Why West Ham United can be the Premier League's next big boys
With famous wins away at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City already, the West Ham faithful can be forgiven for taking a moment to soak it all in. The Hammers, a nickname referring to their humble amateur ironworks football origins, were relegated for a record high of 42 points on the last day of the 01-02 season, and again finished bottom of the pile merely five seasons ago.
Their renaissance, which has seen them qualify for the Europa League at the end of last season (by virtue of topping the Premier League’s Fair Play table), and touch as high a position as 3rd in the League standings has been nothing short of remarkable.
Slaven Bilic’s magic and a squad overhaul:
Managers like Claudio Ranieri and Louis van Gaal have been at the centre of the media’s attentions, albeit for differing reasons. Further, in a season which saw fan-favourite manager Jurgen Klopp take over a big club like Liverpool, it has been a tad unfortunate that the impact Slaven Bilic has had on West Ham has been largely overlooked, or at best just touched upon by the media.
Bilic, former manager of the Croatian national team and Turkish giants Besiktas, holds a law degree and is a prolific guitarist. He was a part of West Ham during his playing days, and since taking over the reins from Sam Allardyce at the beginning of this season, he has modeled the Hammers according to his vision.
There was a massive squad overhaul in the summer and the difference is visible – West Ham are sharp and creative, a contrast to the lumbering, physical style that was the norm under Allardyce. Their signing of French international Dimitri Payet has been a masterstroke. He is the rock on which Bilic’s side is founded and is their creative force on the park. The former Marseille man was statistically the most creative player in Europe last season, and with a stellar support cast of Zarate, Lanzini and Sakho, West Ham have wreaked havoc in opposition defenses.
Another bright spot has been the emergence of youngster Reece Oxford. The lanky sixteen year-old was an imposing presence in the middle of the park in the 0-2 upset at Arsenal on the opening day of the season, and he was later adjudged man of the match. West Ham have also added much needed bench strength in the form of Alex Song (Barcelona), Victor Moses (Chelsea) and Nikica Jelavic (Hull City). Critically, it is the fantastic integration with club old boys Mark Noble, Cheikou Kouyate, Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia that have made West Ham a team with a solid chance of challenging for the European spots.
The Hammers’ energy and pressing style under Bilic have enabled them to go toe-to-toe with the big boys of the Premier League. Maintaining shape and discipline while executing their gameplan, which is based on counter-attacking with incisive, direct passing have yielded rich dividends.
Crippling injuries, impending historic move and the way ahead:
West Ham are on the cusp of history. With their impending move to the immense Olympic stadium at the end of this season coupled with the bumper TV contracts kicking in, West Ham can gradually cultivate the financial clout now possessed only by the Premier League’s elite.
When the bid to take over the iconic Olympic stadium was accepted, the chairmen knew that they finally had a chance to compete with the likes of the Emirates, Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium. Indeed, it is providential that a move to a big stadium, so critical for any club worth its salt (just ask the Italian clubs bar Juventus), comes at a time when the EPL’s riches threaten to burst at the seams, only for them to bulge more in the coming years with the TV deal. This would prevent any austerity measures and the subsequent loss of star players, as seen in the case with Arsenal.
However, West Ham have lost steam somewhat in recent weeks, and it goes without saying that the loss of their stars Payet, Lanzini and Sakho to injuries have been keenly felt. The 4-1 humbling by Tottenham aside, the likes of Winston Reid, Ogbonna and Aaron Cresswell have stepped up, as the Hammers have shifted their focus from attack to defence thanks to a swollen injury list. Remarkably, they are just 3 points adrift of a European place despite a run of three draws and two defeats in their last five games.
This is a tough period for West Ham as they await the return of their stars, and with the impending hectic festive period on its way, it is imperative that Bilic does the needful to ensure his team does not fall behind while they deal with their mini-crisis.
Bilic should take the opportunity of the winter transfer window to add further quality to his side, maybe pull off a coup like Crystal Palace did with Yohan Cabaye. The foundations are in place, and West Ham are in position to usher in a golden era and announce themselves as the Premier League’s next big boys.