Many clubs in recent times have been incredibly successful in their first season after promotion, like we were last year, but have then been relegated or very close to drop the next year. The second season syndrome has recently cursed clubs like Ipswich (2001), Manchester City (2004), Reading (2008), Hull (2010), Birmingham (2011), QPR (2013) and also West Ham in 2006/2007.
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The worst cases of second season syndrome affected Ipswich, Reading and Birmingham, who finished 5th, 8th and 9th respectively in their first year in the big time, but were then relegated in the following season. This in my opinion is due to the fact that the rest of the league now know the promoted sides tactics, which is scary for West Ham as we did play a different style of football to the rest of the league, which many clubs struggled to deal with, especially at Upton Park where we only lost to Everton, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool.
It is clear that West Ham are susceptible to the “second season syndrome” too, in 2005/06 we had arguably our best season in the past 10 years, gaining a 9th place finish and a cup final spot, unfortunately followed by this was a relegation battle in 2006/07, that only a final day victory at Old Trafford saved us from.
If West Ham are to avoid a poor second season, we are going to have to mix up our tactics a bit, and play much better football away from home, last year we were the lowest scorers away from home because Big Sam played very defensively, performances against Reading and Villa optimise this view too. The key signing needed to improve our club would be the capture of Wilfred Zaha on loan from United, as we currently lack a player with pace and skill who isn’t afraid to have a pop at goal, very similar to Ricardo Vaz Te when he first signed for us and hit that superb hat-trick vs Brighton as opposed to the useless Premier League Vaz Te.
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If West Ham want to avoid this curse, we need to start well, looking at our fixtures we have to be on at least 10 points after our first 5/6 games if we want to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap, as we have a run of tough game last on in the year. Looking at the quality of our squad compared to other clubs in the league, a top half finish is easily within our grasp again, the fans just need to keep behind the team if we do go through a poor run. COYI!
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I’m not concerned about relegation next year, we’ll be fine! I don’t buy this second season syndrome, I’m sure If we looked at the stats far more teams go down the 1st year and not the 2nd. We already know that we are better than a number of teams in the league, and now there are 3 more teams that have to be more fancied for relegation than us.
The teams that do suffer this so called ‘2nd season syndrome’ is down to either becoming complacent and not strengthening in the right areas or teams are better prepared for them/their style of play. That won’t happen to us, everyone aleady knew last year how we play the game and we will be a stronger team than the start of next season, no doubt.
As long as we get some cover for cd/cm (sane sounds like he can do both), get a quality 2nd striker in and maybe another winger then I’m very confident we will finish about 10th again, which I think would be great! We need to improve on last year as 46 points is very unlikely to get us in the top half again! I’ve got faith in Sam to get the right players in to omprove the team without spending 30-40m every year that Southampton look like doing
whu good sign andy carroll another striker wanted for back up when andy gets injured icome on you irons