How do West Ham stay up after calamitous Swansea result?

It’s a situation we hoped to be out of by now. But West Ham must now be looking at the last 9 games, wondering where the points are coming from.

It’s March, which means we’re coming down to the business end of the Premier League. It’s exceptionally tight at the bottom of the table, and West Ham are not in a good position. 3 points above the drop zone, with tough games coming up. Where are the points they need coming from?

Usually people talk about 40 points, but in fact statistics show that if you get 37 points you have a better than 50% chance of staying up. This season is particularly tight down the bottom, so lets whilst I think 36 points should keep a team up I think 38 should be almost guaranteed safe. Currently on 30, where do the Hammers get 8 points from?

We have 9 fixtures left, and they’re not particularly fun. So I’ve put them into three groups as to what Moyes should be aiming for. Let’s start with the hardest first.

Bonus Games

Chelsea (A), Arsenal (A), Man U (H), Man C (H).

These games are those where I expect nothing. If the Hammers get anything this should be treated as bonus points. Although, to be fair on current form Chelsea and Arsenal are beatable. If the Hammers are to pick up a win in this group, we should be safe. However if we lose all of these Moyes could still steer the Irons to safety. The points he will be aiming for will hopefully come in other games.

However, it is worth nothing that 4 of our 9 remaining games are against top opposition. This is not the position we wanted to be in at this point of the season.

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Tough Games

Burnley (H), Leicester (A)

These are matches that, whilst points are the target, the teams are already safe. They have had better seasons than us, and whether or not they have better personnel is irrelevant. Burnley is the next game up, and Moyes will want a win at home. Sean Dyche will not want to make it easy though, and I imagine a point could be of help to both sides.

Leicester are a side that can turn it on at any given time, and they will be difficult opposition. The one thing that could come in handy is that by the time we play them, they are likely to have little to play for. With a few players eyeing not getting injured for the World Cup, this could play into our hands.

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Big Games

Southampton (H), Stoke (H), Everton (H)

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However you look at it, these games are the big ones. It’s possible we could win all three, and we’d be safe. But if you lose to one of these teams you’ve really given a leg up to a fellow struggler. I’d like to think we’ll be safe by the Everton game at the end of the season, and I think Everton will be as well. However, stranger things have happened.

The Hammers are more than capable of ending up with 42+ points for the season, but we’re also capable of finishing on what we have now. Moyes must focus consistency into the players, and get the points we need.