West Ham have enjoyed another successful campaign in the 2021/22 season reaching the Europa League semi-final and securing European football again for next season via a top seven league finish.
As the season draws to a close, it’s time to rate and review each individual player’s year long performance as well as manager David Moyes.
Let’s find out who the stars were in the Hammers squad.
West Ham end of season player grades: Featuirng Declan Rice, Craig Dawson and more.
Lukasz Fabianski – B
It remains to be seen whether he remains as No.1 for next season but the Polish keeper has again been mostly dependable in goal. Admittedly he has made a few mistakes but he is trustworthy in goal. He has made a number of vital saves, most recently a penalty stop from Man City’s Riyad Mahrez, that helped West Ham secure at least Conference League when things resume after the summer.
Alphonse Areola – A
Rumours suggest West Ham are increasingly likely to sign the 29-year-old on a permanent deal which is music to most fans’ ears. He has become a popular figure with supporters after a numourous good cup performances. Areola was exceptional versus Man City in Carabao Cup as well as being solid throughout the Europa League campaign. He made crucial saves in wins versus Sevilla and Lyon, without him the Irons may not have made the semi-final.
Ben Johnson – A
The youngster hasn’t really put a foot wrong whether he’s played right-back, left-back or even centre-back in a three. His versatility has been vital and looks assured defensively despite needing to improve his attacking game e.g. crossing to reach the next level. But for a youngster in his first year featuring regularly he has done well.
Vladimir Coufal – C
The Czech international was one of the best right-backs in the Premier League last season so perhaps those expectations are his downfull. Unfortunately he’s missed 14 games through two injury spells and lost his place to Johnson while out.
Ryan Fredericks – C
The speedster looks set to leave West Ham with his contract expiring this summer. He has never been overly convincing defensively but he has certainly improved under the coaching of Moyes and Stuart Pearce. He’s another who hasn’t put much of a foot wrong this season but giving his limited time in the starting XI he can’t be graded too highly.
Kurt Zouma – B+
His first season in claret and blue has been a major success besides some off-field kicking of cats! The Frenchman has slotted in perfectly on the left or right side of defensive no matter his centre-back partner. His winner versus Liverpool was unforgettable.
Craig Dawson – A+
He signed from Watford for £2million to complaints and he is now a cult hero. He will head anything out, pop up with a few goals, has criminally underrated long passing and puts his body on the line every game, he even played through injury for a spell this season. Europa League team of the season and 3rd place in the Hammer of the Year vote – well done.
Issa Diop – D
He was shocking for quite a few games this season, Kidderminster and Leeds come to mind, and looked completlely out of confidence for a while. However, to his credit he fought back and put in some more accomplished performances such as away to Lyon. He has so much potential therefore his season feels underwhelming.
Angelo Ogbonna – C
We haven’t seen Ogbonna for a while, he only played 11 matches this season which is a great shame because he was performing well alongside Zouma forming a good partnership before his cruciate ligament injury. We hope to have him back fit again for next season.
Aaron Cresswell – C
Judging Cresswell’s season is tough because ignoring that sending off to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-final second leg, he’s been solid (I’m letting him off the red vs Lyon because it wasn’t a sending off). His seventh year with West Ham has been tarnished by that one moment and arguably him being in that situation was a consequence of a poor tactical set-up. Try remembering the fantastic free-kick vs Everton and not that what happened in Frankfurt if you can.
Arthur Masuaku – D
Thanks for the shanked cross vs Chelsea that won us the game but it’s fair to say West Ham need a new left-back this summer. He’s a joy to watch when dribbling but he is a defender who isn’t the best defensively.
Declan Rice – A*
He has been fantastic this season and deserves the Hammer of the Year award for a second time. Rice has stepped up and captained the side amazingly, speaks well in interviews, carries the ball forward driving the team from defence to attack and no player can get the ball past him. Simply brilliant and every West Ham fan hopes he stays for another season.
