It may not feel like it right now but there are actually a number of positives for West Ham in the wake of the 5-2 thrashing to Arsenal.
Nobody said supporting West Ham is easy.
It seems that for every day the Hammers have in the sun, there can be years in the shadows.
That’s why the last four or so years were just so good and surreal.
Bar a disappointing Premier League campaign the season before last there had been rapid progress.
It even culminated in West Ham winning a first major trophy for 43 years.
For some reason, though, the Hammers always seem to struggle when it comes to taking that all-important next big step.
And that is proving to be the case once again.
The appointment of Julen Lopetegui is looking increasingly like a mistake.
After bringing in £155m worth of players in the summer, it makes that all the more frustrating.
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Apathy is slowly starting to creep in at West Ham despite the excitement that surrounded the summer.
The 5 important positives for West Ham – yes there are some
You could see that when the Hammers went 4-0 down on 36 minutes against London rivals Arsenal on Saturday night.
That kind of collapse and capitulation has been an all too common theme this year – both pre and post David Moyes’ departure. So much so that supporters are becoming numb to it.
Lopetegui has been given £87m of defenders to fix it, though. So it’s unacceptable.
After one step forward with the shock win at Newcastle, it felt like 10 steps back in the shambolic 5-2 defeat to the Gunners, never mind two.
It’s easy to get despondent but with two thirds of the campaign still to come, West Ham’s season can be rescued.
Here are the five important positives for West Ham ahead of Leicester – yes there are some.
Depending on your individual stance it could soon become six as well.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Carlos Soler of West Ham United celebrates after winning the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and West Ham Un...
Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Mohammed Kudus returns
The first positive note is that Mohammed Kudus is back for Leicester.
There is no doubt West Ham’s star boy has been sorely missed.
His five-game ban has summed up Lopetegui’s season in many ways.
Kudus was almost trying too hard to carry the team before he exploded in frustration during another thrashing against a London rival in Spurs.
If Kudus’ absence has proved one thing, it is that he is clearly the club’s best player.
Jarrod Bowen may be our most important, but Kudus is indisputably the most talented.
The Hammers need him to make up for lost time now, starting at the King Power.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is everything we imagined and more
There is absolutely no doubt one of the highlights of a pretty torrid season so far is Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The Spider looks an absolute bargain at £15m.
He is levels above any right-back West Ham have had in modern times.
Wan-Bissaka has lived up to his reputation as being almost impossible to beat one-v-one.
But he’s even adding goals after making it two in two against the Gunners.
Yes he needs to tidy up on some of his marking off the ball. But much of the criticism he’s faced over his positioning has been down to the manager’s tactics and insistence he wants Wan-Bissaka and Emerson to be high up the pitch.
The fact he can easily switch to left-back makes him one of the best captures in terms of value for money in years.
Thank goodness the Hammers had the foresight to tie him down to a seven-year deal.
If he sees out that contract I’ve no doubt he’ll finish up a West Ham legend.
Carlos Soler shines through the dark clouds
If one player has stood out in the last two games – along with Wan-Bissaka – it is Carlos Soler.
The 27-year-old PSG loanee had failed to impress in brief cameos for the Hammers since arriving in east London.
Many felt he looked too lightweight for the rough and tumble of English football.
But Soler has completely dispelled those doubts at Newcastle and against Arsenal.
Along with Wan-Bissaka, Soler was the only player to emerge with any credit in the defeat to the Gunners.
Soler is a very intelligent midfielder and plays with the kind of purpose and poise that West Ham don’t have.
He’s gone from a very questionable signing to one of the first names on the teamsheet in a week. That’s how standout he has been.
The great news is West Ham confirmed they will try to make Soler’s move permanent if he keeps up these levels for the rest of his loan.
David Sullivan and Julen Lopetegui.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
West Ham’s fixture list
As bad as it has been under Lopetegui so far, he was handed a pretty tough fixture list.
Now the difficulty level drops significantly for the best part of a month.
West Ham face Leicester, Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton between now and Boxing Day.
Brighton are flying but at home it’s a game West Ham should still be looking to win.
But in that run the Hammers are facing the three teams who have conceded the most goals in the top flight this season.
While the easier run of games is a big positive, it does pile the pressure on Lopetegui.
There is no reason West Ham shouldn’t be targeting at least 13 points from that run.
That would go some way to making up for the terrible start. And it would clearly keep Lopetegui in the job.
But it brings it’s own pressure.
And it’s been made clear defeats in the next two would see Lopetegui sacked by West Ham.
Most wide open Premier League season for 12 years
While it may feel like West Ham’s season is already in danger of petering out into nothingness, there is hope.
There is no danger of the Hammers being relegated.
But their rank defensive performances and inconsistency means the stated aim of qualifying for Europe looks like a pipedream.
The season can still be rescued, though.
This is officially the most wide open Premier League season for 12 years.
It means the points needed to make Europe will likely be lower than it has been in that time.
If West Ham can spark themselves into life then 12 wins and a few draws will be enough from the remaining 25 games.
Tough but not impossible.
And if the Irons do get the results they should from the upcoming fixtures they’ll make big inroads into that target.
If things don’t go to plan then there may be a sixth big positive as far as some fans are concerned – the manager being replaced.
And that in itself could spark the season back into life.
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