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6 April 2009
I've been a bit tardy with my latest update as I have been preoccupied. Actually I am planning a return to London at the end of the year for at least 2 years and this has taken some time and much planning. But more of that later!

The Hammers have had a good February and March and that now sees us not only very safe in 7th place after our comfortable 2-0 defeat of Slumberland this weekend, it also means that we are pushing for a European place in the new Europa League next season courtesy of ManU's dominance this season and 3 of the top 4 in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Basically if 2 of ManU, Chelsea and Arsenal make the final of the FA Cup, then 7th in the League will deliver a place in Europe.

Simon Lewis in London has advised:
"The top four teams in the Premier League qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with the top two teams directly entering the group phase. The third and fourth placed teams enter the competition at the third qualifying round and must win a two-legged knockout tie in order to enter the group phase.

However, this has changed as of the 2008-09 season, so that the top three teams enter the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League at the group stage, and the fourth-placed team enters the third qualifying round for non-champions.

The fifth placed team automatically qualifies for the UEFA Europa League, and the sixth and seventh placed teams can also qualify, depending on what happens in the two domestic cup competitions.

If the FA Cup winners qualify for the Champions League, the runner-up is awarded the Europa League place; if the runner-up has also qualified for the Champions League, the spot goes to the next-highest placed league finisher not already qualified for Europe.

If the League Cup is won by a team that has already qualified for Europe, the League Cup's Europa League spot also goes to the next highest placed team in the League (unlike the FA Cup spot, it is never transferred to the losing finalist).

Prior to 2008-09, the highest placed team that had not qualified for the UEFA Cup was allowed the opportunity to compete in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, provided they had applied to enter the Intertoto Cup in the next season. The Intertoto Cup was discontinued after 2008 and folded into the UEFA Cup, which will be rebranded as the Europa League effective with the 2009-10 competition."

So, 7th will most likely deliver a place in Europe next season, if we want it. I believe that the Europa League starts late July so its not much of a break but then again pre-season friendlies start early August anyway?

Remaining Fixtures
The fly in the ointment though is our run-in and significant injury list. The remaining games are:

• 11 Apr - Tottenham Away
• 18 Apr - Villa Away
• 25 Apr Chelsea Home
• 2 May Stoke Away
• 9 May Liverpool Home
• 16 May Everton Away
• 24 May 'Boro Home

Cole seems out for the season joining Collison, Behrami & Ashton. Parker was out this week and Spector took a bad knock. New recruit Kovc was also out with a thigh muscle strain. Lucas even rushed back from leading OZ to victory on Wednesday night in Sydney to play central midfield in place of Parker! I can't recall him ever playing there and he must have been exhausted as he could not have arrived in London any earlier than Friday AM.

We are 2nd top of the PhysioRoom list, as usual, and all this means that we will struggle to score goals for the rest of the season! 50 points would be terrific but unlikely to be enough for 7th.

Tottenham - OzHammers Gathering - Saturday 11 April Midnight
I'd LOVE to beat Tottenham next week and if we do then we really could push on and even challenge the Toffees in 6th. Our Academy products Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins each scored their first senior team goals either side of half time. This is incredibly pleasing and once again proves the worth of Tony Carr and his amazing decades of worth as our Academy Director.

We have again arranged a special OzHammers Gathering for Sydney Hammers at our regular haunt:

The Hakoah Club - 67 Hall Street, BONDI
The Tottenham match KO is back to midnight given that daylight savings is now over so I look forward to seeing you all there. No doubt Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth Hammers will make their announcements as well.

Forever Blowing Bubbles
DPL