Rated: How West Ham’s signings performed this season
- Michael Oliver
- @MichaelOIiver
- Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share via email
- •
- 556 reads
- •
- 4,797 views
- •
- 10 min read
Last season, finishing seventh and qualifying for the Europa League, enjoying our greatest season in over a decade, West Ham raised the bar, a bar they fell well short of this campaign.
Salvaging a mid-table place after spending much of the season sweating over our precarious position above the relegation zone is a decent effort but no doubt about it, this season was underwhelming and it largely comes down to the poor recruitment made last summer.
West Ham opted for quantity over quality in the transfer window last year which backfired majorly, but there was the odd bright spot.
We’ve assessed all of the Hammers’ signings from the past season, how they performed and handed them an overall rating for their debut season.
Simone Zaza
Signed to be West Ham’s saviour in front of goal, Zaza, for one reason or another, just couldn’t bed in at the club.
The effort levels were there, but it was clear he was just not the right fit in the team and his loan deal was cancelled in January.
Transfer Grade: F
Sofiane Feghouli
Feghouli arrived with high acclaim from his time at Valencia and he really struggled to adapt to English football.
The Algerian got off to a rocky start in the first half of the season but started to turn it around as the year progressed, finishing with four goals and three assists in 27 appearances.
No doubt he’s got a lot to prove in his second year, but he’s flashed great talent and I, along with many fellow fans, believe there’s a good player in there.
Transfer Grade: C+
Havard Nordtveit
The form of Pedro Obiang kept Havard Nordtveit out of the side for much of the year, forcing the Norwegian to be used as a utility player.
Spending time at centre-back and right-back and looking completely lost didn’t adhere himself to the fans, but in the games against Stoke and Everton he did look more comfortable in midfield.
He can’t be viewed as anything more than a squad player going forward and I think, for the right price, I’d consider letting him leave.
Transfer Grade: C-
Manuel Lanzini
After dazzling last season on loan, West Ham decided to sign Lanzini on a permanent deal for £9m in the summer and what a brilliant decision that was.
The Argentine playmaker has chipped in with eight goals this season and really stood up when Dimitri Payet quit the club in January.
West Ham face a tough task keeping him at the club going forward but he’s developed into arguably the best player at the club.
Transfer Grade: A+
Toni Martinez
Martinez was signed as a developmental striker and he really made a name for himself, scoring 14 goals in 13 games for the U23s, earning a loan move to Oxford United in January.
While he wasn’t always a starter for Oxford, he chipped in with three goals in 17 appearances and made a lasting impression on Michael Appleton would like him back on a second loan spell.
The talent is there with Martinez, it’s all about developing him to realise his potential. A smart buy.
Transfer Grade: A
Ashley Fletcher
Fletcher, like Martinez, was brought in to develop in the U23 squad but given the injuries in attack, he was thrust into the first-team squad early doors.
The former Manchester United striker made 20 appearances this season, netting just once.
He’s still only 21, and most of his minutes came from the bench, but I haven’t seen enough from Fletcher which makes me think he’s got what it takes at this level.
He needs a loan move next season to play every week and the club can assess him from there.
Transfer Grade: B
Jonathan Calleri
Calleri was meant to add some quality to the attacking ranks following his loan arrival from Deportivo Maldonado but did anything but.
In 19 appearances, he scored just the once and was largely disappointing whenever he entered the pitch.
Unlikely to be kept on, I’m thankful his time at the club is over.
Transfer Grade: D-
Domingos Quina
The highly-rated attacker arrived in the summer from Chelsea and has made an instant impact for the West Ham U23 side.
Nominated for the PL2 Player of the Season award and also winner of the Dylan Tombides award, Quina has come on leaps and bounds this season.
Set for a loan move next season, it would appear the club have unearthed a gem.
Transfer Grade: A
Arthur Masuaku
Masuaku started life at West Ham as a stand-in for the injured Aaron Cresswell and it was a poor start to say the least.
Knee injuries derailed his season throughout the autumn and winter but upon his return in March he discovered his best form for the club.
Offering a different option to Cresswell, the Frenchman has offered some positive performances of late and will hopefully build on that going forward.
Transfer Grade: B
Andre Ayew
Like many members of the squad, Ayew’s season was derailed by an injury right at the start of the campaign.
The club’s record signing was sluggish upon his return but hit the ground running after the African Cup of Nations.
With five goals and three assists in his last 13 games, Ayew has started to find the net and offer something in the final third which gives us belief heading into next season that he can continue doing so.
Transfer Grade: B
Edimilson Fernandes
Fernandes has impressed Bilic and his coaching staff this season with his cameo substitute appearances, earning himself a more prominent role in the side towards the end of the season.
Still only 21, Fernandes will look to build on his successful debut season for the Hammers next season and earn a bigger role in the first-team.
Transfer Grade: B+
Alvaro Arbeloa
Signed as a backup for Sam Byram to offer him some mentorship and tutelage throughout the season, Arbeloa might’ve succeeded in that role behind the scenes but on the field, he’s been poor.
When Byram went down, Arbeloa was unable to fill in capably for the right-back, prompting Bilic to use Cheikhou Kouyate and Havard Nordtveit in that position.
With his contract up, Arbeloa will be leaving the club in the summer.
Transfer Grade: D-
Gokhan Tore
Bilic really championed the move to bring Gokhan Tore to the club in the summer and it really backfired on him.
Prior to getting injured, Tore was a complete failure for West Ham, unable to adapt to the English game and I’ll be happy when he leaves in the summer.
Transfer Grade: F
Jose Fonte
Signed to add some depth to the defensive unit, Fonte’s performances have been up and down to say the least.
The team has looked more solid in recent weeks now playing a back three, whether Fonte is the reason remains to be seen.
I think Fonte was a panic buy, he’s a declining defender who will only get worse.
Transfer Grade: C-
Robert Snodgrass
Another panic buy in January, spending £10m on Snodgrass was one of the worst moves made by any club this season.
The midfielder has failed to nail down a place in the starting eleven and has really struggled to make an impact once getting on the field.
I really don’t think he was a good buy at all.
Transfer Grade: D