Well, where to start with a season like the one West Ham United have just had? It has raised eyebrows in regards to almost every element of their 2014/15 Premier League season.
What was a relief for the West Ham faithful though, is that the campaign brought about an unprecedented level of expectation. Expectation which, for five months, was delivered firmly upon. The club had talked in the Summer with [then] manager Sam Allardyce about employing a more free-flowing attacking mind-set going into the season. Teddy Sheringham was even brought in as an attacking coach on a part-time basis to help this process too, with an awfully underwhelming strike force.
The mood going into the season was as high as has been for some years at West Ham, the main reason for this being the brilliant Summer transfer window the club had had. Diego Poyet was snapped up for a minimal compensation fee from Charlton. Aaron Cresswell was signed for just under £4million from Championship side Ipswich Town. Cheikhou Kouyaté came in for an undisclosed fee from Anderlecht. Morgan Amalfitano who was brought in on a nonimal fee from Marsielle.
Mauro Zárate, who bought out his own contract, signed from Argentinian side, Vélez Sarsfield. Enner Valencia was signed for ~£12million from Mexican side Pachuca, after an impressive World Cup for Ecuador. Diafra Sakho was brought in despite Sam Allardyce wanting Sunderland's Conor Wickham, the Owners over-ruled him, deciding to bring in Ligue 2 Metz striker Sakho for another nominal fee. Arguably the clubs shrewdest bit of business though, was two season-long loans which were occupied by Carl Jenkinson and Alex Song, from Arsenal and Barcelona respectively.
The clubs failure to strengthen the side in January was one turning point you could highlight for the huge dip in form and results which followed.
"...They fly so high..."
The high points of the season came pre-Christmas for the Hammers, which right now, seems a lifetime ago. The two which obviously will be held higher than those other terrific performances will be the 3-1 win over Liverpool and 2-1 win over [then] Champions Manchester City, both at an electric Upton Park. The Liverpool game featured an a chip equal in audacity and beauty when Sakho lobbed Simon Mignolet from an improbable angle and distance. But it was the Manchester City win which eventually won 'Best Team Performance' at the clubs end of season award ceremony. Again, the game featured a delightful goal from Sakho, who rose high above Gael Clichy at the back post to power his header past a helpless Joe Hart.
The style of football in the first half of the season was all the majority of fans wanted, regardless of results, but to get both the style and results was magnificent. Being fourth at Christmas was nigh on unbelievable for the club in its own right. It rose expectations from not only fans, but, it also got the media talking about West Ham and Southampton as crashing the big club's grip over the top six in the Premier League. It was short lived, unfortunately, for both clubs.
"...And like my dreams, they fade and die..."
There were low points during the season, then, there were even lower ones. It was the sort of capitulation of a season that West Ham fans claimed would happen 'Only at West Ham' - normally - followed by a huge sigh, as minds drifted to what could have been had they kept up the pre-Christmas form.
The lowest point of course, was that the club only managed to win a pitiful three Premier League games in 2015, the type of form which, from 2015 alone would have seen them relegated. A far cry from the form they had shown prior to the turn of the year.
The icing on the cake of the poor form within 2015 though, was the absolutely abysmal 'performance' against West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup. Having laboured through a two-legged affair with Everton, which had resulted in a magical moment in itself with Adrián saving, then, scoring the winning penalty.
But, there was no repeat in the game at The Hawthorns, which finished 4-0 in favour of the home side. In a game that was not only the clubs biggest loss of the season, it almost provided the most unsavoury of moments. A small group of West Ham fans who had left The Hawthorns early had bumped into David Sullivan who, understandably, had also had enough. Cue the fans wanting answers, which, as always Sullivan was happy to entertain - but it soon took a horrible twist as the fans start hurling abuse and profanities towards the man who helped to save the club from the brink of self-destruct.
Best Players
New signing Cresswell won Hammer of the Year, and, rightly so. The left-back played every minute of every Premier League game, whilst looking like a seasoned Premier League player - regardless of it being his debut season in the top flight. The epitome of the 'modern day fullback' Cresswell was happy to bomb up and down the wing non-stop during every game, also finishing the season with the second highest assists for the Hammers. There was confusion at his exclusion from recent England squads, as well as rumoured interest from Manchester City as well as Chelsea during the season which only pay testament to how good a season he enjoyed.
There were numerous others who could well have won the accolade of Hammer of the Year, but, consistency was a huge issue for individuals throughout the squad, which ultimately led to the huge dip in results and performances in 2015. For instance, Sakho started the season all guns blazing, only to suffer niggling injuries, before his season was ended by a further injury although he finished as the clubs highest scorer. Song showed why he is a Barcelona player pre-Christmas, before taking the longest siesta witnessed, which spanned almost the whole of 2015.
Stewart Downing was also in fine form playing at the tip of the diamond, which got him a recall to the England squad, but, he also suffered from form and formation changes which were brought about by injuries elsewhere in the squad. Andy Carroll had also played some of the best football he has ever played, including his time at Newcastle, before picking up yet another injury which ended his season. But, it was Academy graduate James Tomkins who was second best to Cresswell this season, enjoying his best season since breaking into the first team squad.
