West Ham are one of the most famous English top-flight clubs with an illustrious history partly borne off the
success of their 1966 World Cup winners. The year before, they won their only major European trophy, the
now-defunct Cup Winners Cup. Since then their only other European silverware is the Intertoto Cup, a competition that also doesn’t exist anymore
This season in Europe, they have been beating all comers yet have struggled in the domestic league so what fate stands before them as the season ends?
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The Favourites
For a team struggling in the lower reaches of the English Premier League, it may be surprising that they are priced as the most likely
to win Europe’s third competition. Outright markets for those
live betting in Zambia, currently have West Ham priced at odds of 5/2
to win the competition. While in-game betting markets and goalscoring markets are also available to track West Ham's fortunes,
there are also casino and jackpot games. These outright odds are in stark contrast to their domestic league fortunes which place them among the favourites to be relegated.
Their European Adventure
West Ham fans must wish every night could be a Thursday night. The club have won eight games from eight, beating fellow quarter-finalists Anderlecht both home and away in the group stage. In the final 16, they disposed of AEK Larnaca's six goals to nil on aggregate. European football isn’t supposed to be this easy, especially for a club with the current struggles of West Ham.
The Contrast at Home
David Moyes is in his second spell in charge and last season couldn’t have gone any better. They reached a European semi-final and achieved a place for the following campaign by virtue of their league finish. However, it has all turned on its head now.
The club are fighting for their lives with less than a third of the season left and it’s probably only because of their European form that he remains in a job. With over 15 years of top-flight experience, he’ll need to call on every ounce of it to steer the club to success this year. Even if he does, fans have become tired of his negative tactics and many on the terraces think it is time for a change.
The road ahead
The Hammers have only a few weeks to change their fortunes and will hope their stronger players will help them do so.
Gianluca Scammaca and Lucas Paqueta are finally showing the form for which they were bought. While Jarrod Bown
and winger Said Benrahma provide
both imagination and endless running in attacking areas.
The mood among the players has continued to stay positive with any communication with the media appearing to back the manager. This togetherness should benefit the team. With captain Declan Rice spearheading the midfield, his dynamism and leadership quality will also be invaluable in the run in to the season.
The club have a squad packed with stars and capable backups and they should fancy themselves no matter who they come up against. As the weather in England improves as it moves closer to summer, West Ham fans will hope their season does too.
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West Ham season