Football Season Review

№13: West Ham United

A season that threatened to go out of control finally ended on a fairly comfortable note for West Ham who finished the campaign in a mid-table position, sitting nine points clear of the relegation zone and just two away from the top half of the table. Despite once again spending big in the transfer market by bringing in Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez, West Ham struggled to get going and managed just two wins from their opening 11 games which left them sitting just outside the relegation zone and led to Slaven Bilic's dismissal. The Hammers' decision to appoint David Moyes as Bilic's replacement was not welcomed by the fans though the former Manchester United coach did stabilize the results somewhat and even succeeded in bringing the best out of Arnautovic who was having a dismal season so far. Injuries played a major role in West Ham's inconsistent performances under Moyes with a number of key players out for long periods. The Hammers remained uncomfortably close to the relegation zone for large portions of the campaign, and only a late surge in form, which saw them collect seven points from their final three games, ensured they finished 13th in the table. While Moyes did fulfill his brief of helping West Ham pull away from the relegation zone, the Scottish coach failed to win over the fans and has since been let go. The Hammers face a crucial summer both in terms of player recruitment and a permanent successor to Bilic if they are to enjoy a far more comfortable campaign next season.


Player of the Season: Marko Arnautovic