It has been a torrid season on and off the pitch for West Ham United but it’s not all doom and gloom.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
The Hammers have endured a stark contrast in fortunes compared to their record breaking farewell season at the Boleyn Ground.
Slaven Bilic’s side have been in freefall and found themselves perilously close to the danger zone of late after five defeats on the bounce.
Indeed it was seven games since the Hammers last tasted victory until they beat Swansea City 1-0 on Saturday.
The East Londoners still have some work to do to secure safety in what has been a hugely disappointing season.
But it is not all doom and gloom.
Here are five reasons to be optimistic for Hammers fans.
West Ham’s Reece Oxford
1) Super six emerging
One of the biggest criticisms of Bilic this season has been his reluctance to blood the club’s promising crop of youngsters.
But next season could see no less than six top quality youngsters knocking on the door.
That’s because Reece Oxford, Reece Burke, Toni Martinez, Josh Cullen, Martin Samuelsen and Domingos Quina have all had loan experience or have featured in the first team squad this season and look set to push to join standout young star Edimilson Fernandes – signed for a bargain £5million last summer – in and around the first team squad in 2017/18.
West Ham United owners Sullivan and Gold
2) Recruitment failures will force Sullivan and Gold’s hand
Much of the blame for West Ham’s terrible season has been placed squarely at the feet of owners David Sullivan and David Gold. The duo promised fans they would be spending big money on marquee signings as 52,000 supporters signed up for season tickets at the club’s new Olympic Stadium home.
The reality was 10 desperately poor transfers on a variety of loans and free transfers followed up by some equally poor transfer business in January as 33-year-old Jose Fonte and the woeful Robert Snodgrass were signed for a combined total of £18million.
The recruitment has been highlighted by fans and pundits throughout football and the owners have also been heavily criticised for the unprofessional and public nature they do their business.
As a result Sullivan and Gold know they cannot get away with that again, not if they want to continue filling their huge new ground so proper investment should be on the horizon.
General view outside West Ham’s Olympic Stadium
3) Notoriously difficult first season at new stadium is out of the way
The first season at a new ground is always difficult. In West Ham’s case they left one of the most historic and iconic football grounds in English football history for a stadium as controversial as it too was iconic after hosting the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The period of adjustment is there for all to see throughout the history of football. Arsenal struggled to adapt to the Emirates initially – although there is some exaggeration when the North Londoners are used as an example because the Gunners actually won 12 of their 19 Premier League home games in their first season at there. West Ham have won six and with a number of home games remaining will hope to improve that record further.
Matchday routines have now been worked out, like-minded fans will relocate to be sat together for the new season which should benefit the atmosphere while players too will be well used to their surroundings which will no longer be new to them.
Little niggles here and there have and are being ironed out by the club and the second season will surely see it all start to feel more like home.
Money in the bank: Dimitri Payet is just one reason Bilic should have big money to spend this summer
4) Mega money to spend
The Hammers should be flush for cash this summer for a number of reasons… and the owners will be under pressure to start serious investment to push the club on.
Simone Zaza ended up being the club’s “marquee” striker signing last summer but his loan was cancelled before the £25m obligation to buy clause was activated West Ham never ended up signing that “marquee” striker.
James Tomkins and Payet have been sold for a combined £35 million while the Hammers announced record income in their annual accounts off the back of the ever-increasing TV deal.
The extra ticket revenue, commercial and merchandising revenue streams has seen the club enter the prestigious European Deloitte Football Money League Top 20 for the first time, as proudly paraded on its official website back in January.
So with all that in mind, likely players sales as the deadwood is cleared out, plus the money that would have been made available anyway for this summer, Slaven Bilic should expect no less than a £100m warchest to start playing catch-up on the top six.
West Ham United’s Cheikhou Kouyate celebrates scoring with the club’s fans
5) Struggles make team stronger
Bilic said it himself last week that the silver lining to a poor season could be that West Ham have bonded after overcoming a lot of adversity.
Going through those struggles together and coming out the other side should make the Hammers more resilient next season provided they learn from their mistakes and the squad is improved sufficiently.
The poisonous influence of Dimitri Payet will be long in the past and Bilic will be able to call on examples from this season for motivation next term.
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