What would you consider a successful season for West Ham this campaign?
Meirion Williams: With no European distraction and a new manager honeymoon period, I expect, as I always do, a top half finish and a good domestic cup run. I would love a domestic cup final just once more in my lifetime.
Paul Brand: The bar has been set so high that anything less than European qualification now seems underwhelming, but this year the entertainment factor is more important than ever so I’d take mid-table and a progressive style that bodes well for the future. Anything less and the knives will be out. Anything more will be a welcome bonus.
Geoff Hillyer: Honestly? I have no idea what to expect from us this season. I expect a season of twists and turns and perhaps a mid-table finish. My sneaking suspicion is that this season may end up being trickier than the last few. We’re in transition and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a sticky start.
David Blackmore: I think the expectation from the fans and the squad will be a top half finish and challenging for a European spot. I feel like there’s a different mindset heading into this season. There’ll be expectation and pressure. We know we’ve got the firepower, we just need to sort out the defence for this upcoming campaign. Do that, and we could have a great first season under Lopetegui.
What have you made of our transfer window so far?
MW: Well it’s been a summer of surprises. Who would have thought that Sully would undo the purse strings? I was a bit down when we let Flynn Downs go, and Luis Guilherme was our first big signing. The jury is still out on that one. Kilman looks a good signing although a Wolves friend of mine says he’s a pale shadow of Dawson. Then along comes three signings almost all at once, and they could all be starters. Fullkrug looks like the striker we have been waiting for but let’s not forget the West Ham curse. A striker who appears good when he arrives then disappears without a trace. It could be an interesting season.
PB: Everything seems to have clicked into gear a couple of weeks before the season starts, hopefully with a few more tweaks to the squad still to come. It certainly looks positive but I’m always wary of rating transfer windows because you can never be sure how signings will work out.
GH: Heartening to see the flurry of activity just prior to the start of the season – I was a bit concerned a few weeks back that not much was going to happen at all. However, we’ve had plenty of false dawns – and failed strikers – at West Ham before, so whilst the signings look a good mix of experienced and potential, time will tell as to how we judge the window.
DB: Until recently, I was very surprised that we weren’t able to get more deals over the line this summer. The manager was appointed early enough and Steidten would have had a list of targets early doors and I think what the recent signings of Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Füllkrug, and Guido Rodríguez show is that these negotiations are never straightforward, especially when we’ve not got European football to offer. Let’s see how they all settle in.
What have you made of our new manager from what he’s said so far?
MW: Early days yet and words are just words. I will reserve my judgement until we play meaningful games. I craved Moyes to be removed so I have to give him a chance.
PB: He’s said a lot of the right things but actions speak louder than words. Let’s see how things play out.
GH: He talks a good game, but let’s see what happens on the pitch. I realise that I am in the minority here but I do not necessarily think that Lopetegui will be the entertainment master that fans crave. Possession-based football and low-scoring matches, I think, may be on the menu. But let’s see.
DB: As everyone else has said, he’s certainly talked a good game. He’s clearly excited at this challenge and what he can achieve at West Ham. I just hope he gets the players he needs for the system he wants us to play and that August’s fixtures aren’t too gruelling for us, he needs a positive start but it’ll be tough with the games we have.
Which months are you afraid of judging by our fixtures, and which are you looking forward to?
MW: I say this every year, it’s that first five or six fixtures that strike a worry to me. It doesn’t matter who we play but it’s those fixtures that set us up for either a good or poor season. And let’s not forget those first three home games are made up of Villa, City and Chelsea. So not exactly an easy start at that
PB: It’s a daunting start, and even more so with a new manager, so August scares me. I’m looking forward to it as well though. Bilic had a tough-looking start and that turned out better than expected. December fixtures look very winnable so hopefully we’ll have a very merry Christmas.
GH: I think it’s entirely conceivable that we will have zero points from three games in August, with the teams being played and the circumstances, so anything above that is a bonus for me. Classic West Ham optimism there – we’ll probably end up with nine points now.
DB: August scares me too but then as Paul says, December looks like a month where we can pick up points and the latter stages of the season look good too. Aside from the start, I don’t think we have too many tough spells and I think the hard and easier games are spread out quite nicely. I think it’s always a worry when we get three “winnable” games in a row. We always muck up at least one.
Who will win the title and who are your three to go down?
MW: Arsenal will get better but I feel that City just know how to win. As for relegation, it was sad to see all three promoted teams relegated last season. There must be one of the promoted teams that can buck that trend. I think Leicester will be that team so I expect Ipswich and Southampton to go straight back to the Championship with probably Forest joining them.
PB: I’d never bet against Man City but it’s a weird situation where they could just as easily be relegated by the FFP commission, if their case ever comes round. Down at the bottom, all the promoted clubs face a challenge staying up. Brentford would be my outside bet. And Everton are on a slippery slope.
GH: Assuming matters are decided on the pitch, Manchester City will win it again. As ever, promoted teams will find it tough, but I have a feeling that at least one will survive – I reckon Ipswich will do better than people are predicting. I wouldn’t want to pick three to go because there’s a little bit of me that thinks we might find ourselves in that bracket at Christmas.
DB: Let’s see how Arsenal fare this campaign. I think they are the only real challengers to City this season. But they need to make sure they don’t have too many slip ups and have a healthy points tally, and lead over City, heading into the final couple of months as once City get near the finish line, they become almost unplayable. As for the relegation, it’s hard to look past the three that came up because of the ever-expanding gulf between the Premier League and the Championship, but the likes of Forest and Everton could drop.
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