West Ham have 11 matches left to rescue their Premier League campaign.
The Hammers sit 18th, just two points behind Nottingham Forest, and while survival is far from guaranteed, recent performances have sparked belief.
They may have spent much of the season in the bottom three, but momentum is beginning to shift — and now a club legend has made a confident call on how it will all end.
Joe Cole Predicts West Ham’s Fate
Former West Ham star Joe Cole believes his old club will beat the drop.
Speaking on The Dressing Room Podcast alongside ex-Hammers Carlton Cole and Wayne Bridge, Cole did not sit on the fence.
“I look at them and go, ‘I think they’re going to get out of it’,” he said.
He doubled down on that belief, adding: “Do you think they will? Because I think they will. I’m happy to put my neck on the line now, I think West Ham will stay up.”
It is a bold statement given the club’s league position, but Cole clearly sees enough in recent displays to back a turnaround.
Cole Praises Disasi and Nuno
Explaining his optimism, Cole highlighted the impact of January arrival Axel Disasi from Chelsea, as well as tactical tweaks from boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
Cole pointed to a more pragmatic defensive structure, with Disasi partnering Dinos Mavropanos at centre-back and the team adopting a compact, low-block approach.
“I look at it and go, ‘Right, what has he done, Nuno?’,” explained Cole.
“He’s gone, ‘Right, I’ve got [Axel] Disasi and [Dinos] Mavropanos, two proper centre-halves. We’re going to play a low block and they’re going to defend the box.
“[Aaron] Wan-Bissaka and [El Hadji Malick] Diouf, I think they are very good players. Wan-Bissaka, arguably, one of our best players last year.”
Cole’s argument is simple: tighten up at the back, trust physical defenders to protect the area, and rely on energy and discipline in midfield.
There is still work to do, and West Ham supporters will not relax until safety is mathematically secure. But if recent form continues and Nuno’s structure holds firm, Joe Cole may yet be proven right in his confident prediction.
