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Sunday’s game against Sunderland could well be a pivotal point in Curbishly’s reign at Upton Park. After wiping away our opening day blues against Mr Eriksson’s impressive Manchester City with away wins at Birmingham and Reading - plus the home victory against Middlesbrough - all of a sudden, things seemed to be looking pretty rosy for us Hammers.

Fast forward a month (and a few injuries) and a repeat of last season slowly creeps into my nightmares! Three consecutive defeats are simply not good enough from a club who apparently, according the Icelandic guys at the top 'want to be challenging for Champions League Football'. I know success doesn’t happen overnight and I’m not saying it will. But the fact that the board clearly want this club to move on to that next level and compete with the big boys suggests that three defeats on the trot is not how to get there.

I don’t want this to turn into a 'sack the manager' rant for the simple fact that we are only eight games into the season. After the Argie-bargie season last year mid-table is a major improvement, is it not?

That’s why this weekend’s match against Roy Keane’s prawn sandwich eating (sorry I just couldn’t resist!) Sunderland is a must win game for Curbs. I feel this game could result in two possible options. Now before I reveal all, I am basing these options solely on the aims of our ‘ambitious’ board.

If things go our way on Sunday, which I like to point out I think will, then I believe Curbs has done himself enough to stay in the Hammers hot-seat for at least a few more games. However, if we fail to beat Sunderland and lose then that would make it four defeats on the spin.

That’s when the panic button may be pressed by Mr Gudmunsson and the Egg-man in the director’s box.

Facts and stats don’t lie, and anything but a win against Sunderland could signal the end of Curbishly’s days at Upton Park. No points from a possible twelve is not the best of records and one which the board surely do not look upon fondly. In some ways though, I feel sorry for the guy (Curbishly), I mean every club at some point in the season loses a key player through injury. But what we have witnessed this season at the club, with regards to the injury front has just been crazy! And just to add salt to the wound the ‘Dean Ashton comeback’ lasted long, didn’t it!

Despite having an injury room busier than most there’s no point dwelling on what may have been. Curbs has had the full backing of the board and has had time to bring in players he feels are up to the challenge of moving us on to that next level. Only time will tell if he will be successful.

Changing the subject quickly if I may, I’d also like to give a quick mention to the International scene. It was pleasing to see young Mark Noble getting a couple of goals for the Under 21s, fingers crossed he’s got a few more in his locker for this Sunday. As for the England/Russia game, don’t even get me started! The one thing I will say though is Robinson ‘out’ and Green ‘in’! Steve McClaren take note.

Now back to this Sunderland game. I recently read that Curbishly said he was going to find it hard to find enough players to make up the squad. Last time I look we had squad of nearly 30 plus! They can’t all be injured can they? If they are I’m looking forward to the line-up on Sunday!

With a tough trip to Fratton Park the following weekend the Sunderland game becomes even more important. Harry Redknapp has his Portsmouth side in great shape yet again and after a slow start to the season a couple of back to back wins has them back in the top five. A lot of teams fail to come away with anything from Fratton Park and I can’t really see us being any different, especially if we’re winless in our four last league games.

That’s why victory is a must against Sunderland; it could be the game that changes our season. All together now, "I’m forever blowing bubbles ..."

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