What they said 2016/17: West Ham United

The main focus of West Ham’s season was how they settled into their new home in Stratford.

Having left Upton Park at the end of the previous season, excitement was high as Slavan Bilic was to lead his side out at the London Stadium.

An added bonus for Hammers fans was that the club had qualified for the Europa League – so with a new home and European football, there was plenty to be optimistic about.

West Ham 3-0 NK Domzale

Cheikhou Kouyate scored twice as West Ham won their first game in their new home. Having lost the first leg 2-1, the Hammers made no mistake in the second leg as Sofiane Feghouli wrapped up a convincing win to progress in the Europa League.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: “It was difficult psychologically for us but for the stage we are at we played really well. We were fit, aggressive and played good football.

“We could have scored more goals, but it was a very mature performance. We played badly in the first leg but a week later we are fresher and closer to the season.

“I didn’t know what the atmosphere would be like. This was the first time we could judge it and it was more than I expected. It’s loud.”

Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

West Ham 0-3 Southampton

Life at the new home was not going as well as had been hoped though. Defeats by Chelsea and Manchester City were probably to be expected, but a 4-2 home defeat to West Brom and this loss to Southampton left the Hammers in trouble at the end of September.

Bilic said: “They deserved to win. We didn’t.

“We were not happy with how we played in the last third of the pitch. We didn’t penetrate enough and were unlucky in the first half.

“The second half you are trying to get back into the game and we made a big mistake. We had the ball three times and should have cleared. We tried to put them under pressure but they were always very quick in the moment of transition.”

Picture: Getty Images

West Ham 2-1 Chelsea

West Ham my have been struggling in the Premier League, but they progressed to quarter finals of the EFL Cup with victory over London rivals Chelsea.

Crowd disturbances between rival fans marred the end of the game, but goals from Kouyate and Edimilson Fernandes saw the Hammers through.

Bilic said: “It was a good game of football, it deserves to be talked about.

“I can’t say we were perfect but we had a plan and the guys executed it in a great way. We were good in defending as a unit.

We were really good in keeping the ball and stretching them and playing wide. In the first half it was great and I think we deserved to be more than one up.”

Picture: Getty Images

West Ham 3-0 Crystal Palace

Andy Carroll grabbed the headlines in January as his stunning bicycle kick helped West Ham to a comfortable home win over former manager Sam Allardyce and Crystal Palace.

Feghouli and Manuel Lanzini also got themselves on the scoresheet but it was Carroll’s goal that had everyone talking.

Carroll said: “It’s been a while in the making – I’ve been trying for a couple of years. It’s got to be the best goal I’ve scored.”

Slaven Bilic added:”With his history of injuries I go a bit crazy when he does that in training because you don’t want him to get hurt,” admitted the West Ham coach, while his Palace counterpart had nothing but admiration for the goal and its execution.

Sam Allardyce said: “It’s a terrific finish from Andy Carroll and he’s always had that in his locker. The volley was outstanding.”

Picture: Getty Images

West Ham 1-0 Tottenham

If West Ham were struggling with their new surroundings in the early part of the season, then this Friday night in May was time that they really felt at home at the London Stadium.

A win over their local rivals is one to savour, but it also put a major dent into Tottenham’s title chances.

Manuel Lanzini scored the only goal of the game in the second half as Hammers fans celebrated one of their best wins in their new home.

Bilic said: “We deserved to win.

“We had a game plan, but the way we did it was magnificent. A great team display in terms of character and determination.

“To beat a team like Spurs you need more than that and we also showed quality.

“It was an important one for them and us, and under the lights on a Friday night, against them – you can’t beat that feeling.”