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Premier League 2015-16 season preview: West Ham United

With Slaven Bilic at the helm, Sports Mole looks at how West Ham United will do during the upcoming 2015-16 Premier League campaign.

Having played there since 1904, this season will be West Ham United's last at Upton Park before they move to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.

That switch will be the latest in a growing list of alterations for the Hammers, who this summer have seen a new manager appointed and a number of new players arrive.

Can they say goodbye to the Boleyn Ground in style? Here, Sports Mole assesses how West Ham may fare under the guidance of former player Slaven Bilic.


In

Darren Randolph (Birmingham City), Pedro Obiang (Sampdoria), Dimitri Payet (Marseille), Angelo Ogbonna (Juventus), Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal, season-long loan), Manuel Lanzini (Al-Jazira, season-long loan), George Dobson (Arsenal)

Out

Dan Potts (Luton Town), Carlton Cole (Released), Guy Demel (Released), Jussi Jaaskelainen (Released), Nene (Released), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

Last season - 12th


Manager - Slaven Bilic

Manager of West Ham United Slaven Bilic looks on during the pre season friendly match between Southend United and West Ham United at Roots Hall on July 18, 2015© Getty Images

With the greatest of respect to the 46-year-old, it does not appear that he was the West Ham board's first choice to replace Sam Allardyce. In truth, he probably was not even the second or third preference either. Reports linked the East Londoners with the likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp, but while ambition should always be applauded, those two were never realistically going to fill the Upton Park hotseat.

Instead the job was eventually given to Bilic following his departure from Turkish outfit Besiktas. The ex-defender is a familiar face at West Ham, having had an 18-month playing spell with the club back in the 1990s. In terms of his management record, while there have been highs - like when he guided Croatia to Euro 2008 at the expense of England - but that aside, with Lokomotiv Moscow and Besiktas there has been no sustained success to speak of.


Key Player - Dimitri Payet

With an £11m price tag hanging over his head, West Ham fans will be expecting big things from their new attacking midfielder. He has certainly shown his credentials in France with Lille and Marseille in recent years, having laid on 51 assists over the past six Ligue 1 campaigns.

It was last season, though, that the 28-year-old truly rose to prominence, which makes the fact that West Ham have been able to secure his signature all the more impressive. He chalked up 17 assists for his Marseille teammates, which was more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues. Not just that, only Barcelona star Lionel Messi played more successful through passes than the France international. If he can bring that form to England, Payet will quickly become a firm favourite of the West Ham faithful.

Dimitri Payet of West Ham United battles with Cian Bloger of Southend United during the pre season friendly match between Southend United and West Ham United at Roots Hall on July 18, 2015© Getty Images


Possible starting lineup

Adrian; Cresswell, Reid, Ogbonna, Jenkinson; Noble, Kouyate, Obiang, Payet; Valencia, Sakho

First game: Arsenal (A), Full fixture list


Sports Mole says

It is by no means a criticism to say that West Ham fans are traditionally an expectant bunch. They want their side to not only win matches, but to do it in style. Having spent some big money this summer on players from across Europe, it is likely that those demands will only increase.

But, with a manager that has never previously coached in the Premier League and not been particularly successful elsewhere, there should be some caution. The fact that he is a favourite among the faithful from his playing career may afford him a little more leeway, but it will not last for ever. With a host of new players needing to gel, a top-half finish may be asking too much this term.

Prediction - 13th

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