David Sullivan’s verdict on what was missing from Slaven Bilic’s first season at West Ham

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David Sullivan has given his verdict on what was missing from Slaven Bilic’s fine first season as West Ham United manager.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic

Bilic has been one of the stars of the Euro 2016 sparkling in his TV punditry role.

The Hammers impressed fans and pundits alike by mounting a serious challenge for the Champions League places in Bilic’s debut season.

As well as taking a number of notable scalps home and away, including a historic treble over Liverpool, Bilic has reinvigorated the East Londoners and with stars such as Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini, the Hammers are playing the ‘West Ham way’ once more.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic celebrates after the match with their coaching staff

Best ever Premier League points total

The Irons have officially enjoyed their best ever points tally in the Premier League era and have a positive goal difference for the first time since 1986.

Bilic also masterminded a fitting and thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Manchester United in the last ever game at Upton Park and steered the club into the Europa League for their first season at the Olympic Stadium.

Hammers co-owner Sullivan was delighted with the former Croatia manager’s first season as a manager in East London.

Leicester City – Premier League Title Winners Parade

Missing a miracle

But he told West Ham’s official website it was just missing one thing.

“Other than a Leicester miracle we could not have asked for a better season,” Sullivan told whufc.com.

“I think overall he has done a very good job and we could not have asked for any more from the manager.

“He believes in the club and the project and with a bit of good luck we could have been in the Champions League.”

Picture Supplied by Action Images

Busy summer ahead

Sullivan has already backed his manager with two new signings so far this summer in the shape of midfielders Havard Nordveit and Sofiane Feghouli.

The highly-rated duo were both secured on free transfers but the Hammers are expected to spend big on two new strikers too, as confirmed by Sullivan himself and reported by the likes of the Mirror.