A Way to Early Glimpse into the West Ham Season

On the eve of another English Premier League campaign what could be a better idea than to attempt a way to  early glimpse into the West Ham season!

When predicting out a West Ham season, it can be tough. Who will start? What lineups with the gaffer chose? Who will flop and rise in the EPL?  Who will get hurt? Of course, all good questions and tough ones.

But that being said I have decided to take crack at this and give you my way to early glimpse into the West Ham season. First up let’s get the negative out-of-the-way and predict:

Flop of the season

How typical of me right?  Come out straight with the West Ham negativity but in the discussion of all things predictions this must be chosen and to be honest, there is a positive with this negative so with that I give you my choice:

Issa Diop

Diop can defend but he is young.  My reasoning is simple, he was our marquee CB signing this year and that can add a lot of pressure to the young lad.  Another reason is his passing, historically it is not very good and with the potential that Balbuena could surprise us and take over as the main signing in central defense could even further more establish Diop as the flop. However he is young and can still become a key part of the Hammers team in the future.

Next up:

Breakthrough player of the year

Ryan Fredericks

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Fredericks has pace like we haven’t seen in quite sometime at right back and quite simply represents great value because he was brought in on a free from a Championship team.  The reason I chose Ryan Fredericks is because with his youth, coming into a role that was basically played by one person last year, Zaba, and essentially taking it over in the preseason already, who knows what he can do with an entire year running up and down the right side.

Signing of the Year:

Felipe Anderson

Last year at Lazio Felipe notched 8 goals and 7 assists in just 32 matches, that’s roughly a goal and assist in every 4 games.  Our record-breaking signing adds depth and pace to an already packed group of wingers and there is no doubt in my mind that he will be the first on the team sheet for LW this season. My prediction: 8 goals and 12 assists this campaign.

Next:

Top Goal Scorer:

Can it be anyone other than Marko Arnautovic? No

Last year Arni led the club with 11 goals giving him the honor of top scorer. With that, I think his numbers will even grow this season. With the additions of Anderson, Yarmolenko, and Wilshere surrounding him it must be a mouth-watering thought. I predict more balls in, better leading passes, and better play around him which will inevitably lead to Arni netting more goals.  My prediction:  20 goals

Last but not least,

Hammer of the Year:

For the second year running, and with no doubt in my mind it would have to be Marko Arnautovic.

In my eyes if Nobes doesn’t have the captains armband on then it must be this man.  He plain and simple makes everyone around him better and accelerates their play. His strong presence on and off the pitch makes him a leader of this club, and to think before December last year we wrote him off. I predict Arni to lead the team in goals this year and with his style of attacking play I am sure it will invite a lot of defenders only freeing up surrounding players.

Hammers faithful, this season is going to be one of excitement, joy, tears, and fun! I can only hope that my predictions pan out because if they do and with the surrounding players new and old this might be a memorable season as well. Fly high hammers and remember Come on you Irons!