Each season there always seems to be a side that get carried away through the opening months. A run of a few good results suddenly snowballs, and before we all know it Christmas is approaching and an unlikely top four contender is in place. Leicester City’s rise this season has been notable, but far more intriguing is the form of West Ham.
Last season a top four challenge looked a distinct possibility until a tough winter derailed the Irons’ push, and although the same may happen, this time they look far more impressive under Slaven Bilic than they did with Sam Allardyce at the helm.
Only two points separates the Londoners from the top of table as things stand, which, although hugely unlikely, makes even an outside title challenge a possibility. After all, is this West Ham that far from Liverpool’s challengers in 2013/14?
Not on board the Upton Park hype train yet? Well you may be after this!
Current form
With 20 points from ten games, West Ham are averaging the two points-per-game return that practically guarantees as fine finishing position. In fact, only once – 2013/14 – has a tally of 76 points not been enough for a top four finish, so if West Ham can maintain their current return (a big ask, sure) Champions League qualification is firmly on the cards.
It’s hard to argue against the Hammers doing it on current form, too. The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea have all been beaten – the former three away from home – and as long as bizarre results like the back-to-back losses against Leicester and Bournemouth can be ironed out, who knows what’s possible?
Watford away this coming weekend could offer a real insight into what this side are capable of, it seems.
Options, options everywhere
The depth and quality in the West Ham squad is truly staggering this season. In every position Bilic can call upon seasoned professionals or talented youngsters, allowing him to rotate his options for specific games or change the way his side are playing in-play.
‘Up top’ is the area in which the Hammers’ choices are, arguably, most impressive, with the aerial prowess of Andy Carroll, the all-round ability of Diafra Sakho, the pace and power of Enner Valencia and the clinical finishing of Nikica Jelevic all available.
Behind the frontline the likes of Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Mauro Zarate can be changed for the pace of Victor Moses or Michail Antonio, while at the back James Collins is a terrific option to rotate around Angelo Ogbonna – a Champions League finalist – and Winston Reid.
Genuine star quality
Signing Payet for a mooted £10.7m looks like daylight robbery now. The Frenchman, who was Ligue 1’s most creative player last term, has taken to Premier League football like a duck to water, and his swagger on the pitch has given the Hammers genuine star quality.
Last season the Londoners were impressive, but ultimately not having a real game changer on the pitch cost them when the going got tough.
This season, though, they have a player that, on form, would walk into 95% of the Premier League’s starting XIs – only Man City have superior quality in his role – while options alongside such as Manuel Lanzini and Mauro Zarate are capable, on their day, of being match-winners.
No European burden
Although the manner in which the Hammers slipped out of Europa League qualification action at the hands of Astra Giurgiu was pretty embarrassing, it’s, perhaps, a blessing in disguise. Irons supporters would have loved top-level continental football for their last season at Upton Park, but the nature of Thursday night action and a, likely, extremely tough group given their coefficient would have, perhaps, already hit confidence and drained energy in east London.
Meanwhile, rivals such as Spurs and Liverpool, as well as last season’s top four must all balance hectic fixture lists and the added risk of injury. They may have better players, but the issues surrounding European action could prove to be a leveller.
The form of rivals
With Chelsea nearer the relegation zone than the top four, Liverpool unable to win games and Spurs always capable of imploding, West Ham have their best chance in years of making the top four.
Add to that the wobbly nature of this season’s title contenders, and an unlikely tilt for the biggest prize suddenly looks a whole lot likelier.
West Ham have given themselves the perfect foundation to press on, and with just two points between them and Arsenal – whom they’ve already beaten – anything is possible at this stage.