Midtable as destiny
After the season where Carlos Tevez's strikes and fantastic play saved them from relegation, the Hammers managed to stabilize the team and end the season in the midtable. Injuries again stopped them from showing full potential and in spite of that, with Curbishley on the head, West Ham proved to have the quality for peaceful sailing in Premiership waters. Unfortunately for the fans, even they are aware that it is too much to expect more from this club. Every year the Hammers sell their best players and as long as they run such policy, West Ham won't be able to join the contention for the top, and probably relegation battle will often be their reality.
No significant changes
As we have mentioned, last season Curbishley did a good job in spite of the injuries that distracted him a lot. In the mid-season, however, west Ham weren't too active. Few players were sold, but we can't say that Zamora, Pantsil, and even Ljunberg who was sacked, affected the hammers' results much last season. On the other hand they brought Swiss international, Behrami who is an excellent players and who could turn into great back-up if he manages to adjust to Premiership. Still, West ham's biggest back-up is Craig Bellamy's recovery who missed whole last season due to injury, as well as Dean Ashton's recovery who came back last season and score 11 goals thus earning an invitation to the national squad. Curbishley expects a lot from him this season. The proof that the new tide is coming at Upton Park is also the fact that they haven't sold Anton Ferdinand in spite of good offers, so the fans hope that good results in the next period could see their club become more than just a midtable team. Their academy is excellent so if they start keeping their players instead of selling them on the start of the career, the fans could have reasons for joy.
In
Behrami (Lazio), Lastuvka (Shaktor - loan), Eyjolfsson (HK)
Out
Zamora, Pantsil (Fulham), Ljunberg (-), Wright (Ipswich)
Relegation battle
Although last season not for a single moment was West Ham in danger, this year they could have problems. Most of the clubs are starting the new season reinforced and in Hammers squad many things will depend on the players that are either, new in the league, therefore not so reliable or recently recovered from injuries. Bellamy, Ashton and Behrami are certainly excellent players but we are not sure what to expect from them this season. If the speculations that Behrami is too weak in duels for the Premier League turn out to be true, or that Bellamy's injury is not completely healed, West Ham could face problems. Curbishley, on the other hand is an excellent expert who was capable of keeping Charlton in Premier League for years in spite of obvious lack of quality, so we have no doubts that he will succeed this time too. On the other hand, it would be a great success for west Ham if they repeated the results form last season while the more realistic position would be down on the standings right above the relegation zone.
Our tip: Hammers to finish in bottom half
Odds 1.53
Bookmaker: Bet365
CL
CLQ
UEFA
RELEG
