So here we are 29 games played and West Ham sit in 10th place with 39 points. If you would have asked any supporter this time last year they probably would have taken a tenth place finish over last years very disappointing 13th.
The Hammers have, however, had a decent season under Sam Allardyce who before Christmas raised our expectations with a great run of results. Our early season run took us up to 4th position in the table, after beating the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City. I think truthfully all West Ham fans knew that we would never sustain a challenge for Champions League qualification, but we have always felt that a Europa league spot could be achieved.
This season we have one of the best squads for years, with some serious attacking talent and pace in the team, as well as a very solid back four. The team was once again playing 'the West Ham way' with some great attacking football that seemed to show the passion and fight that we had lacked the year before. Some fantastic new signings definitely helped with the likes of Valencia, Sakho, Cresswell and Jenkinson adding some much needed quality and pace to the squad, which really gave the club and the fans a new sense of optimism.
However as a lifelong West Ham supporter we all knew that our dreams were likely to fade and die, as has been shown with a massive decline in our form since Christmas. This is of course reminiscent of the famous quote from Frank Lampard Senior who said that West Ham normally come down with the Christmas decorations.
We now face a very important run of games towards the end of the season where we play teams like Sunderland, Stoke and Leicester who we should definitely pick up points against. It is not an impossible task to achieve a top eight finish with the fixtures we have to come, but it is also important to remember that we have the potential in the squad to finish in the top six.
Personally I feel that our decline has been primarily down to Big Sam returning to the tactics from last year. As soon as Nolan and Carroll returned from injury we went back to a pointless system of 'hoof-ball' that just does not work in the modern day game. At times we have looked short of ideas and seem like we are playing with 10 men, especially when hapless Nolan is strolling around the midfield. The manager also relied on his theory that we can get a goal and sit back, but the games against Man United and Tottenham showed that it simply does not work and costs us valuable points.
Another major talking point would be the form of Alex Song who was a revelation when he first joined, playing some exquisite passes to our front men and looking a real class act. Since Christmas he has looked like a completely different player, spending too much time on the ball and losing it in ridiculous situations. He has at times come back to his previous form, but his sluggish ways will not warrant a second spell at the club after his season long loan comes to an end.
I think that Big Sam's rein will be over come the seasons end as many fans have lost faith in his tactics and the board are considering his future against possible candidates as we speak! In my opinion he has been a very good manager for the club, bringing us back to the Premier League on the first attempt and establishing us as a mid table side over the last few years. However, I feel this is as far as he can take us and that we need a change in order to progress next year.
Overall this season will be an improvement on last year but we will always be disappointed after our early season form gave us so much optimism. A mid-table finish is the norm for West Ham, but with the current squad and move to the Olympic Stadium on the horizon we can really push on over the next few years COYI!!!!
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