Expectation is usually, pretty much, what it says on the tin. It’s what we expect as a minimum from an activity. Things do, however, have a habit of getting more complicated.
Since the win at the weekend I’ve noticed many on-line conversations start to talk about top four finishes. I actually found myself thinking about that as I spoke with no.2 son on Sunday evening and commented to him “imagine going to watch Champion’s League at the bowl next season.”
The point at which I usually start to buy in to the hype is exactly the point when it usually becomes a false dawn and things head in a ‘negative elevation’ direction (to quote recently installed phone running app parlance…I should add that it’s my son doing the running and not me.) I prefer the old fashioned ‘downhill’ phrase personally.
Towards the back end of last year the team were flirting with a top four place. Rather than start talking about the possibility of finishing the season in that spot I was keen to comment that I was simply ‘enjoying the ride’ and that results were making me happy. Perhaps it’s partly due to the mindfulness training that I’ve been doing for the last 7 and a bit years but enjoying the moment is something that’s coming very easily when in relation to all things West Ham this season.
So what to do now? Do I start to get excited about the prospect of European football next season or do I just carry on “Letting The Good Times Roll?” I know what the answer should be and I know what I’ll try my best to do and not get sucked in to any hype that’s beginning to gain momentum. But, in all candour, it’s difficult not to.
Next Saturday lunchtime we will line up away at league leaders Manchester City. Frankly speaking they’re probably the best team on the planet right now. Going in to that game my expectation is not that we will win. In fact I don’t think there’s any team in the Premier League that would go up to the Ethiad Stadium confident that they were going to beat Pep Guardiola’s charges. So what are we likely to be saying come Saturday evening? I know that many are likely to do what they always do when we lose and look to place the blame at someone’s door while commenting what a shambles we are or that David Moyes is tactically inept. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that the result is a foregone conclusion but, to get anything out of the fixture at all will be a huge result. I can assure you, however, that whatever the outcome this Hammer won’t be either getting carried away or, conversely, running the team down. The only thing that’s for certain is that I will enjoy a game of football between the two best form teams in English football and continue to be proud of ‘our lads’ trying to do their utmost to get a result.
As I’m playing catchup at work this week is going to be a short post without updates on the PL2 or Women’s teams other than to say that the youngsters are not getting the results at present, after losing four-one at Blackburn and the ladies have not played since their one-nil loss to Brighton a couple of weeks ago. Sincerely hope that things start looking up for both sides soon as I hope to resume normal service reporting on them in the coming weeks.
Have a great week all and hope to be enjoying the match with you, in spirit, this coming weekend. Meanwhile I’ll leave you with this image to add to the good times we’re enjoying :D
COYRRI!