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West Ham and the race for 7th: Can we get there? Do we want Europe?

By Scott Johnson

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Manuel Pellegrini, Manager of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on February 27, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Manuel Pellegrini, Manager of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on February 27, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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Despite a disappointing start to the season West Ham are in with a chance of European football. What do the fans think will happen? What do the stats say? And do we want it?

If you had said to most West Ham fans we would be challenging for potential European spot this season, the response would have depended on when you asked. When Pellegrini was appointed? Confident. After our signings were announced? Yeah, feeling good. When we were on zero points after 4 games? Less so. And then so on and so forth. It’s been an up and down season

But now we have 9 games left and we’re 4 points behind Wolves and Watford. It’s a decent gap but it’s not insurmountable. Can the Hammers surge past their rivals to nab 7th spot, and potentially European football?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 27: Manuel Pellegrini, Manager of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on February 27, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 27: Manuel Pellegrini, Manager of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on February 27, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

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Can we get there?

Well, yes. It’s a 4 point gap and there are 9 games left, of course that can be turned around. Add to that the Hammers seem to be in a bit of decent form and there are some fans going as far as saying that they think we’re really neck and neck with Watford and Wolves in terms of chances to finish in 7th.

Obviously there is a little bit of fan bias in there, because how can there not be? It’s very hard to be objective towards a team you support. Especially when you look at this weekends fixtures in which we travel to Cardiff whilst Watford and Wolves travel to City and Chelsea respectively. Surely that’s a 3 point swing to us, right?

Well a lot will depend on the first 3 or 4 games of the run, because both Wolves and Watford have FA Cup matches and a win or loss there could have an impact which is impossible to determine until the games are underway. If they win, they could be on a roll, or they could switch focus. If they lose they may want to push in the league or they may get despondent. The Hammers have one focus and one only, so that is definitely a plus for the Hammers.

But one loss when we’re expected to win or a surprise by the teams already in the lead will make it all very hard. Of course there’s a lot possible, but it isn’t in our hands and we have a few tough fixtures in the run in as well. United, Chelsea and Spurs are in our final 9 and there are also teams fighting for survival. I mean we even have Watford in the last game of the season…So what does the maths say?