West Ham United’s media department do their customary ‘inside Rush Green’ photo release ahead of each Premier League encounter illustrating the Hammers squad ‘hard at work’ in training sessions under head coach Nuno Espírito Santo and assistant Paco Jemez.
Look a little closer this week and there’s a telling difference from the previous week’s pre-Liverpool encounter.
The smiles are back. Seemingly everywhere.
Whether in posed bravado or a genuine upbeat enjoyment of their challenges to come, the Hammers squad appear positively radiant in the spring sunshine. All well and lovely you might think.
But there’s a very real fact evident behind the smiles: The Liverpool thrashing has been long forgotten. Nuno appears to have been working hard on his side’s mental approach to this game.
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the Liverpool thrashing looks long forgotten
As the Hammers strive to climb above Nottingham Forest towards safety in the Premier League, Nuno has his side looking relaxed and – dare one say it – apparently – eager for the challenge.
The ‘positivity’ vibe which was coursing through the side after their pre-Liverpool form has been recreated to give the Irons a fighting chance at Craven Cottage tomorrow night.
See what I mean?
From the look of it, Nuno’s side look up for the fight. The five goals shipped at Anfield hasn’t dented the mood and the players look in fine fettle. If you were a Spurs or Forest fan at the moment, the Hammers’ recent resurgence would be playing on your mind – and the ‘bouncebackability’ of Nuno’s under pressure West Ham side would be distinctly worrying.
Even Leeds look to be wobbling after last night’s performance and could be dragged back into the relegation battle:
Three points means seventeenth place. Nothing else matters tonight. And the Hammers look up for it.