Worst Players
To be brutally honest, you could include almost every player if you wanted to be highly critical of the second half of the Hammer's season. But, there were some stand-out under performers throughout the season unfortunately.
Kevin Nolan, the fan-dividing Captain of the club, missed a lot of the pre-Christmas fixtures, and upon his return fans were livid to see him walk back into the team. But, to those not blinded by hatred, he performed well. These good performances though were short-lived, in the seasons last months it seemed Nolan was picked purely for the sentiment that he could score his 100th Premier League goal. Nolan was categorically not the culprit on which the seasons failure hangs, but, he has suffered similar abuse to that of the now departed Allardyce. Will he try and stick it out without the man who shares so much faith in him? It's unlikely.
Alex Song was another player who many grew tired of in the second half of the season. After showing the club, the fans and the rest of the Premier League just why he was a Barcelona player with some of the best midfield performances at Upton Park in recent years he soon started looking more like a Benidorm FC player. He couldn't pass, he over-complicated his passing in dangerous positions, he gave the ball away, he could hardly run, he couldn't defend. Bizarrely, if he hadn't performed so well in the pre-Christmas fixtures, he may well have got away with the lackadaisical form he showed in the majority of the post-Christmas fixtures.
Matt Jarvis...Erm...well, at the time of purchasing him for a then club record transfer fee, it seemed like a brilliant idea. Buy the player who provided the most assists last season, to come in and ping balls in for the imposing frame of Andy Carroll to head in goals for fun all season? No wonder the club were willing to cough up so much money, they thought they were buying a golden goose! But, it didn't work out like that. At all. He did this season though, manage to grow a rather fetching beard. Even with four starts and seven sub appearances, of which he knew would be his chance to prove his worth, Jarvis never looked like he was going to do anything of worth in any of his minutes of the pitch.
What Next?
West Ham have qualified for next seasons Europa League qualification rounds, meaning, the clubs season will begin in July. They will need to get into the market as soon as possible to secure some quality in depth for the squad, as the extra games in Europa will - as has been proven by other Premier League clubs - put a strain on domestic campaigns.
What is good for the Hammers though is that the club already have one deal done, and, one waiting to happen which only needs a resolution/allowance from FIFA. In January the club tied up a deal for young Hamilton Academical left-back Stephen Hendrie, the 20yo Scot will join up with the squad from July 1st - which leaves the club safe in the knowledge they now have two out and out young British left-backs in the squad. Another position, is arguably, the one which many West Ham fans have worried about the most; replacing Alex Song. But, also in January, the club tried to secure a move for free agent Lassana Diarra, only for the move to be blocked by FIFA for the manner in which he had left his previous club, Lokomotiv Moscow. Whilst many believed that the deal was predominantly something Allardyce had clamoured to get pushed through, it is indeed the owners who were again behind this one. So, pending the clearance from FIFA, West Ham already have two solid signings to add to their squad.
On the flipside, there will be many players who you can expect to leave East London before next season; Jussi Jaaskelainen, Carlton Cole and Guy Demel are all out of contract at the end of the year - and aren't expected to be kept on. The loaned players will also leave; Song, Jenkinson and late arrival Nene. It will also be interesting to see how many of Allardyce's tried and trusted players stick around now, such as; Nolan, Joey O'Brien and Jarvis. One thing is for sure, West Ham can't allow an exodus to occur here, unless fees/wages are freed up in order to acquire better players.
"...Fortune's always hiding..."
With the club sticking stubbornly to the fact that they are looking for a big-name manager to replace Allardyce this Summer, it already builds the tension. Regardless of who the manager that comes in is though, it will be a very special season in East London. Upton Park will be receiving send off atmospheres every game of the season, especially if they get through to the Europa group stages, as the club look ahead to their move into the Olympic Stadium in the 2016/17 season.
Many fans are already excited for the prospect of the clubs final season at Upton Park to host European nights. Many are also aware it could mean that the League form takes a hit, but, with the right appointments across the managerial vacancy and those in the squad, whose to say that it definitely will have a knock on effect?
Managerial position
The phrase "Be careful what you wish for" has been repeated nauseatingly from media and pundits, West Ham fans are just happy to not have Allardyce in charge. When you look at his four seasons, he delivered what was expected in three. At times, he was the pantomime villain, playing football that wasn’t wanted, playing players who weren't liked, saying things which riled the fans up - in truth, it's a surprise he was at the club so long. That though, is testament to the job he did. He leaves the club in a brilliant state, especially when you look at it in comparison to where the club was when he came in. Allardyce's reaction told the story though, he knew it was coming as did the club, it was more an acceptance from both parties that the time to end the love-hate relationship had come.
Rafa Benítez was all but sewn up and ready to announce, before Real Madrid decided to swing their own axe firmly on Carlo Ancelotti's neck. The Spaniards have all but gazumped West Ham in the race for Benitez, who must have had a hard 20seconds deciding between Madrid or East London. West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold though have remained staunch that they will get their big-name manager - with sights now set towards Marcelo Biesla, Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti. Worst case scenario right now for West Ham's managerial search is that they end up hiring recently free from Besiktas, and former West Ham player, Slaven Bilić. A man who would appease the fans off the pitch, but, may struggle to take the club to the desired next level.