With the start of the 2016/17 Premier League season less than two weeks away, Premier League correspondent Richard Jolly provides his previews for each club. Here he looks at West Ham United.
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West Ham bade farewell to Upton Park, their home of 112 years, in the most dramatic fashion, with a 3-2 win over Manchester United.
They now begin life at the Olympic Stadium, with its 60,000 capacity offering the chance for them to establish themselves as annual top-six finishers.
Slaven Bilic’s hugely encouraging first year in charge actually ended in seventh, courtesy of a final-day defeat, but threatened to qualify for the Uefa Champions League.
That they did not is attributable to their defensive record: fine a centre-back as Bilic was, his team conceded 51 goals, 16 more than fifth-placed Manchester United.
It offers room for improvement, although the loss of the excellent but injured left-back Aaron Cresswell for four months makes the defence weaker.
Another key, after last season’s injuries, will be keeping everyone else fitter. Andy Carroll was among those affected last season but proved potent in the run-in yet West Ham’s ambition is likely to be reflected in big-money attempts to sign a new striker, with Alexandre Lacazette, Christian Benteke and Michy Batshuayi all eluding them.
They have plenty of goalscoring midfielders, in Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini, Michail Antonio and new signing Sofiane Feghouli, and should be very watchable again, especially if they can repeat last season’s away wins at Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal and Manchester City.
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Key Man: Dimitri Payet
The Frenchman’s debut year for West Ham yielded nine league goals, a further 12 assists, a place on the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award and a starring role in Euro 2016. The challenge is to repeat that form.
Pivotal Signing: Sofiane Feghouli
The Algerian, recruited from Valencia, has the potential to prove one of the season’s best free transfers, even if his arrival could mean the catalytic Antonio either figures at right-back or is dropped.
Point to Prove: Enner Valencia
A forward with virtually all the attributes, but his second season in East London was underwhelming, interrupted by injuries and spells on the bench. He needs to prove more prolific, especially if no new striker is signed.
Crucial Factor: The Olympic Stadium
Some clubs are galvanised by the move to a new stadium. Others struggled to replicate the atmosphere and their form at their old ground. West Ham’s fate may depend upon which category they fall into.
Predicted finish: 7th
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