Can Slaven Bilic's West Ham kick on now Dimitri Payet is back?
Thursday 7 January 2016 14:47, UK
Slaven Bilic has managed West Ham's injuries and Dimitri Payet is back. Can they get even better?
For much of December, there wasn't a lot for West Ham supporters to shout about. Their three goalless draws in a row were as many as Sam Allardyce's side had last season in total. On the face of it, this was not the excitement promised. However, the truth is that West Ham supporters will be encouraged by the way that coach Slaven Bilic has navigated a path through their injury-hit winter.
It's been quite a list. Key defender Winston Reid was injured midway through that period; so was Victor Moses. Diafra Sakho picked up a thigh strain in late November, Enner Valencia has been eased back and Dimitri Payet missed the entire month of December. Only Manchester United have used more players this season. Under the circumstances, just picking up points felt like a victory.
Even so, it was in the balance. Draws, and there were five in a row in the end, produce sequences that can go either way. But home wins over Southampton and Liverpool either side of New Year have put a different spin on it. Bilic's side are on the longest unbeaten run in the Premier League. In half a season, he has shown that he's a coach who can handle a variety of styles and circumstances.
There were the surprise highlights of early season. West Ham took maximum points from their first three away games against Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, showcasing the team's counter-punching credentials. And while a 4-3 home defeat to Bournemouth suggested his side is less comfortable when the onus is on them, the Hammers have not been beaten in front of their own fans since. How they'd love to keep that run going in their final season at the Boleyn Ground.
In some senses, the improvements have been marginal. The statistics show that West Ham have had similar levels of possession with the number of short passes increasing slightly and the amount of long balls remaining the same. Allardyce would no doubt have appreciated the defensive resolve that has seen the team concede only twice in six games.
West Ham are the only team to make more than 100 blocks this season and having spent so long leading the big teams, they've had to embrace the backs-to-the-wall mentality. That's suited James Collins, who says he's in the form of his life. "Sometimes we defend a little bit too much," he told the club website. "It is a bit last-gasp, but that is how I like to play the game."
Bilic has been able to fuse this work ethic and organisation with the addition of some flair in the final third. As a result, when his West Ham do attack, they are dangerous. Only three teams have scored more goals from open play this season. They've already got 23 goals this way, having scored only 29 times from open play in the entirety of last season.
Michail Antonio finished off one such move for the opening goal against Liverpool last time out. "It's not a surprise that we're producing these kind of performances," he said. "We've shown it right from the start of the season when we beat all the top boys. We've had a bit of a dip with the injuries, but players are coming back, the squad is getting strong again and now we can keep pushing on."
There is certainly the possibility there to improve the team's position given the run of games ahead. Although Manchester City visit Upton Park later this month, six of the next seven games are against sides currently in the bottom eight. That's an opportunity for a side that's only four points shy of the final Champions League qualification berth.
West Ham fans can be a pessimistic bunch and the instinct for a club that's finished higher than sixth only once in the past 30 years is to look down the table rather than up. But the prospect of getting to March in the mix demands optimism. "The squad is great, the manager is great and the staff are great, and everyone's enjoying it," said Andy Carroll this week. Long may it continue.
