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West Ham 3 Chelski 1 & now on to Wimbledon and MK Dons

Tom Winnifrith
Sunday 2 December 2012

I did my bit by staying away as my presence always ensures West Ham defeat. But even with this heroic sacrifice I did not expect a result like this. Unbelievable. From Stamford Bridge to Upton Park you can stick the blue flag up your arse. Frank Lampard’s fat, Joe Cole’s er… not here, you’re going to win fuck all this year. And more to the point it looks as if West Ham might not be relegated.

Yup I am still looking bottom up. 15 games down 22 points and 8th. Had we not been cheated by a linesman with a guide dog against Man City and did not have this nasty ingrained habit of messing up against second rate teams from grim northern shit-holes who we should beat ( Stoke and Wigan) we would by now be on 29 points and challenging for European football. But one step at a time. Avoiding relegation first.

We now have four games before the New Year and the half way mark: Liverpool at home is winnable. We always lose to Everton. West Brom away will be tough but a point maybe? And Reading away (which I am going to) should be three points. And so we should be aiming to reach the half way mark on 29 points but 26 is certainly very doable. Given that the second half of the season sees us entertaining QPR, Norwich and Reading at the Boleyn and playing Villa and Southampton away – that should be enough. Frankly if we go into the New Year on 29 points, Fat Sam should be looking for an upper mid-table finish.

Am I really saying that? Surely as a West Ham supporter this is reckless optimism? Well it probably is. Forgive me.

As to the game? Well I read the Guardian and watched the BBC yesterday (more on that later). MOTD viewing made me think it could have been 5-1 to Chelski at half time and ended up 7 apiece. It was fast and furious. I am sorry I missed it but I was doing my bit by staying away. Chelski did not take their chances (bar one), West Ham did. Overall West Ham were good for the three points.

Having said HERE yesterday that I would love to see Carlton Cole score a hat-trick in a West Ham shirt but thought I never would, I take that all back. So far this season when he has had a chance he has fluffed it and not looked at all hungry or razor sharp. Now with Andy Carroll out for eight weeks, cometh the day, cometh the man. This great and loyal servant of our club put himself about and scored. He was a good all round thorn in Chelski’s side all game. I am incredibly happy that he scored. I imagine that he is too. All together now, to the tune of Gold:

Carlton Cole, Cole!
Always believe in your soul,
You’ve got the power to go,
You’re indestructible,
Always believe in…
Carlton Cole!

The West Ham midfield in the second half was awesome. Diame is equally indestructible. Why Mark Noble is not in the England squad defies belief. All together now:

Mark Noble (whooaaoo),
Mark Noble (whooaaoo),
He’s West Ham through and through,
His veins are claret and blue.

Maiga was good for his goal and was a pest when he came on. This West Ham side has talent, options and commitment. We still have a tendency to take the piss and throw away winnable games which is why we are not fighting for a European spot but a side that has taken four points off City, United and Chelski (and deserved to take seven) is – however you look at it – one of the best West Ham sides we have seen in years.

Now as I try to calm down my mind turns to the match all football supporters have waited years to see: The parvenus of MK Dons versus real football of AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup. 99.9% of football fans will be rooting for AFC Wimbledon. In terms of support, never has a game played in England been more one-sided. Clearly MK Dons are favourites but my sporting weekend will be complete if we see an upset here as well.

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About Tom Winnifrith
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Tom Winnifrith is the editor of TomWinnifrith.com. When he is not harvesting olives in Greece, he is (planning to) raise goats in Wales.
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