Alan Pardew admits he has changed his mind on where West Ham can finish, praises fans

Follow us on Google Discover

Former West Ham United boss Alan Pardew has been discussing his old club’s hopes for the season.

The Hammers endured a difficult start losing all three of their opening Premier League games to leave Slaven Bilic’s side rock bottom with a minus eight goal difference.

West Ham also missed out on the deadline day signings of William Carvalho and Andre Gomes to add to the doom and gloom around the club.

But a first league win over Huddersfield last time out has lifted the mood and the team off the bottom going into this weekend’s trip to West Bromwich Albion.

Pardew told Sky Sports’ The Debate show that he felt West Ham looked in good shape before the start of the season but has changed his mind since.

“I think Slaven is ok at West Ham, they’ve got good players,” Pardew said on The Debate.

“When I looked at that squad at the start of the season I thought it was a top 10 squad.

“I’ve probably changed that opinion since, but I looked at it and thought that was a strong group.

“(Don’t get me wrong) West Ham could still finish in the top 10, they’ve got terrific support.”

A win on Saturday could push the Hammers as high as 12th depending on other results.

And that would surely convince any remaining doubters that Bilic deserves the chance to get the best out of his new-look squad and see where he can take the side this season, the last in his three-year contract.

It would also see the pressure move onto another manager’s shoulders which could be liberating for Bilic and his side in terms of their style of play and approach to the rest of the season.