West Ham players with the most to prove in pre-season
- Michael Oliver
- @MichaelOIiver
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This is a big season for West Ham and Slaven Bilic.
While their first season together was better than any of us could have hoped for, providing us with magical moments throughout the campaign, last season really left a bitter taste in many of our mouths.
West Ham want to be in the mix for the Europa League places and undoubtedly if they plan on doing so, they need better performances from near enough everyone in the squad.
There’s a lot of competition for places at the moment and pre-season will give players a chance to prove their worth to Bilic and his staff.
We’ve taken a look at the West Ham players who have the most to prove during pre-season.
Sofiane Feghouli
If rumours are to be believed, it seems as if West Ham are ready to part ways with the former Valencia winger.
Feghouli had a difficult debut campaign with the Hammers last season but he flashed some ability at times.
With his future up in the air, he needs to take his opportunity by the scruff of the neck if he really wants to fight for his place.
Diafra Sakho
Training clips and photos seem to suggest that Diafra Sakho is somewhere near full fitness as he’s a full participant in training at the moment.
Sakho made just three Premier League appearances last season largely down to injury and attitude problems.
West Ham are desperate to find a striker who can score regularly and in his one and only season where he played regularly, Sakho netted 12 in 28 appearances, a decent return.
If he can stay fit, which is a big if, and keep his head on straight, an even bigger if, then Sakho has a chance to stake his claim for a regular role.
Robert Snodgrass
Snodgrass never really made his mark at West Ham after arriving from Hull back in January.
The Scottish winger has a great work ethic but he doesn’t really have a natural role in the side at the moment.
The club appear ready to offload him so he must use pre-season to illustrate his value to the side.
Jose Fonte
Jose Fonte was another suspect January purchase and he, for the most part, was average during the second half of last season.
Now that Angelo Ogbonan is fit and tied to a new contract, the expectation is that he will partner Winston Reid next season.
Fonte, not getting any younger, will likely be on the outside looking in next season unless he can play his way back into the side.
Andy Carroll
Andy Carroll is another injury prone star who can’t stay on the field.
When he plays, he scores, he just doesn’t play often enough.
With questions about his fitness still lingering, Carroll faces the real proposition about being usurped by a new signing.
As West Ham seek a new striker, Carroll is up against it to prove to Bilic he is worthy of being the club’s top striker.
Sam Byram
Byram really impressed during the final three months of the season, but of course, the club have brought in Pablo Zabaleta which will undoubtedly force the right-back out of the side.
Byram is still young, he’s got the potential to be a solid performer, but he’s been at the club for 18 months now and Bilic still isn’t sold on him.
He needs to impress over the next few weeks to suggest he’s worth giving significant playing time to, as Zabaleta is not the future.
Aaron Cresswell
Cresswell’s first two seasons at the club were fantastic but his performances undoubtedly dropped last season despite his England call-up.
The Hammers brought in Arthur Masuaku to compete with Cresswell and he put in some good performances and fans have debated whether he has moved ahead of Cresswell in the pecking order.
With questions surrounding his place in the side, Cresswell has work to do to assert himself as the club’s top left-back.
Reece Burke
Burke has travelled with the first-team for pre-season despite rumours he could leave on loan.
West Ham allowed Recee Oxford to leave on loan and if they want to continue with a back three then they could do with an extra centre-back in the squad.
Burke has a lot of potential and has impressed out on loan, but he must use his chance during pre-season to prove his worth.
Josh Cullen
Cullen is in the same boat as Burke in regards to he’s another who could leave on loan.
Having earned rave reviews on loan with Bradford, Cullen could get a place in the squad after Havard Nordtveit left earlier in the window.
He’s been given pre-season to showcase what he can offer and he can’t let that opportunity slip away.
Ashley Fletcher
Fletcher made a lot of cameo appearances off the bench last season but wasn’t particularly impressive.
The former Manchester United youngster is still very raw but Bilic does seem to think he can contribute.
With the club looking for strikers, Fletcher needs to elevate his game to the next level in pre-season if he wants to earn a bigger role next season.
Slaven Bilic
Finally, Bilic has a lot to prove this summer.
He needs to get his recruitment spot on and make sure all the prep-work for next season is on point or the club could struggle like they did last season.
With just a year left on his contract, he needs to prove his worth to the owners otherwise he will be without a job in a years time.