West Ham United to target a top-half finish?
The 2016/17 season has been a stark contrast to the previous campaign for West Ham United, with Slaven Bilic’s side failing to build on their seventh-placed finish 12-months ago.
Last season, which was the last West Ham competed at the famous Upton Park, saw Bilic’s side surprise many and gain qualification the Europa League after a seventh-placed finish. The Hammers won 16 of their 38 league fixtures and lost on just eight occasions, with only Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and champions Leicester City losing less.
This season’s move to the Olympic Stadium has coincided with a severe dip in form from West Ham, with Bilic’s side flirting with the relegation zone for large parts of the campaign. The Hammers started slowly and were dealt a blow during the January transfer window, with last season’s Player of the Year, Dimitri Payet, returning to Marseille.
“Payet Freekick” (CC BY 2.0) by domfell
Bilic’s side have picked up just ten victories in the Premier League, losing on 16 occasions from 34 fixtures – double the total from the 2015/16 campaign. However, West Ham have picked up 38 points so far this season, which should be enough to avoid relegation to the Championship. Bookmakers are also confident the Hammers will avoid relegation, with odds as long as 100/1 for the club to finish in the bottom three.
Northern rivals Middlesbrough and Sunderland seem destined for relegation, sitting well behind 17th-placed Hull City. It does now appear to be a straight shootout between Marco Silva’s side and Swansea City for who joins Boro and Sunderland in the Championship next season.
Despite West Ham not reaching the heights of last year, the club’s supporters will be hopeful their team can restore some pride between now and the end of the season. Bilic’s side are unbeaten in their last three league fixtures, picking up five points from a possible nine, with a victory over Swansea City combined with draws against Sunderland and high-flying Everton.
The Hammers will be looking to finish the season with a flourish and possibly break into the top half of the table in the coming weeks. Bilic’s side are just two points behind tenth-placed Watford, and with four fixtures still remaining this term, there is still a real possibility the 10/1 outsiders can bag a top-ten finish. Punters looking to place a bet may want to check out the best new offers from the top bookies, which are available on betting odds comparison sites such as www.latestbettingsites.co.uk.
“West Ham Stadium” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by mattbuck4950
If the Hammers are to break into the top half, they must be targeting three points against Stoke City on Saturday afternoon, with odds from sport.netbet.co.uk particularly with difficult fixtures coming up against top-four hopefuls Spurs and Liverpool, before the final game of the season against Burnley.
Should West Ham break into the top half of the table it would be a great achievement for Bilic’s side, who have been disappointing for large parts. A positive end to the campaign could also be a springboard for the club heading into 2017/18 season, where everybody at the Olympic Stadium will be hoping the Hammers can rediscover the form that brought them so much success last year.
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