In what might have been a nervy campaign, West Ham, with a new manager, in their final season at the Boleyn Ground, soared to historic heights, achieving European football next season.
The Story
There was, as the opening day of the 2015/16 season approached, something brewing in East London. A grand, decisive revamp had occurred during the off-season; Sam Allardyce’s contract had not been renewed and Slaven Bilic was brought in, swaggering slightly as he did, to steer West Ham out of Upton Park and into the Olympic Stadium. Yes, brewing it was, broiling and bubbling, and no one was really sure exactly whether this season would fizz and pop with effervescence, or curdle disastrously. In pre-season, relegation was a real concern, especially with the firefighter Allardyce lolloping off into the distance.
But, very quickly, these concerns were wiped away. In fact, in the very first game, away at Arsenal, Slaven Bilic set the tone; a raucous, rip-snorting 2-0 win at the Emirates, ending an eight year winless streak in that stadium. Reece Oxford, 16 at the time, played and emerged as the contest’s most impressive midfielder. A jubilant ball of momentum was tipped off in August, and it kept on rolling until May.
It quickly became apparent that Europe, not relegation, was the likely outcome of this season. West Ham, propelled by the superlative input of Dimitri Payet, were scything down the old giants of English football, and have ended the season with the league’s best record against the big clubs. A patch mid-way through, where injuries to a host of key players prompted a dour run of low-scoring draws, ended up having a huge effect on how tight the final quarter of the campaign would be. Wins over Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea were all well and good, but losses to Swansea and Stoke in two of the Hammers’ last three matches meant only a belated Europa League spot could be claimed. Although the campaign ended with European hopes pinned – successfully – to a Manchester United FA Cup win, few could have imagined a more resplendent season with which to bid farewell to the Boleyn.
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Key Player – Dimitri Payet
Costing all of around £10 million, Dimitri Payet has, simply put, been one of the signings of the season. Having been one of Europe’s most creative players in 14/15, West Ham did very well indeed to swoop on the Marseilles playmaker. A prudent and decisive swoop it would prove to be, as Payet enjoyed a hugely successful, potent maiden season in England, leading his team to a club record points total and securing a spot in France’s Euro 2016 roster.
There are few players in the league quite as threatening – and threateningly comfortable – on the ball as Payet. He chalked up a fabulous list of victims, as his impossibly quick feet and deceptive nimbleness cut down defender after defender. As comfortable shooting from distance as he is sliding a pinpoint pass through a packed back line, Payet scored nine goals and provided 12 assists for West Ham, including some absolutely breathtaking free kicks, most stunningly against Crystal Palace. Payet’s ability to create space and weave around would-be tacklers is crucial to Bilic’s tactical plan, particularly when playing away from home. It is no coincidence that the aforementioned meagre patch, where goals became scarce, came when Payet suffered an nasty ankle injury. The club are elated, justifiably, that the Frenchman signed a long-term contract extension.
The Manager
Slaven Bilic had only a modest CV when it came to club management, and was largely an untested product when he arrived in England. His work in Russia and England, as well as his time in charge of the Croatian national team, had expectations tempered with caution; the Premier League is another environment, but Bilic’s swaggering style has found it comfortable quarters. Today, with a hugely impressive debut season in the books, it’s difficult to think of another manager in Europe whose disposition fits as well at his club than Bilic’s does at West Ham. He has offered everything the West Ham fans couldn’t get from Allardyce, and has made the task of playing attractive, successful football in England seem easy.
Off-season Recruitment
A new striker tops West Ham’s to-buy list for the off-season. Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, and the on-loan Emmanuel Emenike have proven unreliable this season, for reasons both form and fitness related. £30 million has reportedly been set aside for a new goalscorer, and a bid of around that much has already been rejected by Lyon for Alexandre Lacazette. The loanees from last season, Victor Moses, Alex Song, Carl Jenkinson and Emenike will all be returned to their parent clubs, and Norwegian midfielder Håvard Nordtveit has already been secured on a free transfer. As far as reinforcement for the rest of the team goes, another right-back and another winger will be needed, with the club likely to field offers from China for Enner Valencia.
Grade – A-
All expectations for this season were exceeded, and the surprise Champions League tilt only barely fell short. European football was secured, in the end, and the squad looks – suddenly and startlingly – young, talented and deep. Michail Antonio has been a tour de force, Manuel Lanzini is one of the league’s most talented youngsters, and Gabriel Ogbonna looks a muscular mainstay in the defence. All of West Ham’s stars have been tied down, and with the Olympic Stadium awaiting, the future is very bright indeed. From those outside of East London, this swansong season for the Boleyn Ground has appeared a little hammy and verbose at times (well… perhaps the whole time). But for those with hearts tied to those famous Upton Park gates, this has been a wild, bittersweet send-off, and we have Bilic, the players and our fellow fans to thank for that.
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