Likeable Slaven Bilic might not be at West Ham United for much longer.
The Hammers have endured a torrid start to Bilic’s third season in the job with defeats in each of their three Premier League games so far leaving them propping up the table with a minus eight goal difference already.
It is in stark contrast to Bilic’s record breaking first season as boss in East London where he led West Ham to a record Premier League points total.
The team also recorded a first positive goal difference since 1986 that season and the Hammers finished within four points of the Champions League places – something they would have achieved by turning just two of their league highest 14 draws into wins.
Unfortunately for Bilic, though, there appears to be a hangover from last season and such is the frustration of the club’s fans he may not be around to see the job through.
The signs were there in pre-season.
West Ham won just once – 2-1 against Fulham – and scraped a 3-3 draw with German fourth tier side Atlona in their penultimate game.
Manchester City provided their final pre-season test and when he came up against Pep Guardiola the gulf was alarming in the dugout and on the pitch as West Ham were flattered in a 3-0 drubbing.
City’s Manchester rivals provided the first test of the new league season and despite performing pretty well early on West Ham’s heads dropped as soon as they went 1-0 down as they went on to ship another three in a 4-0 thrashing.
A spirited fightback when 2-0 and a man down at Southampton ultimately ending in a gut-wrenching last gasp 3-2 defeat.
A 2-0 win over League Two Cheltenham in the Carabao Cup after that gave Bilic his only win of the season so far, although the Ronins had their chances.
Any encouraging signs quickly evaporated at St James’ Park last time out, though, as West Ham turned in one of their worst performances for years to lose 3-0 to a makeshift Newcastle side.
That result has put Bilic in danger and it was written all over his face at full-time.
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