We can all agree that getting promoted at the first try was the best thing that could happen this past season. While we didn’t win the Championship, we did manage to win the thrilling Play-off final against Blackpool. It was exactly what we as fans wanted and, to be honest, exactly what we as a club needed. But what about the coming season? What should our expectations be? Is it enough to simply stay in the Premier League? Or should we strive to achieve more?
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Now, I know staying in the top flight would be an achievement in and of itself. It’s no easy feat, coming from the Championship, to stay in the Premier League. But recently promoted teams have shown that they are no longer expected to prop up the table, with teams like Swansea and Norwich showing they can hang with even the top clubs. Is it unrealistic for us to aim for a top 10 finish? If the right players are brought in this summer, and the right ones let go, who’s to say we can’t consolidate a midtable position by the close of the season next spring? Granted, we will need luck in more ways than one. But it’s possible. I don’t want myself, or any other fans, to get carried away, but having ambition is what can make a good club great. I know the most important thing is to stay up next season, but how does aiming a bit higher hurt that goal? I believe that if we stay in a midtable position for a few seasons in a row we will situate ourselves nicely to grow even more and perhaps push for a Europa league spot (again, this is several years down the road). The important thing is to not undersell how good we can be. Just look at what Big Sam was able to achieve at Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers! If he could make those two shit teams midtable finishers year after year, who’s to say that we cannot have the same success, or even a bit more?
The motto once we got promoted of “Back Where We Belong” is true. West Ham do belong back in the Premier League, just not wallowing in mediocrity, barely scraping by on the last 3 games of each season like we did the seasons leading up to our relegation. Let’s go out there this season and get some wins!
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A top 10 finish is out of the question. Granted, ambition is important if we want to avoid being a Wigan, or a yo-yo team, but if we set our sights t high, the end of the season will be met with disappointment and frustration, just look at the England team. 15th sounds about right for me. I like most of the players we have been linked with, especially Zaha, Clyne, Elia and Castaignos. On the other hand, we have been linked to players like Guti, Holt and Gamberini. We should not be looking at players over 30. They dont have the longevity of younger players, and take up their space in the team. We have been there before, and it crippled the club. If we cant get Jarvis, why not bid for Scott Sinclair? He only has one year left on his deal with the Swans, so they may be inclined to sell. I would also like to see us bid for Scott Dann. He is young, English and will likely want to move. Much prefer him to Johnson, who is much older and has off the pitch problems. Lets get some deals finalized, COYI!!!