Back to the Future: Reliving West Ham's 15/16 Season
With the 2024/2025 campaign fast approaches us, it's time to hop in the DeLorean and head back in time to reminisce on West Ham's amazing 2015/2016 campaign. Or, in other words, the 'Dimitri Payet season'.
As the 2014/2015 season drew to a close and Sam Allardyce's tenure came to a fairly cut throat end. David Sullivan and Co had the ball in their court to decide the fate of West Ham's 'Boleyn Ground Finale'. The manager who walked through the door had to deliver the perfect send-off to a stadium which endured so much history during the 112 years West Ham had played their football there.
The man they chose to deliver that job was former Hammer and fan favouriteSlaven Bilic. The appointment went down well amongst the fans, Bilic was a very no nonsense player and he carried that through into his managerial career, portraying it in a hard-man, headcase manner.
After a prosperous transfer window, West Ham fans were left excited about the forthcoming season. In high spirits due to it being the final season at the Boleyn Ground, an unimaginable atmosphere built up.
On Matchday 1, West Ham headed to The Emirates. A stadium they hadn't won at for what was approaching a decade. Dimitri Payet made his introduction to the Premier League in style, showcasing exactly why he would go on to be a Ballon D'or nominee. He produced the assist for Cheikhou Kouyate's headed goal and Mauro Zarate grabbed the second as West Ham came out victorious in a 0-2 away win.
Reece Oxford made his professional debut for West Ham at 16 years old and became a viral sensation amongst the football community for his performance. He was touted to have pocketed the then world-class Mesut Özil.
West Ham broke a 52 year long hoodoo by beating Liverpool 3-0 in their own backyard. Their first win at Anfield since September 14th 1963. Mark Noble and Philippe Coutinho were both sent off and the Hammers produced a masterclass full of counter attacking football, Manuel Lanzini scored the first West Ham goal of his eight-year career as a Hammer.
The Boleyn Ground Finale. Some would perhaps say the perfect game of football, full of ups and downs, Diafra Sakho put West Ham in front early on. A tense atmosphere was felt around the stadium, with noise coming from all corners.
Manchester United grabbed two goals in quick succession to put themselves in the lead. Goalkeeper, David De Gea, made a vital mistake by turning to the Bobby Moore stands and celebrating arrogantly.
After Antonio found himself on the end of a Dimitri Payet cross to put West Ham back level, Winston Reid headed the ball at De Gea, the ex-Manchester United keeper pushed the ball into his own net and West Ham emerged as 3-2 winners in an action-packed, five goal thriller.
'He rose so high, he nearly touched the sky! 2-1 down, now 3-2 up. It's meant to be, it's surely meant to be in Claret and Blue!'
Getty: Paul Gilham
The 'Dimitri Payet' Season
In many West Ham fans' eyes, Dimitri Payet is the best player they have seen grace the famous Claret and Blue shirt. Signed for a measly £10m fee in the summer of 2015, Dimitri Payet set the Premier League alight, showcasing a perfect balance of showboating and output.
Payet bagged 12 goals and 14 assists in all competitions and found himself nominated for the 2016 Ballon D'or and going off his placement, the 17th best football player in the world in 2016, all while playing for West Ham.
Dimi was an immediate fan favourite at Upton Park, gaining the infamous chant "We've got Payet", which rung around stadiums across the country. Nearly every West Ham fan would say he is the best player that they've seen in a West Ham shirt, the same as nearly every modern day West Ham player would say he's the best player that they've played with in a West Ham shirt.
Although his spell at West Ham was cut to a controversial and quick end, the legacy he built during his short time here hasn't and will never be forgotten. It's likely that, during their lifetime, many people will never see a player of his level play for West Ham again.
Getty: Jan Kruger
Back to the DeLorean
After a nostalgic trip back 9 years, it's time to jump back into the DeLorean and look forward to the upcoming season under new manager Julen Lopetegui. A strong summer window has put the Hammers into a stronger position than ever, with fans of not only West Ham but other clubs too predicting West Ham to put up yet another fight for a European place in the 2024/2025 campaign.
