We are now 11 games into the 2015/16 campaign, approaching a third of the way through the season, and it has been something of a rollercoaster ride for West Ham United.
Having opened things up at the height of summer, way back on July 2, emotions at the Boleyn Ground, and even more so on the road, have swung wildly between agony and ecstasy.
Elimination from the Europa League before the reaching the group stage represented an early setback and had many questioning the impact such endeavours would have on Premier League form.
Those doubts were blown out of the water on the opening weekend at Arsenal, and subsequently at Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, but it has not all been plain sailing for the Hammers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIWHEj2l3rE
Often, the highs of snatching a high-profile success have been followed by the lows of a humbling reversal which brings everyone back down to earth with a bump.
They are by no means alone in that boat, though, with many English top-flight rivals having struggled for consistency and momentum after offering themselves a platform on which to build.
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has noticed as much and told the club’s official website ahead of Saturday’s home date with Everton – a side riding high on the back of a 6-2 demolition of Sunderland: “I have a theory that if you win big you lose the next game.”
Mr Sullivan makes an intriguing point.
West Ham followed their stunning win at Arsenal with defeat to Leicester City, their victory at Manchester City with defeat to the Foxes in cup competition and a draw with Norwich City in the league, and derby success at Chelsea with a 2-0 reversal at Watford.
We've had 6 great wins but today we were well beaten helped by two individual defensive errors, now we must bounce back against Everton. dg
— David Gold (@davidgold) October 31, 2015
Only their win at Anfield has been backed up with another, and that is an issue Slaven Bilic will be eager to address.
They have the opportunity to get back on track this weekend, with Premier League odds fancying them to do the business at home to Everton before another glamour tie is taken in at London foes Tottenham Hotspur – in which they will want to add to their enviable list of away scalps.
A home date with West Bromwich Albion is then followed by a trip to Manchester United, so the big games certainly show no sign of letting up on the road.
The challenge is, however, as pointed out by those at the controls in the boardroom, that a method needs to be found of ensuring that results are not secured in isolation, with focus maintained regardless of the calibre of opponent and performance levels preserved over a prolonged period of time.
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