If you had offered West Ham the promise of 10th place in their first season back in the Premier League, they would have snapped both your hands off.
Sam Allardyce is a big one for targets and his squad have hit theirs consistently. The early fixtures fell kindly for them and when they picked up 14 points from their first eight games, the Hammers were off and running. When their fans look at what has befallen Reading, last season’s Championship winners, it must feel very satisfying.
Allardyce has signed a new deal, the club are going ahead with their move to the Olympic Stadium and the secret now is to repeat this season’s achievement.
Sam Allardyce: 9 out of 10 at the very least. After winning promotion at the first attempt then finishing halfway up the League table, no one could have asked for more.
Best player: Winston Reid (above)
Best signing: Jussi Jaaskelainen (free from Bolton)
Who/what they need in the summer
Owners David Gold and David Sullivan need to go as far financially as they possibly can to sign Andy Carroll on a permanent basis from Liverpool. The big striker has made so much difference in the final third of the season during his loan from Anfield. If not, then they must find someone else who can score 15 goals next season, five more than this year’s top scorer, captain Kevin Nolan.
