In preparation for the new season, West Ham have been active in the efforts to better their 10th place finish last season spending over £60m so far in the summer 2019 transfer window.
Pablo Fornals and Sebastian Haller have both joined the Hammers as Manuel Pellegrini ramps up his attempts to qualify for Europe in his second season in charge. The Chilean manager has brought his championship-winning mentality to the club and this summer has removed a long list of players who were taking up space on the club’s books. Departures include players such as Andy Carroll, Adrian and Marko Arnautovic, and while they have moved on a long list of players, they seem to have been replaced by this summer’s signings.
West Ham are a team who have managed to certify themselves as a Premier League side but perhaps fans will begin to expect more after a steady campaign last time out coinciding with some big spending. Haller signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for 36m and his arrival marks a shift in mentality that West Ham will look to have this season. Last season Haller played 41 times, scoring 20 and creating 12 showing that he can lead the offensive line with both goals and assists. If he can emulate this form for his new club then they could be contending for the Europa League spots this season in their attempts to prove they are not just mid-table filler.
Meanwhile, the Hammer’s £25m signing Pablo Fornals has been impressing in pre-season, providing a creative edge to their midfielder in the two halves of football he has played against Athletic Bilbao and Hertha Berlin. With players like Haller and Felipe Anderson going forward, Fornal might just be the final piece of the puzzle that Pellegrini’s side needs to contend at the top end of the table.
West Ham’s strengths and weaknesses
Pellegrini’s side struggled at times last season, but it was largely a successful first campaign in charge at the London Stadium. They finished on 52 points, five short of Wolves but a strength that emerged under the Chilean manager last season was an improved midfield. By adding an extra playmaker and a player who looks like a serious goal threat, they could cause teams a lot of problems this season.
The midfield looked like a well rounded often last season with breakthrough youngster Declan Rice providing midfield stability and defensive protection while new signing Felipe Anderson became a fan favourite scoring 10 and assisting four. Fans were disappointed to see top scorer Arnautovic leave has he departed for China, but if Haller produces goals he will be quickly forgotten.
West Ham were fairly consistent last season putting together two four-match unbeaten runs. Victories over Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester United and Everton stand out as their best performances last season and showed that they are well capable of competing with the division’s top teams.
Another of West Ham’s strongest assets is their goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski who marked his debut season by winning the Hammer of the Year award. After signing from Swansea, the Pole had a remarkable campaign between the sticks, keeping stiff competition for the number one spot at bay. He made the most saves in the league stopping shots at goal 148 times and kept seven clean sheets. He made crucial saves and his heroic displays were noticed by the club. Fabianski has become a key player for the Hammers and his commanding capabilities will help West Ham progress this season as they look to break into Europe.
One thing that needs to improve is their defence. Although Fabianski proved his class last season, he would certainly like to be less in demand when it comes to keeping teams at bay. Out of the top 10 teams last season they conceded the most goals (55) and ended the season this a -3 goal difference. If they are hoping to qualify for Europe, then they will be hoping to score more than they concede.
However, they haven’t made any defensive signings this summer and this may be an issue as the season unfolds. While they have signed 18-year old Portuguese defender Goncalo Cardoso, Pellegrini may look to strengthen at the back with a more experienced defender but will have to work quickly with the transfer window nearing its close. Yet with the season starting this week he may be confident that his defence is good enough and it was simply the attack that needed bolstering.
How have the Hammers fared in pre-season?
West Ham have had six friendlies this summer and have won three, lost two and drawn one. They have played strong opposition losing to Manchester City and Newcastle but did beat the likes of Fulham and Hertha Berlin. They scored plenty but perhaps worryingly conceded quite a few goals as well. They scored 12 but also conceded 12 and as mentioned earlier, perhaps a defensive signing would help improve their squad. Whilst pre-season is mainly about fitness and tactical preparations, Pellegrini will be hoping they can fix any defensive frailties before their opening fixture against Man City.
Predicted Finish – 9th
While West Ham have got rid of a lot of players who did not fit into the clubs plans anymore and have begun signing good replacements, perhaps this season will be another season use to develop under Pellegrini.
The squad looks stronger than it did last season and could reach a European spot, but other teams do look stronger. Their defence could be a potential source of problems for the London club, whereas other teams looking to fill that seventh-place spot have stronger options at the back. However, if they can pull off some big wins like they did last season, then they could be this year’s surprise package.
Final Thoughts
The Hammers are always an entertaining team and seem to be getting their balance right. The attacking options look good and their midfield anchored by the experienced Mark Noble and young Hammer of the year Declan Rice works well at the heart of the team. While they might not finish seventh, they will definitely produce some shock results in 2019/20.
