Gold dust in sight as Hammers really can start to dream
THE whooping and hollering reverberating through the walls of the away dressing room was music to David Gold’s ears as he marched to offer his congratulations to West Ham’s players.
And there is another soundtrack of success which the club’s joint chairman remains intent upon hearing.
After the Hammers turned round a 2- 0 defi cit with three late goals, he said: “At the beginning of the season we can all dream, but now it’s a real possibility,” said Gold. “It’s a bit more than a dream.
EVERTON
WEST HAM
European football in our fi rst season at our new home is looking very possible.”
To wonder whether it could be the Champions League anthem or the Europa League music which blares out at the Olympic Stadium next term is a debate Gold is happy to have with himself.
Leicester, as West Ham manager Slaven Bilic was quick to point out, remain the story of the season. But the renaissance in the East End is almost as uplifting.
This is partly because it has been so unexpected. It is strange to now think how Bilic was not the fi rst choice as manager last summer, when the bravery of his approach makes him the perfect fi t.
While even Gold admitted the success of the club’s recruitment drive has yielded greater rewards than ever imagined, with Michail Antonio launching the fi ghtback on 78 minutes, substitute Diafra Sakho bringing parity and Dimitri Payet providing the fi nal fl ourish in added time.
“We thought Payet was good, he’s turned out to be brilliant, quite exceptional,” said Gold.
“And another great success has to be the young man we bought from Nottingham Forest, Antonio.
“Then you’ve got guys like Obiang and Ogbonna, who go about their work quietly and play a big part in our success. So it’s not one thing, it’s all of it, and that obviously includes the
manager and the fans as well.”
But it was a different story for Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who bears the brunt of the fans’ anger.
The stupidity of Kevin Mirallas in careering into Aaron Cresswell in the 34th minute to collect a second booking and his marching orders, was followed by the carelessness of Romelu Lukaku in wasting the penalty that would have given Everton a 3- 0 lead.
Martinez can only be held accountable for so much. Yet the sight of the home defence abdicating all responsibility as an advantage gleaned through Lukaku and the rejuvenated Aaron Lennon was surrendered, supported the narrative that the manager does not drill his players in doing the dirty jobs nearly enough. It is now 29 points frittered away at Goodison Park.
Next week’s FA Cup quarter- fi nal against Chelsea really assumes huge importance, not just for Everton’s season but in terms of Martinez steadying himself. West Ham go to Old Trafford. Week by week the stakes are also rising for them.