West Ham are one match away from securing a Europa League spot through the Fair Play League. Despite the club receiving stick over how they could enter the tournament, the ticket is a legitimate one. West Ham face off against Newcastle in the final game of the season at St. James’ Park on Sunday. Newcastle, who sit in 17th in the Premier League, are safe from relegation with a win. Any other situation depends on Hull City’s performance against Manchester United.
For the Hammers, the gutting loss that seemed all too inevitable to Everton and Romelu Lukaku – who just fractured my heart as usual with his goal that came past the 90th minute – actually helped in the Europa League race.
West Ham are now reunited with the bottom half of the Premier League, sitting in 11th place just below Everton. The loss on the day helped in the Fair Play League table, however. Everton were given three yellow cards, while West Ham earned only 1. The Fair Play League seems locked up for the Hammers as long as Liverpool, who sit in first in the Fair Play League, finish in Europa League spots in the Premier League.
For fans, there are two sides to European football at West Ham: Those in favour, and those who do not think the club is ready. Let’s explore.
Is European football really what West Ham need at the moment? I’m not saying the Hammers should go out and play dirty, accumulating as many bookings as possible in the last game so they fall in the Fair Play League table, but are West Ham ready?
With such uncertainty over who will be manager, whether Sam Allardyce will remain or a new page for West Ham will start, the scenario is bleak. The team will need time to adjust. A season starting in early July may find West Ham unprepared and too thin at certain positions. The team is unable to stay fit through the 38 Premier League games a year, do they need any more matches than that?
However, the magic around one last European night at Upton Park could be enough for West Ham fans to be all in for the Fair Play League. Success may not be a key concern compared to the nostalgia behind seeing European football for the last time at the Boleyn Ground. The last entry to the UEFA Cup was in the 2006/2007 season, and the last major European success has been long overdue. The 1965 European Cup Winners’ Cup win at Wembley Stadium in front of 97,974 fans is what every Hammer dreams to return to.
European football next season could offset the reaction of an unstable managerial position. Players known as “Big Names” could see West Ham as a legitimate destination. The destination could be even more appealing to such players if the manager hunt is resolved quickly.
Sam Allardyce is poised to leave next Monday, 24 hours after the last match of the season against Newcastle United. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold, along with Vice-chairman Karren Brady have scheduled a meeting with Allardyce to discuss his future at the club. West Ham have about six weeks before the first qualifying round in the Europa League.
The West Ham Board need to act quickly to prepare for the Europa League. If West Ham make it, there is no reason to hold back anything. While success is not mandatory, success would make for an amazing end of 112 seasons of West Ham United football at the Boleyn Ground, and an amazing opening of possibilities for the first season at the Olympic Stadium.
