There is a huge summer ahead concerning the future of West Ham United.
The Hammers have had a fantastic 2015/16, finishing seventh in the Premier League in Slaven Bilic’s first season in charge. Europa League football will be back on the agenda at the club and with their move to the Olympic Stadium, there’s a lot of excitement around east London at the moment.
Bilic has done a great job at the club he once played for, improving on Sam Allardyce’s tenure when so many had doubts whether it could be done, and the Croatian should be credited as a large part of West Ham’s final position in the table. The former Besiktas tactician has implemented his style of play on the team and his signings have been very impressive.
The likes of Manuel Lanzini and in particular Dimitri Payet are set to be West Ham icons in their new chapter and, signed at low costs, Bilic and the club have shown they can more than hold their own in the transfer market. If they can do that again this year who knows where the club could be heading and here at FootballFanCast we think if West Ham bolster these FIVE positions, next season could be even more impressive than the one just gone…
Striker
Andy Carroll can be unplayable for opposition defences. He bullies centre halves and causes havoc with his aerial presence, but, there are the inevitable question marks over his fitness and if you look past him for back up and a consistent amount of goals, West Ham look short.
Payet is the Hammers’ top scorer this season, and that’s from midfield. If the Londoners could add a striker that scores double figures they’d be a very dangerous side.
Goalkeeper
Adrian is a decent enough ‘keeper, but should definitely be improved on if West Ham want to compete on all fronts next season. Darren Randolph has made cup appearances for the side mainly this season and doesn’t seem to be able to remove the Spaniard from his starting berth.
As is the case for all clubs, competition between goalies is vital at West Ham in order to stamp out complacency and a new potential No.1 this summer would add this factor to the squad.
Right Back
West Ham’s right back position is up for grabs.
There have been a number of players to try and fulfil that role, the latest being Michail Antonio who is more suited to playing further forward up the pitch. There’s hope the young Sam Byram, signed from Leeds United earlier this season, will become the first choice, but he has seen chances limited and so Bilic might be tempted to search for another option. The full back has become a vital position in modern football and West Ham need consistency here.
Attacking Midfielder
Goals from midfield are a big requirement if a team wants to compete at the highest level and although West Ham have a few that chip in with goals, none of them really reach double figures. Payet is in fact the only West Ham player to score over ten this season and if the Irons could get another like him they’d enjoy another good year.
Winger
Looking at the Hammers’ squad there seems to be very few players who are out and out wide-men. The likes of Payet, Lanzini, Antonio and Diafra Sakho have all featured in these positions but you wouldn’t say any of them are primarily wingers.
Title winners Leicester made great use of having wingers in their set up and for West Ham, with a target like Andy Carroll up front, getting players in that can attack a full back and whip in crosses would be a great addition.