Thoughts/Predictions for the Remaining 2020/21 West Ham Season

Some thoughts and predictions for the rest of the 2020/21 West Ham Premier League season. 

A shambolic performance against Bournemouth, the sale of Grady Diangana, and a dispirited effort against Newcastle have resulted in a palpable sense of doom surrounding the beginning of the 2020/21 West Ham campaign.

It is a shame, especially because West Ham finished the 2019/20 restart in good form, losing only one of their last seven matches. West Ham fans were actually disappointed with a draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford and even beat the likes of Champions League-bound Chelsea.

David Moyes was getting the best out of new signings Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek while once again successfully playing a non-natural striker in the number nine role, resulting in a deserved Player of the Month award for Michail Antonio.

However, that newfound momentum the club carried into the shorter-than-usual summer break has disappeared.

Where Has the Money Gone?

It began when rumours swirled around the media suggesting that Gold, Sullivan, and Brady had absolutely no funds to spend on transfer targets this summer, resulting in a sell-to-buy policy. The Covid-19 global pandemic was mentioned as a reason why the club no funds to spare, but it is hard to believe when West Ham are the only Premier League club without a new signing.

Even if it is true and the pandemic has affected the pocketbooks of the club this much, financial incompetence has been the more pervasive problem. Yes, the club have broken their club transfer records three times in the past two summers but West Ham fans did not sign up for a move away from their spiritual ground to spend two out of every three summers. They were promised a “world-class stadium for a world-class team”.

Loss of Diangana

While the likes of Albian Ajeti and Jordan Hugill were let go – leaving the club with only one fit natural striker with Premier League experience – the sale of Grady Diangana to rivals West Brom has certainly been the tipping point for many supporters and their relationship with the board. The young and vibrant winger had a sensational season the Championship for the Baggies last season, scoring eight goals and contributing towards seven more.

The Athletic reported the atmosphere surrounding the club was like a funeral after the Diangana sale as many – including Mark Noble – made their frustration of the sale known.

This environment obviously carried over into the team’s pitiful performance against Bournemouth, and a disappointing attacking display against Newcastle surely cried out for a player like Diangana.

Current Squad

As mentioned earlier, West Ham have spent considerable amounts of money over the past two summers. Issa Diop, Felipe Anderson and Sebastien Haller are all club-record signings that have not lived up to the lofty expectations set upon them.

That being said, there was no Plan B after the Pellegrini Project failed, leaving the club with a shambles of a recruitment and scouting system and seemingly no funds to invigorate the underperforming squad.

However, new signings Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen have impressed since being signed in January. David Moyes has seemed to get the best out of them thus far and both have proven they have what it takes to succeed at the Premier League level.

The talent on this squad is there. Robert Snodgrass contributed towards ten goals before being injured, Michail Antonio was the best scorer in the restart, and while he has underachieved, Haller does have the talent to score double-figure goals.

Maybe it is blind optimism, maybe it is because I haven’t personally seen a West Ham relegation (I started following the club in the 2014-15 season), but I believe this team is too good to go down. I know it was said back in 2003, but I do truly believe that if a couple of underachieving players like Felipe, Lanzini or Haller play to their potential, this team will be safe come season’s end.

Moving Forward

While West Ham have lost a season-opening fixture for the fifth consecutive season, the club now faces a daunting task in their next six fixtures, which include trips to the Emirates and Anfield, as well as matches against Spurs, Wolves, and Manchester City.

Surely, many fans believe West Ham are doomed to be relegated this season. There continues to be no sensible transfer, scouting, and recruitment strategy, which can easily be seen by the negotiations for James Tarkowski thus far.

Woeful defensive performances are becoming more and more common and investment in the defence is necessary. Issa Diop has plateaued, and some may argue even regressed. Our full-backs have not looked sharp besides Masuaku, but that was against League One Charlton.

It does not seem the necessary investment in the squad will come from the current owners. Will investment from new ownership come up at some point this season? I touch upon that, as well as four other predictions for the rest of the 2020/21 campaign:

Predictions

1) David Moyes will not be West Ham manager at season’s end: There have been rumours of arguments between Moyes and Karren Brady and further rumours of Moyes resigning before the Newcastle match. While I don’t 100% believe these rumours and don’t think Moyes will resign on his own accord, there is an obvious tension between the manager and the executive team. That, combined with the fact I don’t believe performances will be acceptable, Moyes will be sacked before season’s end.

2) Bowen and Haller will be joint-high scorers: Jarrod Bowen is going to be massive for West Ham. He was the only bright spot in a shambolic performance against Bournemouth and he consistently shows a dynamic and vibrant attacking style missing from many of West Ham’s attacking players. I do believe he will reach eleven goals in the league this season, along with Haller, who won’t overly impress but will increase his goal tally from the year before and show the desired improvement.

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3) West Ham will sign a left-back this transfer window: It is the first priority position in terms of new signings. Aaron Cresswell and Arther Masuaku have both been consistent only in inconsistently making the starting spot their own. Injuries and/or poor play have not allowed either to show they are Premier League quality starting left-backs. Dalbert Henrique has been mentioned as a possible signing, as well as Brentford man Rico Henry. Newer reports have suggested that West Ham plan to target Robin Gosens from Atalanta. However, no full-back options are close to joining the club at the moment.

4) West Ham will finish 17th: While I did mention earlier that West Ham will not be relegated, that doesn’t mean the club will not be in a relegation fight. I do predict the club will be in the Premier League for the 2021/22 season, but only just, as they will finish one spot above the relegation zone. Buckle up.

5) David Sullivan will remain the majority owner at the end of the current campaign: While an American consortium has put in multiple offers to buy the club, one as high as £400 million, I do not believe David Sullivan will agree to sell the club. Sullivan has the sole privilege of rejecting any offer that comes West Ham’s way as he owns over 50% of the club and I believe he has the vanity to not want to sell the club, even if he knows it is best for West Ham.

Furthermore, Premier League clubs see several offers come through in a given time period and Sullivan and Gold would need to pay a 20% penalty to the taxpayer if the club is sold before March 23. All these points towards the evidence Sullivan and Gold will not sell in the near future.