After surprising a few last year, West Ham are flying this season. Jason Pettigrove looks at just how much the Hammers could achieve in 2021/22.
Anyone who watched West Ham’s 3-2 win against Liverpool at the weekend couldn’t have been surprised by the final score. Nor would they have been when Manchester City were dumped out of the Carabao Cup for the first time in five years recently.
The question that really needs to be asked is why David Moyes is still being judged by his time at Manchester United rather than, perhaps, his Everton tenure.
The Scot has always been a good manager. Actually, he’s been better than that. Why else would Sir Alex Ferguson have recommended him as his immediate successor at Old Trafford?
That job was a poisoned chalice at the time and remains one now, but no one is really taking Louis van Gaal or Jose Mourinho to task for their relative failures there.
Moyes has certainly found a second home at the London Stadium, and has finally built a squad capable of delivering long-overdue success.
👏 West Ham United have now beaten:
Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Tottenham, and Leicester!#WHUFC | #WHULIV | #PL pic.twitter.com/rOqPQrVXEn
— BetVictor (@BetVictor) November 7, 2021
They’re just two rounds away from a Wembley date in the Carabao Cup, even if one of those will be against a Tottenham side that want to go places under Antonio Conte.
With some big sides still left in the competition, BetVictor have installed the Hammers as 6/1 fourth favourites, which is a great price considering that they’re taking no prisoners at present.
Losing on Sunday was Liverpool’s first defeat in 26 games and was enough to see West Ham leapfrog them in the table.
Third position heading into the international break means that the east Londoners can enjoy their heady ascent for at least a couple of weeks more. In fact, their stellar start to the season has seen them priced at 7/2 to win any trophy in 2021/22.
As they hurtle towards the midway point of the season and the opening of the January transfer window, it’s vital that Moyes is supported by his board.
If they’re able to supplement the strength in depth they already have, it’s not too fanciful to believe that West Ham could, at the very least, be heading for their best-ever finish, if not a maiden top-level title.
How does this look? 👀#PL pic.twitter.com/8b6mGimfBc
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 8, 2021
With Declan Rice leading the charge from the front and his colleagues all finding form at the right time, the 50/1 price for a Premier League win is long, but is bound to come in heavily if the Hammers get a few more wins under their belt.
Perhaps their best chance of glory will come in Europe.
The shackles are really off in the Europa League where West Ham are looking stronger in every game.
There’s an enjoyment to their play against sides who, perhaps, aren’t used to such aggression and fast-paced counter-attacking.
Opponents setting up to contain the Hammers soon realise they possess danger in all areas of the pitch.
Solid defence, hard-working midfield and goals galore in attack.
They’ll sail through the group stage, and at 10/1, they’re favourites for their first European title since 1965.
