'This is arguably the biggest two months in West Ham's modern history'
[BBC] [PA Media] There is a difference of opinion throughout the West Ham fanbase where Sunday's FA Cup exit to Leeds United is concerned. While everyone is obviously disappointed not to have made a first FA Cup semi-final since 2006, the consequences of such a defeat are somewhat different, depending on which side of the fence you sit. On one side, with seven Premier League fixtures left to play and still being inside the relegation zone, no longer having the FA Cup to focus on during that period allows Nuno Espirito Santo, his staff and his players to put all of their focus on guiding the club to survival.
On the other, a trip to Wembley in the semi-final and then again for the chance to win a first FA Cup since 1980 might have given the players a huge confidence boost as they figure out how they are going to preserve West Ham's top-flight status at the same time. Many will have taken an FA Cup win if it meant relegation to the Championship. After all, football is all about winning trophies, isn't it?
Many others will have preferred survival over silverware because, as we recently learned from the club's annual accounts, West Ham's financial issues become immediately and worryingly worse without Premier League level income. There is credence to both views. I am not sure which one I subscribe to.
Indeed, I would have loved to see West Ham at Wembley for the first time since the 2012 second-tier play-off final. Winning the FA Cup would also allow me to bury the demons of 2006 once and for all, with Steven Gerrard's late, cramp-induced wonder strike in Cardiff still haunting me and many other Hammers fans to this day. But it was not to be this year.
I am convinced our year will come again eventually. Now the focus really is on making sure we stay in the Premier League. Seven games to go, starting with rock-bottom Wolves at home on Friday.