2026 has for me on a personal level has started in a pretty poor way. To put that into context, even in our current state, West Ham have offered a beacon of light.
Yep, you read that right. A club run by charlatans, still producing moments of tactical lunacy, making personnel changes that raise eyebrows, have still offered me cause for optimism given the current situation.January started appallingly on the pitch, a trip to Molineux offering new lows. Mainly in terms of what was offered up on the pitch, but temperatures were creeping into the realms of "what the hell am I doing this for"!
Defeat at home to Forest, next, seemed to have put what little hope we had firmly in the bin. I walked (well wheeled) away from that, believing that relegation, something I’d long thought was inevitable, was virtually confirmed.
So why have I developed a spark of new-found optimism? Simply because I’ve begun to see key elements of what we’ve lacked for so long, to manifest in front of my very eyes.
Even the almost inevitable capitulation at Chelsea has done little to quash the belief. Navigating a potential upset in the FA Cup was a great relief. Faced with a huge travelling support, smelling blood, we eventually prevailed.
With a first goal for Taty Castellanos, and Crysencio Summerville looking like he’d rediscovered the ability to play football without running into dead ends. Not a fantastic performance, but one which went firmly against the narrative.
Then we despatched the mob from N17. A great first half performance, which should have seen us out of sight. Resilience shown, a lovely last minute winner. On to Sunderland, who we despatched with ease.
Possibly the best 45 minutes we’ve witnessed this season. 30, in some cases. But again, Summerville sharp. Fernandes majestic. Players operating with belief, purpose and with confidence.
Even Chelsea. We should have been three up and clear. They were truly awful in the opening 45 minutes, whereas we utilised what little possession we had, to full effect. Counterattacking and exploiting weak spots with clinical precision.
Sadly a hugely expensive, assembled squad had the options to counter it. Failure to notch a further goal and negative changes to combat the rejuvenated home side, it seemed almost inevitable that once we conceded and momentum shifted we’d lose.
But in the last few games I’ve seen the seeds of hope. Firstly the new signings. Being in the mire, we’re shopping at Lidl, not Waitrose and or even Sainsbury’s. Despite a new centre half looking like the most important and sensible addition to a squad that’s only kept one clean sheet all season, we opted to augment the deficiencies up front first.
Taty Castellanos has looked full of intelligent and craft. Pablo, whilst clearly overpriced and lacking in some aspects, works like a demon and makes life uncomfortable for defences. Those two working in tandem, harrying defenders, closing space down has clearly benefitted the team.
In midfield, with Lucas Paqueta out of the frame, Mateus Fernandes has thrived, becoming the main fulcrum while the ever-industrious Tomas Soucek takes some of the pressure away. Yes Tomas again has his limitations, but we’re in a battle for survival. Artisans are required every bit as artists.
Even Nuno's newest acquisition, Adama Traore, has purpose. I’ve been critical of him for many a year, openly vocal against not buying him. But there’s no doubt his pace and physicality off the bench could be a huge asset. We’ve been lacking that kind of option for too long. He also received instant bonus points for throwing Cucurella to the floor like a doll.
At the back, we’ve been more resilient. Jean-Clair Todibo finally looking like the player we were told he was. Ollie Scarles bouncing back from error and flourishing, Mavropanus having more moments where he looks imposing, rather than decomposing. Areola for all his faults has grown and made some fantastic saves.
Off the pitch, Nuno is getting his coaching team bolstered. The board are unsettled by the continued discontent, and though the late walk in wasn’t adhered to as much as desired, the message is getting through.
Banning those who created an improvised but polite message, hiding behind safety concerns is a sign of annoyance. It may be misguided, it may be deluded. It may well all come crashing down in Burley next Saturday, but I’ve gone from despair to hope.
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