West Ham Premier League season preview 2015/16
Saturday 8 August 2015 10:30, UK
All the transfer news, statistics, pundit views and odds ahead of West Ham's 2015/16 season.
Position last season: 12th
Sky Bet title odds: 2500-1
Ins: Darren Randolph (Birmingham City), Pedro Obiang (Sampdoria), Dimitri Payet (Marseille), Angelo Ogbonna (Juventus), Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal, loan), Manuel Lanzini (Al-Jazira, loan), George Dobson (Arsenal)
Outs: Dan Potts (Luton Town), Paul McCallum (Leyton Orient), Carlton Cole, Guy Demel, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nene (all released), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)
Overview
Having kicked off their Europa League qualifying campaign in the middle of July, West Ham’s season is already well underway in what has been a summer of change at the club.
Slaven Bilic has taken the hot seat after West Ham’s dismal finish to the 2014/15 campaign under Sam Allardyce, and the Croat has been heavily backed in the transfer market. Winger Dimitri Payet and defender Angelo Ogbonna are the most expensive of their new arrivals, and old heads such as Stewart Downing, Carlton Cole and Jussi Jaaskelainen have been shown the door.
The Hammers are aiming high ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016, but Bilic will have to juggle domestic commitments with the energy-sapping demands of Europa League football in order to meet the club's expectations of a top-10 finish.
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Stuart Pearce's view: "I think they’ll have a very solid season. Starting in the Europa League will probably help them hit the ground running. When I played for West Ham we were in the Europa League and we started very well fitness-wise and form-wise. Some people suggest it hinders the team, but I don’t think so.
"I think the supporters will embrace BIlic going in as an ex-player. I think they’re looking at a good season. They will be looking for a decent run in the cups and probably finishing in the top half."
Stuart Pearce's one to watch: "Winston Reid. They’ve secured him on a new contract and I think it’s important he has a good season at the back for them."
Opta stats
- West Ham have ended their last 23 top-flight seasons with a negative goal difference.
- No player assisted as many Ligue 1 goals in 2014-15 as Dimitri Payet (17).
- Last season, Mark Noble became West Ham’s highest ever Premier League appearance maker (currently on 222).
