Football, as a sport, is as round as a casino roulette wheel. Although skill takes precedence over luck, there are instances when one’s fate is determined by chance. But like a persistent poker player or a fierce card shark at the casino, the Hammers are trying to beat their football misfortune.
Sitting near the bottom of the Premiere League, West Ham United is positioned for another disappointing season. But similar to casino patrons, this could just be a part of a losing slump before they get back in winning form. At least, that’s what team captain Kevin Nolan believes.
“At the end of the day, we’ve just got to keep fighting and creating the chances and one of them will go in. Mladen Petric is getting up to full-speed with us and we’ve got Carlton Cole who is going to join in with us soon in training.” Nolan said in an interview with Mirror.
And certainly, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Last season, West Ham finished with a disappointing season. After the club’s one year absence prior to the 2012-2013 Premier League season, West Ham came back with an optimistic mindset. And this optimism carried over at the start of the season. The Hammers emerged victorious on opening day but have lost every game ever since. Like the world’s card professionals, a slump can only motivate the players to seek for more. From the patrons of the Casino de Monte Carlo to the devotees of Castle Jackpot, persistence is key.
This should translate well on the pitch. The team’s trump card could be Andy Caroll. Although he is still not cleared to play with injury woes, he should provide immediate impact when he returns to pitch.
But of course, there’s more to football than just luck and star players. Once the dice rolled and all chips are in, luck would favour those who are prepared. The Hammers are not in championship form, but the “losing mentality” is definitely not part of their system. As long as they keep their hopes up, the tables could get turned around.