West Ham emerge as relegation favourites
On Friday, we wrote that Liverpool were practically certain to beat West Ham but even we didn't anticipate quite how badly West Ham would fare in what has quite justifiably been described as the worst performance of the season in the Premier League.
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The scoreline was the same as the Iron's last loss at Anfield back in April but they appeared beaten before Liverpool had even taken the lead and had another fine Rob Green performance and the hosts' willingness to settle for what they had to thank for the fact it was only a 3-0 defeat.
In amongst the gallows humour displayed by the defiant travelling fans as their team surrendered pitifully, there was no doubting that this was the game in which they turned on boss Avram Grant, who was treated to chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning".
More surprising were the cries for Paolo Di Canio, the club's 21st century icon who has no managerial experience, and though it looks like the board won't be axing Grant right now, the fact Di Canio is due to attend next weekend's huge match against Wigan could cause the Israeli some discomfort.
In truth, while there were several areas where Grant is worthy of criticism for Saturday's humbling, such as the ambitious decision to start Victor Obinna, Frederic Piquionne and Carlton Cole and his attempt to pass the non-event that was the second half as a positive, a change of coach isn't what West Ham need.
The Irons have struggled for too long for it simply to be a managerial problem and they've tried switching tacticians once with little effect. Assuming that Martin O'Neill would lack interest, it's hard to see who there is out there that would be an upgrade on Grant, which is why sentimental calls for the likes of Di Canio and - in some quarters - Alan Pardew are the best supporters can muster.
Are the east Londoners doomed to the drop? The Liverpool loss saw them fall below Blackpool for the first time all season as [1.71] relegation favourites.
Published: 22 Nov 2010
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