After their embarrassing display against Astra Giurgiu Thursday night, West Ham were rightfully eliminated from the Europa League for the second year in succession. It topped off an uninspiring pre-season and an indifferent start to their inaugural Premier League season at their new home in Stratford.
Media outlets across the country were hyping up the 2016/17 season for West Ham. New stadium, new signings and lofty ambition – but perhaps the warning signs were there weeks ago that this season might not bring the success we have been longing for.
With dismal results to lesser teams in pre-season (for example the 3-0 defeats to both Seattle Sounders and Rubin Kazan), the positive vibe around the club quickly dissipated. The much-hyped international tour was anything other than a success, bringing poor performances and injuries into a new season isn’t ideal preparation.
The pursuit for that ’20-goal’ striker seems to be coming to and end with the arrival of Simone Zaza from Juventus, but ambitions were extremely high as the board made bids for Michy Batshuayi and Alexandre Lacazette – two elite-level talents commanding fees well in excess of £30m, and who can forget the two-month long pursuit of Carlos Bacca. Zaza is certainly a great addition, but he is a step below the other striker we were after and no one can deny that.
And if that wasn’t enough, the good ol’ West Ham injury curse struck again: their new £20.5m record signing, Andre Ayew, got injured in his first game for West Ham against Chelsea and will be out until December, and who knows how much action he’ll play in the winter considering he’ll likely be jetting off to the African Cup of Nations with Ghana in January.
Andy Carroll (again) has succumbed to injury and will be out for at least a month. Aaron Cresswell, we won’t see him until November at the earliest, while both Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet have largely been out of action so far this season.
The final straw (for me, anyway) was when David Sullivan Jr., the co-owners son of the same name, got on the back of all fans after the disastrous Astra Giurgiu loss by posting a public snapchat bragging he slept with a princess – only adding further food for thought that there is an ever-growing discrepancy between the club and its fans.
We’re out of Europe, injuries are mounting up and the team are lacking form. I don’t mean to be focusing on the doom and gloom, but I ask: is there any hope left in the season, already?
To many, this might sound astonishingly pessimistic. Many will be hanging onto the efforts as last season, clinging to any shred of hope and ambition we have previously shown.
Roberto Martinez had a great first season at Everton as well, but failed to extend his success and they departed their ways after two pitiful seasons. Despite everyone’s collective love for Bilic, this could very well happen to the Croatian. The ‘second-season syndrome’ is a very real thing in English football.
Also, last season both West Ham and Leicester enjoyed unrealistic success at the misfortune of others: Chelsea’s season was disastrous, Manchester United struggled with Louis van Gaal and Manchester City was far from the side they were the two seasons before, with Liverpool still rebuilding as well – not to forget it was the last and emotional season in the Boleyn which surely would’ve added to our performances which we won’t have this season.
The passion that was brought to life in those games is unparalleled at the London Stadium. The high-intensity crowd would be intimidating for visiting clubs – a major influence in West Ham’s 15-game unbeaten run at Upton Park last season. Those factors go hugely overlooked when reflecting on last season. Most of us still live in a bubble of Bilic’s genius and Payet’s wonders, a bubble that may very well burst soon enough if we don’t get into shape.
What can kickstart The Irons’ season?
Well, bygones be bygones, and injured players will start to return to action. In the next fortnight or so, the Hammers can expect to welcome back Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini, Sofiane Feghouli and Havard Nordtveit back into the first-team set-up. Welcoming these key players back will undoubtedly make a huge difference. The lack of creativity that was displayed against Chelsea, Astra Giurgiu and Bournemouth was a key reason behind their poor performances. Having Lanzini and Payet back is critical to our success.
After being knocked out in the Europa League qualifiers as well last season, the Hammers kicked off their Premier League season in fine style with a 2-0 away win at Arsenal. Not having beaten Arsenal away in years, this remarkable victory was a great way to get everyone around the club positive for what Bilic can bring.
The losses against Leicester and Bournemouth were as distant memory after the wins against Manchester City and Liverpool – and hopefully, Bilic can inspire a similar performance at the Etihad tomorrow off the back of another unexpected Europa League exit.
West Ham need a statement victory to get the fans believing in the team again and backing them 100% because right now, there is a feeling around the club that not everyone is convinced in the squad, or have bought into the new stadium and the direction the club is heading in.
The mood behind the scenes is something we will never know as it is hidden behind a tough wall of media training, but we are all aware because of social media how fans are feeling and it often reflects very well how a club is faring.
Picking fights with fans about standing at the stadium, banning fans for life and taking away other inherent football cultures we’re used to as West Ham fans will not help build bridges between the club hierarchy and the fans – a gap that’s growing.
I expect Bilic to inspire this team for the long, arduous season ahead, because they have a lot of work to do if they want to reach their goals. If I’m Pep Guardiola, I’d be worried about facing West Ham tomorrow. They’ll be angry, energised and ready for a right after being embarrassed on a European stage.
