presents itself to strike at the heart and soul of the unprepared. Chelsea will likely assume they have the mightier sword in hand but the Hammers’ faithful will be looking to the players to rise up and go blow-for-blow for the full 90mins, absorb their advances and pounce when the time is right.

There is no denying that West Ham do have enough quality to cause an upset, but they do not have strength in depth, so any injury concerns or subdued performance issues will be difficult to rectify between now and when the game starts. This will be a tough test of the team’s resolve and confidence and may go some way to determine how the team will set up in the remaining games this season.

Nobody expects Moyes to throw caution to the wind and go hell for leather, however it would frustrate every fan if the shackles were not loosened even a little. The players are on a high from the weekend and they need to build momentum in each and every game. The match may yet be lost but the manner of defeat will say a lot about the confidence within the squad and how much of a cohesive unit the players will form.

They rebounded after a three week interval, but can they respond again and again, especially when the entire West Ham universe and the rest of the footballing world would give loud voice that anything is possible. The gulf between the two club’s resources is almost unfathomable however there is little to choose between the teams when one is on song and the other flatters to deceive.

The club have the chance to lift themselves off the dirty floor, hover above muddy waters and wipe away past murkiness. It can be the start of a new beginning and it can be opportunity for the players to dig themselves out of this dirty ditch that has been forced upon them by the dank and dodgy Daves and the fan’s would-be bitch.

Chelsea will be out for blood and to take retribution for their slaying at the London Stadium at the hands of West Ham heroes but they too have dug a few ditches this season and whilst the performance and result is the grand prize, both teams will be hoping for a song and a dance, jazz hands for the rich and trench foot for the rest.