Paul Merson delivers verdict on top-four finish for West Ham
West Ham will drop out of the Champions League spaces by the end of the season, according to Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson.
The Hammers are currently fourth in the Premier League after 25 matches played. They’re above Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea, and are having an excellent season.
But Merson believes a tough run of fixtures will be the undoing of David Moyes’ side. Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson said: “Twenty-five games in and West Ham are in the top four. It’s phenomenal what David Moyes has done.
“This is not just five or six games. This is 25 football matches. That’s a big chunk of the season so to get them where they are now is an absolutely phenomenal achievement.
“I just look at West Ham’s fixtures and they have Man City away where you don’t give them much of a chance. Then Leeds at home which is another hard game. The Manchester United, Leicester and Arsenal at home and Wolves away. They are hard football matches so it’ll be difficult for Moyes’ men.
Merson predicts Manchester City, Manchester United, Leicester and Liverpool will make up the top four.
Might be a stretch
It’s hard to disagree with Merson here – not to be negative but it’s tough to see us maintaining a top-four finish.
However, at this point in the season, we’d be disappointed if we didn’t finish in a Europa League place. More so for the players and staff, who deserve to be playing in Europe next year after their performances.
It still feels ridiculous to be having this discussion. Just to be in with a mention of the top four is crazy. Considering the mess we were in 14 months ago when Moyes came back, the turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable.
Moyes could well be winning the Manager of the year award and rightly so if he is crowned. He’s got the transfer market spot on, shifting dead weight and bringing in young and hungry talent.
It’s nice to dream of Champions League football, but being realistic it probably won’t happen. We do, however, close out our season with some more favourable fixtures than our next five or six.
If we can get through to the end of March still in the hunt, then who knows what we might achieve come May.
In other West Ham news, Opta have predicted the final standings in the Premier League table.