da leao： Tipped for relegation at the start of last season, West Ham proved that you can play attractive football and succeed in the Premier League.
da esport bet： This season, though, things will be tougher. The new TV deal will see every Premier League club flaunt some considerable financial muscle, whilst Liverpool and Chelsea will improve. Both of those sides finished below the Hammers last season, yet Slaven Bilic’s side managed Europa League football only after Manchester United won the FA Cup.
So whilst West Ham are right to celebrate their progress under the Croatian manager, they must also steel themselves for a tougher campaign with more clubs to fend off in search of a European spot plus real life Europa League football to think about, too.
That’s why a bigger squad is necessary, and having already brought in the likes of Havard Nordtveit and Sofiane Feghouli this summer, that’s a reality that clearly isn’t lost on Slaven Bilic. He’s already made signings whilst he was in France stealing the nation’s hearts on ITV, so imagine what he’ll be able to do now he’s back!
The formation is an unknown – will Bilic go 4-3-3 with wingers, or will he look to play two holding midfielders, or will he even go with a back three? But one thing is certain – West Ham will have more strength in depth this summer than at any point in the last few decades.
It may be a tougher season, but with a front line like this, the Hammers can genuinely feel like a European push will be possible…
Havard Nordtveit
The midfielder signed on a free transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach this summer is first up in the side.
He played much of last season as a centre back, owing to his calm temperament and positional ability.
He’s not known as a tough tackler, more of a thinker, which makes him perfect for the holding role in this West Ham side – when defending, he’ll sit in front of the back four perfectly, but when attacking, he can slot into a three man defence, allowing the wingbacks to bomb forward without fear of being caught out of position in a counter attack.
Mark Noble
With Noble alongside Nordtveit, that probably means less space in the side for the likes of Cheikou Kouyate, which will sadden West Ham fans. But there are two things to note here. Firstly, that shows the depth of the squad. And secondly, with extra games and the possibility of fighting on four fronts, Kouyate will play a big role in the squad.
For me, Noble should get the nod. The way he relishes the uglier side – tackling, running – will compliment the more stand-off approach of Nordtveit, and his composure on the ball means he can be the link between attack and defence which will be so crucial for West Ham this season.
Sofiane Feghouli
Feghouli gives Bilic the option of playing with wingers, perhaps with Michail Antonio on the other side, but even in a narrower formation with Lanzini on the other flank, someone to draw defenders wide and create space for Dimitri Payet is crucial.
Expect Feghouli to be an important cog in the Irons’ machine this season, but the former Valencia man has pedigree himself and will be more than a sacrificial lamb for more talented players – that’s what Diafra Sakho is for!
Dimitri Payet
His stock just keeps rising, and the better he plays the more dangerous West Ham look. If last season wasn’t the making of Dimitri Payet, then maybe Euro 2016 will be.
The only question is whether he starts on one of the sides of the attacking midfield places or whether he starts with wide men either side of him.
Payet is a gift to whichever team he plays in because putting him on the left of an attacking midfield trio doesn’t waste his talents – he’ll be able to see the game better from there and cut inside masterfully. But the signing of Feghouli points to a central role for the talisman, who’ll play a roaming role.
Manuel Lanzini
A complete revelation last season, Lanzini was plucked from the UAE, but it’s quite clear his level far exceeds that. He’s a Premier League-level player.
He’s more adept in the number 10 role, but that’s where Dimitri Payet will play next season, which may point to Lanzini playing on the left.
Like Feghouli, this might involve creating space for Payet to roam in the centre, but like Feghouli, he’s a player with more to offer than running ability.
Mauro Icardi
The only part of the team that West Ham seem to be lacking in at the moment is the striker, and you can see that from the multitude of top-level strikers that the Hammers are being linked with.
The problem is, everyone wants a top-level striker.
Andy Carroll seems to have shed the injury-prone tag, but there’s always a sharp intake of breath every time he takes a step. West Ham need a man to put the ball in the net, and Mauro Icardi has shown that he’s one of the best around at that.
If West Ham can get someone like him to lead the line, the bottomless pit of creativity behind him should be enough to allow the Argentinian to feast heartily on a staple of goals.