Tomas Soucek – C
After his total of 10 goals last season, his five this time feels a disappointment. He has held his position more this season, important for unleashing Rice’s driving runs with the ball but Soucek’s not been quite as good. His recovery tackles and aerial prowess remains vital but his passing is poor. As more opponenent sit back against us that weakness has been exposed, when sides do this Manuel Lanzini is better off in his position to build-up better from deep.
Mark Noble – B
Every West Ham fan will miss him. His goodbye was emotional and one of the most memorable at the London Stadium. His influence and legacy isn’t about trophies, it’s about his leadership and tutorship of young players as well as keeping the club in touch with it’s values. He scored in Europe against Rapid Vienna so he can tick that off too. It’s a shame that 90th minute penalty miss versus Man United could cost West Ham Europa League qualification.
Alex Kral – E
He never really got given a proper chance but we must trust Moyes’ judgement and conclude he wasn’t quite good enough.
Manuel Lanzini – B
He has enjoyed a comeback year this season. Not many would’ve thought he’d become a vital member of the team again. He as played well in a deeper midfield position as well as in the No.10 role. His passing through the lines, ability to dribble well in tight spaces and his added bite in tackles are all great but he needs to add more goals and assists to his game. West Ham should sign a new attacking midfielder capable of doing that this summer as there is still a Jesse Lingard shaped void in the midfield. His goal away at Crystal Palace is the most aesthically pleasing you will watch.
Said Benrahma – B
The Algerian is another difficult one to judge, he splits opinion like no other. At times he is magical and in other moment he is irrelevant on the pitch. He has improved a lot since his arrival in East London but there’s always the belief he can do more. Statistically, his 11 goals and six assits in all competitions is a good return. He has only completed a full 90 minutes on seven occasions – Moyes loves to sub him off.
Nikola Vlasic – D
He has shown glimpses of talent in a West Ham shirt but it just hasn’t been enough. There is a belief among some fans he should be given more of a chance and get to play behind the striker in his preffered position rather than on the left flank. The Croatian’s national team boss made comments hinting at him leaving the club this summer and maybe thankfully the Hammers may not have to pay all the £25million fee to CSKA Moscow when signing him due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Pablo Fornals – A
Hard work, passion and techinal skill spring to mind when you think about Fornals. He is a real fan’s favourite and he is so important to the way the team sets up. The Spaniard has the quality to create chances, score the occassional goal, press well on top of never being scared of a tackle. He also seems to never be injured starting 84% of Premier League matches.
Jarrod Bowen – A*
The 25-year-old has been on fire this season and has been nominated for Premier League Player of the Season and deservedly so. He has scored 12 goals and got a further 10 assists in the league (even more in Europe), only Kevin de Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and Heung-Min Son have more goal contributions than Bowen. How long can England manager Gareth Southgate ignore him for as he must be on the plane to Qatar. He’s been arguably West Ham’s best player this season – he has got everything you’d want in a winger.
Andriy Yarmolenko – B+
The Ukranian’s stay at the club looks to be coming to an end as he contract is up. There have been times he hasn’t performed but on the whole he will be remebered for scoring a number of big goals. This season, the winner against Sevilla was possibly the moment of the year and his great goal on his comeback from time off after the invasion of his homeland versus Aston Villa was surely the league’s most emotional moment as he showed strength and desire to return and play like a man inspired.
Michail Antonio – B+
First half of the season Antonio was largely unplayable. His strength, pace and power was causing opponents all sort of problem but eventually the goals dried up and he became a little wasteful in-front of goal. However, he shouldn’t be judged just on goals, his hard work in a number of big games this season has been man of the match worthy. He makes the challenging things look easy and the easy things look challenging. Antonio has netted 12 goals and got a further 11 assists which is very good but be will know he should have more. Direct competition for his place is needed of course.
David Moyes – A*
What an incredible job Moyes has done. Few fans were happy to see him return to the club for a second spell but he has taken West Ham from relegation contenders to a European semi-final in two and a half seasons. His work has been simply incredible and the Hammers are in the best position they have been in in years. He deserves enormous credit for his tactics, signings and dragging West Ham out of a bad time to an incredible time. This season has been full of unbeliveable memories so thank you David Moyes, Let’s hope he is backed in the transfer market and we can keep competing with the big boys.