Sunday 15 May 2016 19:25, UK
Stats, quotes and expert opinion on West Ham's 2015/16 Premier League season, their last at Upton Park.
Finishing position: 7th (+5)
Total points: 62 (+15)
FA Cup: Quarter final
Capital One Cup: Third round
Europa League: Third qualifying round
Top scorer: Andy Carroll & Dimitri Payet (9)
WhoScored top rating: Dimitri Payet (7.74)
Season review
The dust had barely settled on the 2014/15 season by the time West Ham were in competitive action again, facing Andorran minnows Lusitanos in the first qualifying round of the Europa League on July 2. Although the Hammers' participation in Europe did not last long - losing 4-3 on aggregate to Romanian side Astra Giurgiu in the third qualifying round - they started the Premier League season positively.
With Slaven Bilic at the helm in place of Sam Allardyce, the Hammers' 2-0 win at Arsenal on the opening day was a sign of things to come.In the following months they would win at Liverpool and Manchester City before beating Chelsea at the Boleyn Ground in a game that saw Nemanja Matic and Jose Mourinho sent off.
Dimitri Payet, signed in the summer from Marseille, had been the star man and when he suffered an ankle injury in early November against Everton there were fears the season could stutter. But, after a run of five draws in a row leading up to Christmas, the Hammers won four on the spin to kick off the new year in style. In March they beat title-challenging Tottenham before a dramatic victory at Everton, coming from 2-0 down to in the final 15 minutes to win 3-2.
A run of three straight draws dented their top-four aspirations and their participation in the FA Cup ended at the quarter-final stage as they were beaten 2-1 in a replay by Manchester United. An incident-packed 2-2 draw at Leicester followed but, after a shock 4-1 home defeat to Swansea, the Hammers recovered to bid farewell to the Boleyn in style, beating United 3-2 in a thrilling game.
Quotes of the season
"I don't see better players than him. On the ball, he is up there with Luka Modric from the players I have trained so far. Dimitri is one of the best I have trained." - Slaven Bilic on Dimitri Payet after he scored in the 5-1 FA Cup win over Blackburn in February
"We could be third and flying. Now we're still fighting for fourth, fifth spot and we're slipping down by losing these points . It's not acceptable. Week in, week out, we've had bad decisions." - Andy Caroll after late penalty for Leicester costs West Ham victory in April
"People recognise we are having a good season, we are playing good football, and they are praising us. But what Leicester have done puts our successful season a little bit in the shadows. That's normal. It's like a fairytale and they deserve all the credit they are getting. It is unbelievable." - Slaven Bilic on West Ham's success being overshadowed in April
"It was written in the stars tonight to be honest. Three fantastic goals, and just pure determination and the will not to lose. I'm just so proud of the players. Tonight they were phenomenal." - Captain Mark Noble after the 3-2 win over Manchester United in the last game at the Boleyn Ground
Stats of the season
There are only five occasions on which West Ham have finished higher than seventh in the English top flight, the most recent being their fifth-place finish in the 1998/99 season.
Only Dimitri Payet (21) was involved in more Premier League goals for the Hammers than Michail Antonio (11 - eight goals, three assists).
Phil Thompson's view
It's been a really terrific season. They've showed they can mix it with the big boys and the scalps they took was really impressive, especially playing the West Ham way. They made some fantastic signings in Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini and even Michael Antonio, who struggled getting into the team, finished it scoring important goals despite going from a winger to full-back. Slaven Bilic has been fantastic, taking them from worrying they'd survive in the Premier League to going into new stadium in a really exciting position.
They've showed they can mix it with the big boys and the scalps they took was really impressive, especially playing the West Ham way.
