Can West Ham’s cult hero lead them into European football once more?

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Paulo Di Canio, Carlos Tevez, Mark Noble – cult Heroes of West Ham United who have earned the respect of the fans by performing the audacious, sublime or just playing with their heart on their sleeve, in the case of Di Canio, probably too much of that.  This season, a new era is dawning on West Ham as the Boleyn Ground enters its final run-in as the home of West Ham and a new crop has restored hope that they could become a force in the English game again.

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Cheick Kouyate, Manuel Lanzini, Adrian and Michail Antonio have all played notable roles in what has been a memorable send-off for Upton Park.  However, one man has taken the limelight as the torch-bearer of what could be the return to the top table of European football for the first time since being 1965 European Cup Winner’s Cup winners.  In August last year, Dimitri Payet arrived from Marseille for a reported £12 million.  The 28-year-old was highly rated in France but the success of players from across the Channel in England’s top flight has been very mixed of late, just look at Newcastle United.  Nevertheless, as soon as Payet delivered a free-kick on the head of Kouyate in their 2-0 win at Arsenal on the opening day, you could see the magic he possessed.

Now in March, Payet has 11 goals and eight assists in his debut campaign and has proven to hold a sublime set-piece – just gaze in awe of his strike at Old Trafford in the FA Cup.  With eight games to go, they are a point behind Manchester City in 4^th, an incredible job from Slaven Bilic which could end with the achievement of a Champions League place.  It would not be undeserved either, with wins at City, Liverpool and Arsenal and defeating Chelsea and Spurs at home standing out.  They have been one of the best sides to watch this season with Payet the eye-catching catalyst.

Bilic has defied anyone who dare doubt whether West Ham would sail into the Olympic Stadium in the Championship or just surviving relegation.  The daring, high intensity and battling performances of the side has to be the nearest they’ve been to the mythical ‘West Ham Way’ that has been mentioned for years with no actual answer as to what it is!  Players like Aaron Cresswell, Antonio and Sam Byram have stepped up superbly from the Championship to become promising English talents in the Premier League.  Cresswell, Antonio and Noble have been unlucky not to receive England call-ups since the season began as not a single West Ham player was in the squad named by Roy Hodgson last week, a shocking turn of events considering their form and results, particularly with the below-par showings of players that did make it – Raheem Sterling, Theo Walcott and Jordan Henderson to name a few.

Payet has been so instrumental that he was rewarded with a new five and a half year deal in February, warding off lucrative offers from China.  He would not look out of place in a Champions League outfit and deserves recognition of his outstanding contribution.  He has been recalled to the France team and ahead of their home European Championships in the summer. It would be the perfect way to round off a year where the name Dimitri Payet became renowned in European football.  He is up there with the likes of Mesut Özil and David Silva, as the term ‘World Class’ would certainly do him justice.

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With the influx of cash incoming from the TV deals with the Premier League and their broadcasters, the move to the Olympic Stadium couldn’t be better timed.  If they can pull off a sixth place finish at the least, European football at a new ground with the capacity of up to 54,000 and proposed steps to enhancing that according to David Sullivan, this could be the making of a West Ham that can challenge at the top end of English football.  If they can acquire more players of the calibre of Payet in the summer and continue to nurture talents like Lanzini, Antonio and Cresswell, trophies could be heading to their new stadium as well as thousands of happy Hammers.  They are still in the FA Cup and if they can overcome Manchester United in a fairy tale last FA Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground, a Wembley semi-final awaits against Everton and the realistic chance of a first FA Cup since 1980 is on.

The dream of Champions League football can be achieved this season and even if they’re pipped to 4^th, a Europa League place is surely what they deserve from the season.  Payet has undoubtedly been their Player of the Season, but from back to front, this West Ham team is best I have seen and the thought of them improving and regularly contesting for European places in the next few seasons is something that brings a smile to any football fan who appreciates the traditional teams of English football heading back to their best.

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