Phill’s Diary - West Ham (A) Pretty much a must win, right?

Phill opens up his diary to look ahead to a game vital for Premier League survival against West Ham

Hello Hatters, it’s been a while but I’m still here, talking on the Podcast rather than writing more recently. So, with the importance of the game being pretty damn high, I thought I’d tap the keyboard again and put some thoughts down.

The reality of the situation is that it isn’t 100% must win, but it definitely is must not lose and hope. If we manage a win against the Hammers, we can go into the final game at home to Fulham, praying that we need only to better Forest’s result against Burnley, who could (unfortunately for them) be already down if things don’t go their way this weekend against Spurs. The reality of it is that the odds are stacked against us for survival, a bunch of perfect permutations would make for the continuation of a fairy tale ride for Luton Town in recent years, but the reality of it is that it’s a tough ask…once again not helped by the spineless FA not implementing rules properly. Good behaviour / cooperation my arse, rules are rules and it should have been -6 points for Forest, but alas, we know far better than to trust anything to the integrity of the FA.

West Ham United will host us for their final home game of the season sitting in 9th place. For them, the season will feel like a disappointment after their exploits in Europe last term, especially as they had rather hoped their new signings like Kudus and Ward-Prowse would bolster their squad strength. They have nothing to play for this weekend other than player pride and IF they want to give David Moyes a good send off, will it be a party atmosphere or will it be like a funeral for his last game, we’ll see I guess? Whatever version we see, I think the players will want to rectify the embarrassing loss to Chelsea last time out at home, they have their pride and it’ll be difficult for us.

Players to be wary of will include the aforementioned Kudus, Michail Antonio and England’s Jarrod Bowen. Remember away day Hatters, he doesn’t like mean old nasty sing-songs about his GF so be gentle!

The Hatters will hopefully have a line-up available that gave it a real go against Everton last week, spearheaded by the returning Elijah Adebayo. Oh what could have been if our magic man stayed fit throughout the season alongside Sambi, Gabe and a few others (imagine last weeks line up with Chieo at RWB). That struggle between February and April has really hit us hard and it was tough not to come away from Kenilworth Road last week thinking anything other than ‘What If’, but alas, we are where we are and we’ll keep battling to the very end. At the very least I’d love for Luton to still be in with a shout on the last day as I think Kenilworth Road would be absolutely electric, fuelled by hope and a desire to send Forest down in ‘our’ place. To still be in with a shout on the last day would also be a huge two fingers up to the ‘experts’ that gave us no chance. I mentioned on the WALT pod last week that pundits need to get with the times around points and expected totals.

This is a new era of football, dominated by the super-rich clubs such as Manchester City that consistently break the 90 point barrier each season. That isn’t normal! Arsenal won the league with 3 games to spare in 1997/98 and finished on a total of 78 points. Only so many points can be shared around, so with teams like Arsenal, City, Liverpool all ending in the 80’s and 90’s in recent seasons, I think it’s fair to cut some slack to the promoted sides and realise that 32 points will probably cut it. Our issue is we’re 6 away 32 with 6 to play for and our goal difference is far worse than Forest’s. Beat their results in both games with a win amongst those and we have a chance, so let’s keep going right to the last and get behind the boys who will give their all no doubt. COYH, see you on the concourse!