Men’s football Bubbles still rising at West Ham

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THE final verdict on West Ham's season will be largely dependent on what happens in the final of the European Conference League against Fiorentina on June 7.

Summer couldn't come soon enough, as the demands of the Hammers’ European campaign noticeably took a toll on their dismal form in the Premier League this season.

There will have been no less than 15 games in the Europa Conference, 14 up to the final. In contrast to their league form, West Ham's Europa Conference League season has been impressive, with the side winning 13 games and drawing the other.

The relentless European fixtures, though, had an impact on domestic form. The season started with much optimism and buzz. The club had invested by bringing in seven new players, who all appeared to be of good quality.

However, things took time to settle. Unlike in previous seasons when all the business was not done early, this time the signings came in pretty late in the transfer window.

Moyes declared he was building a new team. One wonders how well this declaration went down in the dressing room, with those who had laboured hard for the past three seasons to stay up, then gain successive 6th and 7th finishes in the Premier League table and a Europa League semi-final last year.

Early results did not go well, losing the first three games (two at home), before scraping a win at Aston Villa. The club were also dogged with some pretty diabolical VAR decisions, particularly Maxwel Cornet's brilliant goal against Chelsea in September. This cost West Ham a point.

Things seemed to pick up through October with some solid home wins. However, all seemed to unravel in the week before the break for the World Cup. Three home games that Moyes must have expected to win, against Crystal Palace and Leicester in the Premier League and Blackburn in the League Cup, resulted in three defeats.

This poor run was then compounded, when the season resumed post World Cup, with difficult (and losing) games against Arsenal, Brentford and Wolves.

It was at this time that the calls for the sacking of Moyes became loudest. To the credit of the West Ham board they stuck by their man — a decision that was vindicated in the end.

The new signings were something of a mixed bag. Pick of the bunch was Brazilian Lucas Paqueta, who after taking time to settle produced some fantastic displays, particularly in the run in. The tricks and flicks combined with a real work ethic excited the home faithful, bringing back memories of the diminutive Dimitri Payet.

Moroccan Nayef Aguerd showed what a good centre back he is when he finally accrued some game time, following a rocky and injury plagued start to the season.

Among the others, German Thilo Kehrer proved reliable as a utility player operating across the back four. Brazilian Emerson Palmieri showed flashes of attacking dash but lacked consistency.

Midfielder Flynn Downes had limited opportunities, and remains a work in progress. The most disappointing signing overall was 24-year-old Gianluca Scamacca, who showed moments of brilliance but seemed a bit lacking on the work ethic side. His heart often did not seem to be at the London Stadium. As a result, the Italian is expected to move on in the summer.

Ageing and slowing Danny Ings was bought in January to address the problems up front, but did not set the pulses racing. Indeed, his most positive contribution may have been in getting Michail Antonio's pulse going a bit quicker resulting in the big striker coming back strongly at the end of the season, after some indifferent form earlier on.

Not enough was seen of Cornet due to an injury prone season.

So the new signings were variables. What will really concern West Ham fans is that the fundamental weaknesses at full back and up front remain unresolved. Nor has the dependable centre back Craig Dawson been replaced. Moyes will be on the hunt to find solutions to improve these issues in the summer.

However, he may well be tempted to look more toward the excellent youth team that won the FA Youth Cup this season for the first time since 1999. Not so long ago, an FA Youth Cup winning side could be expected to provide three or four first team players.

Competition is now much stiffer but the excellent Divin Mubama and Oliver Scarles have already made impressive appearances for the seniors. Mubama could well be the answer to the striking problems in the long term.

Moyes must have earnt himself at least another season at the helm. His record is among the best. Some are not enamoured with his style of play, which does tend to be rather formulaic and direct. Players have to fit to the system, rather than the system being tweaked to accommodate a new player. Said Benrahma is one who could testify to the problems this can cause.

Benrahma has finally come good this season, putting in several match-winning performances and easing his way into the hearts of Hammers supporters, but he took a lot of stick from Moyes before making the breakthrough.

The biggest question among Hammers fans at the moment is of course: will Declan Rice be leaving the club in the summer?

The captain has once again been the outstanding player of the season, creating some memorable moments and putting in a number of fantastic performances. He had big shoes to fill after Mark Noble's departure, but he has led the club well.

It is widely reported that Rice has his sights set on moving to a bigger club that competes regularly in the Champions League and wins things. Only Manchester City really match that ambition after this rollercoaster of a season, with Newcastle United claiming a spot in Europe, alongside Arsenal and Manchester United.

So, if City don't come calling and West Ham win the Europa Conference League, can the talismanic Rice be persuaded to play another season in claret and blue? Watch this space.

A lot rests on that fateful night in Prague against Fiorentina, with West Ham fans holding their collective breaths and crossing their fingers. Come on you Irons.

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