West Ham camaraderie is the reason why they will get top four this season
The past two weeks have been a tough time for West Ham United on and off the pitch but they might be nearing the end of the troublesome time.
The Irons barely scraped past sixth tier Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup thanks to two last-minute goals while they also had to rescue a point away at Leicester a week later.
None of this was helped by videos emerging of defender Kurt Zouma abusing his pet cat, which has seen him fined two weeks wages and lose those pets to the RSPCA already.
The Frenchman then had to pull out of the game at the King Power Stadium through illness and Issa Diop was called upon at very short notice.
He himself had been in poor form but he came through the game in flying colours and his centre-half partner Craig Dawson heaped praise on the 25-year-old.
“To come in so late, fair credit to Issa as he was very good,” Dawson told the club website. “It was difficult for him to come in so late with little warning, so he was good.
“He was excellent. Fair play to him because he’s been working hard on the training pitch and he’s been excellent in training, so he’s got an opportunity and he did very well.”
It is this camaraderie that has developed under David Moyes’ management that has made the Hammers such a tough opponent for any Premier League side, home or away.
None of the players could possibly condone Zouma’s actions but they were quick to ensure he didn’t get buried by the media and have his career ruined.
It’s not something you have seen from Manchester United players, for example, after what one of their teammates did to his girlfriend (admittedly much worse than Zouma’s offence).
This togetherness will see West Ham edge the fierce battle for the final Champions League place in the Premier League this season despite the potential distraction of off-field problems.
In other West Ham news, a £12million release clause could see the Irons go in for this EFL star wanted by other Premier League clubs.