We take a look at West Ham’s prospects leading up to the new Premier League season.
Manager: Sam Allardyce
Stadium: Upton Park – 35,016
Nickname: The Hammers
2011/12 League Position: 3rd in the Championship
Summer Signings
Modibo Maiga – Sochaux – £4.7m
James Collins – Aston Villa – £2.5m
George McCartney – Sunderland – £1m
Stephen Henderson – Portsmouth – Undisclosed
Raphael Spiegel – Grasshoppers – Undisclosed
Mohamed Diame – Wigan – Free
Jussi Jaaskelainen – Bolton – Free
Alou Diarra – Marseille – £2m
Key Players
Ricardo Vaz Te – Vaz Te was an important player for the Hammers during the second half of last season. He’s extremely fast and has an eye for goal.
Mark Noble – The Championship seemed to really bring Noble out of himself, as he bossed games and showed a level of poise he previously lacked. As a West Ham boy, he remains a symbol to the club’s loyal fanbase.
Kevin Nolan – All-action midfielder Nolan will drive the Hammers forward this season.
Likely Line-Up
Team Tactics
- West Ham used a 4-4-2 and a 4-4-1-1 last season, they’ll probably switch between the two this year.
- Vaz Te, Nolan and Taylor will all get forward, while new boy Diame sits back.
- They’ve got plenty of attacking options, but Maiga should be given the chance to impress early on.
Opening Fixtures
August 18th Aston Villa (H), 25th Swansea (A), September 1st Fulham (H), 15th Norwich (A), 22nd Sunderland (H), October 1st QPR (A)
Verdict
It’s all about Premier League survival for the Hammers in 2012/13. Sam Allardyce will be desperate to keep the club in the top flight, so he can build for future seasons.
Most of the squad have Premiership experience, but they could still struggle to survive. With a few more additions to the squad however, I think they’ll finish the season clear of the danger zone. 15th