Arsenal, Bournemouth, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Everton, Hull City, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, West Bromwich Albion
Last season
Can be summed up by the signing and subsequent performances of one man: Dimitri Payet. Having transferred for a very reasonable £12m, the French magician proved his worth almost immediately, with chances being created each and every game, and popping up with the occasional important goal and outstanding free-kick.
Having made a blistering start to their season, with shocking away victories at first Anfield and the Etihad Stadium to beat the previously 100 per cent Manchester City, West Ham kicked on from their. In a season full of shocks, they spent a large part of the year challenging for the Champions League spots, before eventually fading away into the Europa League spots, only managing European football thanks to Manchester United's FA Cup win. Nevertheless, an outstanding first season for Slaven Bilic at the helm of the Hammers.
Can be summed up by the signing and subsequent performances of one man: Dimitri Payet. Having transferred for a very reasonable £12m, the French magician proved his worth almost immediately, with chances being created each and every game, and popping up with the occasional important goal and outstanding free-kick.
Having made a blistering start to their season, with shocking away victories at first Anfield and the Etihad Stadium to beat the previously 100 per cent Manchester City, West Ham kicked on from their. In a season full of shocks, they spent a large part of the year challenging for the Champions League spots, before eventually fading away into the Europa League spots, only managing European football thanks to Manchester United's FA Cup win. Nevertheless, an outstanding first season for Slaven Bilic at the helm of the Hammers.
Backroom setup
Unsurprisingly, Bilic has been retained at the head of the London club, meaning that the key change has come off the field. Having spent 112 years at the famous Boleyn Ground, the Hammers have made the move across East London to the newly renovated Olympic Stadium, renamed the London Stadium.
With the new place holding upwards of 50,000, they'll be looking to make the new Olympic Stadium a real fortress in the opening weeks to make the Hammers fans comfortable in their surroundings.
Unsurprisingly, Bilic has been retained at the head of the London club, meaning that the key change has come off the field. Having spent 112 years at the famous Boleyn Ground, the Hammers have made the move across East London to the newly renovated Olympic Stadium, renamed the London Stadium.
With the new place holding upwards of 50,000, they'll be looking to make the new Olympic Stadium a real fortress in the opening weeks to make the Hammers fans comfortable in their surroundings.
Pre-season
Well if nothing else, it's been busy. However, it could certainly be argued that this pre-season has not been particularly successful, with the Hammers securing only one win from six games. This started with a 3-0 defeat to the Seattle Sounders, followed by consecutive 2-2 draws with second division US side Carolina RailHawks and Czech side Slovacko, though it should be mentioned that the Hammers saw a 2-0 lead slip in the latter game entering the final three minutes.
A 3-0 defeat to Rubin Kazan followed, before a win over Kahlsruher by the same scoreline, with Carroll, Feghouli and Fletcher on the scoreboard. Finally, West Ham welcomed Serie A champions Juventus to officially open the London Stadium in a game they narrowly lost 3-2 - two goals from Carroll not quite able to cancel out a trio from Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Simone Zaza.
However, more important was the fact that West Ham would be playing European football from the end of July. Drawn against little-known Slovenian side Domizale, West Ham struggled with conditions overseas, losing 2-1 in Ljubljana, but did overcome the Slovenians in East London, winning 4-2 on aggregate.
Well if nothing else, it's been busy. However, it could certainly be argued that this pre-season has not been particularly successful, with the Hammers securing only one win from six games. This started with a 3-0 defeat to the Seattle Sounders, followed by consecutive 2-2 draws with second division US side Carolina RailHawks and Czech side Slovacko, though it should be mentioned that the Hammers saw a 2-0 lead slip in the latter game entering the final three minutes.
A 3-0 defeat to Rubin Kazan followed, before a win over Kahlsruher by the same scoreline, with Carroll, Feghouli and Fletcher on the scoreboard. Finally, West Ham welcomed Serie A champions Juventus to officially open the London Stadium in a game they narrowly lost 3-2 - two goals from Carroll not quite able to cancel out a trio from Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Simone Zaza.
However, more important was the fact that West Ham would be playing European football from the end of July. Drawn against little-known Slovenian side Domizale, West Ham struggled with conditions overseas, losing 2-1 in Ljubljana, but did overcome the Slovenians in East London, winning 4-2 on aggregate.
Squad and signings
The Hammers have also been busy in the transfer market, and were perhaps the first team to announce a signing, with Sofiane Feghouli announced from Valencia on a free before the summer had even started. Similarly, Havard Nordtveid left Borussia Monchengladbach for London for free, while there were undisclosed signings for strikers Toni Martinez and Domingos Quina, and loan moves for Gokhan Tore and Jonathan Calleri from Besiktas and Deportivo Maldonado respectively.
However, the Hammers' biggest signings were made more recently, with the £20.5m signing of Swansea attacking midfielder Andre Ayew arguably the biggest coup. The club also invested a further £6.25m in Arthur Masuaku from Olympiakos as they looked to sure up their defence.
On the outgoings, only James Tomkins has left, with the Hammers making £10m from his move to London rivals Crystal Palace. This will be pleasing to West Ham fans, providing the strength in depth required to fight on multiple fronts.
The Hammers have also been busy in the transfer market, and were perhaps the first team to announce a signing, with Sofiane Feghouli announced from Valencia on a free before the summer had even started. Similarly, Havard Nordtveid left Borussia Monchengladbach for London for free, while there were undisclosed signings for strikers Toni Martinez and Domingos Quina, and loan moves for Gokhan Tore and Jonathan Calleri from Besiktas and Deportivo Maldonado respectively.
However, the Hammers' biggest signings were made more recently, with the £20.5m signing of Swansea attacking midfielder Andre Ayew arguably the biggest coup. The club also invested a further £6.25m in Arthur Masuaku from Olympiakos as they looked to sure up their defence.
On the outgoings, only James Tomkins has left, with the Hammers making £10m from his move to London rivals Crystal Palace. This will be pleasing to West Ham fans, providing the strength in depth required to fight on multiple fronts.
Tactics
Assuming Andy Carroll stays fit, I would certainly expect the Hammers to utilise the width and crossing ability of Payet and the aerial prowess of the Newcastle-born striker. Bilic also seemed to favour the use of wing-backs to provide a distraction, so expect Aaron Cresswell to be bombing on and stretching defences.
Assuming Andy Carroll stays fit, I would certainly expect the Hammers to utilise the width and crossing ability of Payet and the aerial prowess of the Newcastle-born striker. Bilic also seemed to favour the use of wing-backs to provide a distraction, so expect Aaron Cresswell to be bombing on and stretching defences.
Predictions
While the squad has the quality to compete on three fronts, I would be surprised to see the Hammers experience the same success in the Premier League as they did last year, as their European exploits will have an effect on their league form. I'm going to go for a comfortable mid-table finish, but it would take a significant effort to keep the team around the European places come May.
While the squad has the quality to compete on three fronts, I would be surprised to see the Hammers experience the same success in the Premier League as they did last year, as their European exploits will have an effect on their league form. I'm going to go for a comfortable mid-table finish, but it would take a significant effort to keep the team around the European places come May.
Final position: 10th
No comments:
Post a Comment