On New Years Day West Ham United co-chairman, David Gold, admitted that it was his sides ambition to qualify for the Champion’s League come the end of the Premier League campaign.
“I would say West Ham’s real expectation and dream is to take fourth place,” he told talkSPORT. “It’s not impossible. I know it’s been a long while since one of the so-called ‘smaller clubs’ have broken into the top four but it’s not impossible.”
However, despite West Ham’s solid first half of the season, this was always going to be an unlikely scenario. Now, after it has been reported that the Hammer’s revelation of the season, Alex Song, has been called up late to the Cameroon squad for the African Cup of Nations, this likelihood has taken an even bigger hit. Cameroon manager, Volker Finke, declined to select Alex Song for the tournament, at first. However, he became convinced that his inclusion would be necessary after his impressive and imposing performances in the claret and blue shirt this season.
Song has earned this call up, no doubt. He has achieved more in one half of a season in England than he did with Arsenal during his long tenure there. I would go so far as to say that he has been the heartbeat of the side just as Yaya Toure and Morgan Schneiderlin are for theirs. He never achieved such a level with Arsenal or Barcelona. Additionally with Cheikhou Kouyate also absent, with Senegal, West Ham will have a massive void to fill for what quite possibly be a months time. West Ham has punched above their weight tremendously this season. But, this may be the blow that knocks them out of Champions League contention come the middle of next month.
Source: DSG
