Football Forum | Ticket Forum | Off-Topic Forum | All

swindon hammer 7:10 Sun Apr 11
Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

Another great win today!
Still can’t see it happening but they keep proving me wrong.

I think considering the amount of Injuries we have and also the financial advantage that some clubs have for expensive players and big squads that wasn’t so prevalent in the 80s before the Premier league, I think if we finished 4th it would be a bigger achievement than the 85/85 season.

You’re thoughts?

El Scorchio 1:59 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

No it's not. We're miles behind the league winner (and runner up) this season whereas we were genuinely title contenders that season until the end.

4th this season is by absolutely no means guaranteed either. We are missing some key players and have two very good sides right behind us who WILL win most of their remaining games. Our run in isn't so bad, but it's not a given we will win most of them.

I can't see us finishing lower than sixth, but I can most definitely (sadly) see us finishing only sixth and potentially not getting into Europe, sadly. It's not a stretch at all to imagine Chelsea and Liverpool getting ahead of us, given the strength of their squads and their remaining fixtures. However, we could easily finish ahead of Leicester.

It will be a magnificent achievement to finish third or fourth, but there is a LOT of work to still do.

Moncurs Putting Iron 1:50 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

No BUT it would a timely shot in the arm for all supporters under 35 who only have 2006 as something to be proud of and soak up.

Lato 1:18 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

only1billybonds 1:09 Mon Apr 12

Yes mate, saying that tho I haven't been able to watch any of the 2006 FA Cup final since that day

Lato 1:14 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

To play 9 games and win 7 of them in April alone was a magnificent achievement. I wonder what the modern day footballer would make of that?

only1billybonds 1:09 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

Lato.

Agree with that, the Chelsea game damaged us mentally as well as the lost points. Iv'e seen us lose cup finals and not been as gutted as i was after the Chelsea game.

Russ of the BML 12:58 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

Not for me.

As others have said the 85/86 campaign we were genuine title contenders for majority of season. Absolutely amazing achievement.

Having said that, if you take City out of it, at one point yesterday we were 5 points from 2nd. Absolutely unbelievable achievement.

But, for me, 85/86 shades it.

Lato 12:55 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

It was probably the home game against Chelsea on 15/4/86 that cost us the title. We appeared to be in cruise control at 1-0 up, then I think Gale got injured substitute Orr made a dreadful error to gift Nevin a equaliser and then I think Dixon got a late winner.

Remember it being carnage outside after too.

ted fenton 12:41 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

only1billybonds 12:36 Mon Apr 12

Mike Oxsaw 12:39 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

Ask again when, if in taking a European spot, we also deny Liverpool the one that is theirs by right.

only1billybonds 12:36 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

In 86 we were 180 minutes away from winning the league whereas City had the prem title in the bag 4 weeks ago (as good as) so i think the greater achievement was back then. All ifs and buts of course but it was definitely doable.

This is to take nothing away from Moyes and the squad,a season beyond all expectations regardless of where we finish.

southbankbornnbred 12:33 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

No.

In 85/86, we came within genuine touching distance of winning the whole thing. In fact, but for the fixture congestion at the end, I’m convinced we would have won it.

We haven’t even been close to that this season.

But we are playing damn well and it makes for a really good season. It’s a throw-back: I woke up this morning, buzzing about West Ham again. It has been a while since we had that feeling in April.

These players and this manager (who has proved many of us wrong - including me) have done that. Credit to them.

BRANDED 12:12 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

In both cases it shows that good players and good management can briefly take you near the top but that only time and money shows how well you do in the long term. Believing you are a top team is the starting point.

Sajmo1 12:04 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

In the world where some teams have 3 or 4 times bigger revenue then the others, finishing top4 as an "outsider" is a brilliant achievement. The last team bar Leicester that finished in the top 4 was Everton and it was about 16 years ago..

, 11:57 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

No but it would be our best EPL performance.

Right now on sixteen wins this term Moyes has equalled the most in a season. He can also break the record of EPL points but finishing above fifth is the big ask for me.

JayeMPee 11:24 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

Paper thin squad, injuries to key players including the spine of our team, this has to be an immense performance by any standards. Well done Moyes and the 'management team' and thanks to a fantastic (little) squad which is keeping our Euro hopes alive!!

I just hope that having moved us to the OS to bring European Football to West Ham GSB are going to give Moyes all he needs to keep our best players and to strengthen our desperately small squad.

gph 2:18 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

Hate to agree with Hermit, but we've been nowhere close to winning the top tier this time out.

Whereas we were cheated out of top spot by a Paul Walsh dive in 86.

Had we won at Anfield (and we were on top until afore-mentioned dive, penalty and Ray Stewart sending off for disputing a ridiculous decision), and all the other results been the same, we would have been Champions.

Anders 1:51 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

Different era back then, where the playing field was more equal.

One of the big reasons we have done well since lockdown has been not playing in front of our home fans.

arsegrapes 1:51 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

No, there's a reason medal's are dished out for coming third, you get SFA for fourth.

smartkev 1:23 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

4th my arse. We can still win the league

Hermit Road 12:52 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

3rd was special and edges this one out because we were genuine contenders for the title up until the last week. But for an insane fixture pile up we may have done it too.

This year is shaping up fantastically but we aren't there yet.

Peckham 12:43 Mon Apr 12
Re: Would finishing 4th be a bigger achievement than the 85/86 season?

We will finish 4th. I have no doubt West Ham gods in the sky and my old dear passing on, will give us the luck we have been missing for years. Luck as in other results going in our favour.

It will be a massive achievement and far out weigh 85-86, simply due to the money the big teams now have. How competitive the league is now.

I also predict Lingard is here to stay.


COYIS.

Page 1 - Next