West Ham manager Alan Curbishley will be under pressure to see his side improve in terms of results and displays.
Pressure on Curbishley at Upton Park
West Ham Alan Curbishley may dismiss any fears over his future - but when the bookies turn against you, you know that there is trouble ahead.
Despite leading the Hammers to 10th last season with a squad ravaged by injuries, Curbishley will need his side to hit the ground running to ease the pressure - and see the odds on him getting the chop lengthened.
Slaven Bilic, the Croatia manager, has been strongly tipped to be appointed by Christmas should the Hammers get off to a poor start, with the Upton Park faithful growing impatient.
In Curbishley's defence, his past sides have had the habit of getting off to promising starts only to tail off in the second half of the season.
However, West Ham's performances at the end of the last campaign were particularly turgid - giving little hope for the fans.
And a lack of activity in the transfer market means that even the most die-hard of Hammers fans are struggling to get excited about the new campaign.
Only two players have so far arrived in the summer. Swiss international defender Valon Behrami has joined in a £5million deal from Lazio, while highly-rated Icelandic defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson has also signed.
Impressed
Behrami has impressed in pre-season and offers versatility as he is as comfortable at full-back as he is on the wing.
Eyjolfsson can also play in midfield, but is likely to offer cover at the back to the likes of Anton Ferdinand, Matt Upson, James Collins and Danny Gabbidon.
Ferdinand had been linked to a move away from the Hammers - with Aston Villa and Spurs rumoured to be waiting in the wings. However he now looks set to stay.
West Ham have parted company, though, with Freddie Ljungberg, Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil, while Nobby Solano left the club at the end of the season.
Cheerful
The key to West Ham's hopes could lay in the return of a number of their big-name players; the likes of Dean Ashton, Upson, Kieron Dyer and Julien Faubert are all pushing for returns in time for the start of the season.
However the loss of Craig Bellamy for the start of the campaign - with a hamstring injury - is a blow.
The fiery frontman has made a promising start to pre-season alongside Ashton and looked set to terrorise defences again this campaign - although the latest setback looks to be temporary.
The lack of new faces could mean good news for the new talented crop of players to come through the junior ranks at Upton Park.
Young striker Freddie Sears has won rave reviews after scoring on his debut against Blackburn in March, while James Tomkins, Jack Collison and Zavon Hines will all be staking claims for places in the first team.
Ultimately, though, the lack of new signings are likely to count against West Ham, particularly as the majority of rivals have been busy in the transfer market.
At best West Ham can expect a cup run or two, however they face a battle if they are to force their way into Europe; at worst they could end up following Reading into the Championship.
Curbishley might not be worried about the future - however the Hammers faithful will be, especially if they fail to get off to a positive start.
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