From the burning of shirts bearing “Payet 27” to 5-0 drubbings, West Ham United have had many problems this season. Indeed March and early April saw them lose five consecutive games\u00a0in the Premier League, as the Hammers briefly flirted with relegation. Although they look safe now, there are certainly reasons why manager Slaven Bilic and his players have underwhelmed this season.<\/p>\n
West Ham have had a season full of problems; some through their own doing, but others through bad luck. Wherever they finish, Bilic looks almost certain to leave this summer as West Ham once again look to over-achieve, just as they did last season.<\/p>\n
The first problem arose from last season\u2019s doings. The Hammers finished above Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton. Remarkably it was also the first time since 1986 that West Ham finished a season in the top division with a positive goal difference. UEFA Europa League qualification seemed a just reward for their efforts.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, and with all due respect, West Ham are not a team of European pedigree \u2013 at least certainly not in recent years. In their 20 completed seasons in the Premier League, they have finished on average in 14th.<\/p>\n
Last season was an anomaly that has only caused problems this season; over-achieving has caused expectations to rise. West Ham currently sit in 13th, but some fans would go so far as to label this season a disaster.<\/p>\n
People see pre-season as a time for managers to test formations, try out new signings in certain positions and allow fans to get a glimpse of what is to come. However it does hold importance, even if it is just psychological. West Ham came back from tours in America and Austria with just one win, two losses and two draws against lesser opposition, before they lost at home to Juventus.<\/p>\n
Their season-defining Europa League campaign started on July 28\u00a0\u2013 before they had even played their last friendly. This caused problems as their pre-season form was\u00a0ingrained in the front of the players\u2019 minds; last season\u2019s winning mentality was lost. So because of a poor run of friendly results, all continuity was lost, and West Ham failed to win their play-off for a place in the Europa League group stages. Perhaps with a better pre-season, West Ham may still have been fighting for European glory alongside Manchester United.<\/p>\n
Anybody who watched West Ham play at Upton Park last season will\u00a0admit that the place had a special atmosphere to it. The fans knew that each time they blared out “I\u2019m forever blowing bubbles”, it was one step closer to a move away from their beloved home. Despite some pundits overlooking the relocation, it has only been a hindrance for the Hammers this season.<\/p>\n
With fan trouble, empty white seats glaring out at the TV cameras, and an isolated and very large pitch, the London Stadium shares no similarities with Upton Park. The castle has been removed from West Ham\u2019s badge this season, and it now seems justified. Their new ground has proved unsettling and unsatisfactory for supporters, truly anything but a fortress.<\/p>\n
The Dimitri Payet saga has without doubt marred West Ham\u2019s season, but it is important to consider it in conjunction with all the other factors explored as well. Payet was instrumental in West Ham\u2019s success last season, and in doing so he won a place in the PFA Team of the Season.<\/p>\n