Green Street Hammers
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Hammertime: Victory Over Tottenham

By Barrett Rouen

STRATFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 05: West Ham United fans with a flare during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on May 5, 2017 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
STRATFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 05: West Ham United fans with a flare during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on May 5, 2017 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Let’s not have anyone act like they weren’t surprised by the West Ham result against Tottenham.

They’re one of the best teams in the league with possibly three of the five most talented attacking players in the league in form and in their starting 11. What that did show though is the teams’ potential.

The truth about this West Ham side is actually rather simple. They are a far better side than they played as this year. What this summer should be dedicated to in fact is finding out why this year happened as it did.

More from Green Street Hammers - West Ham

Season Positives

If there was one single positive that we could take from the he-who-shall-not-be-named saga then it is the emergence of Manuel Lanzini. His role was exactly the same what occupied by the artist-formerly-known-as and in it when given the opportunity he has shown flashes of brilliance this season. The match against Tottenham is an example of how when he is on form Lanzini can be just as threatening and destructive a force as the former.

What West Ham need to do is find a formation that gets the best out of Lanzini and then surround him with younger and more dangerous talent than is currently in the team. At the moment West Ham’s squad is too old and too comfortable. They need to be more on edge. So much can be achieved in football simply by playing with a chip on ones shoulder. A young, chipper, group of men ready to fight with a little bit of experience and some of Lanzini’s well times magic could do damage in the Premier League these days.

The league is more open then ever before. The top four is dead, it’s a top-6 now and even they all look weak. Now is the opportunity to shake the deck up a little bit. Turn the table, change the game do something different and see what happens.

The Ambition

Look at what RB Leipzig did in Germany this year. It can be done but someone needs to take the initiative. Too often West Ham have been leaving themselves out of the narrative. They need to retake control be the protagonists in their own story. Stop worrying about what other teams are doing, who they’re buying, the way their playing. Be in charge of their own destiny.

Next: Match Report From Spurs game

There’s no reason why they can’t, the only thing that they need to do is take that brave step forward. Uniting the team behind the talent of Lanzini could be the spark to get things moving.