[West Ham United’s](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-eyewatering-valuation-its-not-millions-anymore/) season ended with three points won and a fourteenth spot in the Premier League secured, above Spurs, Manchester United and Wolves with 43 points: Just one more than the total of 42 which saw Glenn Roeder’s side relegated in 2002-3.
The day did have a similar ‘end of era’ feeling about it as the team stood taking the applause from the away fans, all of those departing coming forward to gesture their farewells to the crowd. I did find myself totting up the ‘likely’ departures in addition to those we know about: Lucas Paquetá taking the applause at the end did almost look as if he was waving goodbye.
Mohammed Kudus didn’t celebrate when he scored – as if mentally he’s already checked out and is just waiting for his ticket. Emerson Palmieri didn’t even make the squad and will surely be on his way this summer too – the Brazilians another pair of the Hammers’s ECL winners from just two years ago, along with Kudus, seem destined to join Fab, Coufal, Cressie, and Ings whose departures we already know. Plus of course Antonio looks less likely to return in his former capacity.
Big change is afoot and the direction of travel isn’t known. There’s a vacuum just now at the club as if waiting for the ‘main event’ to kick off when the window opens. Change, they say is neither good nor bad, it is just essential.
I could just have done with another season of some of these players showing their best: It seems sad to see the ‘boys of ’23’ dissolved so meekly and dispersed to go on to better, or different roles elsewhere. Just hope we don’t wait another 43 years to see their like again.