West Ham United’s great start should not be a complete shock
By Gary Jordan
West Ham United are continuing where they left off last season – winning.
West Ham United’s fast start
For many, the start West Ham has had this season has come as a surprise. Often overlooked by many as a team that struggles with its existence in the top flight, the Hammers are from that. Yes, they have had their flirtations with relegations, and some poor performances have left even their own fans wondering how they can turn their season around.
Their manager, David Moyes, has shown time and again his own resilience, as well as that of his team. His own self-belief is rubbing off on a squad that ran the table in the Europa Conference League last season, and ran out eventual winners, beating Fiorentina 2-1 in the final played in Prague.
Great results
It should come as no shock that they have begun this new campaign, high off the back of that heady night in June. After an opening day draw at Bournemouth, when after leading for most of the game, they were pegged back with a goal in the last ten minutes, they have gone on to successive 3-1 wins. The first at Stamford Bridge, where they beat huge-spending Chelsea, and then this weekend, they caught Brighton and Hove Albion several times on the counterattack.
After losing Declan Rice to Arsenal, and taking their time in the transfer market, many feared that the East London side would have a stuttering start. The steady stream of players coming in, though, has appeased their fans, as well as impressing outsiders. Edson Alvarez from Ajax for £32.7m, James Ward-Prowse a £30m signing from relegated Southampton, Konstantinos Mavropanos arriving from Stuttgart for £17m. Adding in Mohammed Kudos, another Ajax raid, this time for £36.9m. There is also the rekindling of the Harry Maguire transfer, as Manchester United look set to let the England defender go.
Dream big
Winning in Europe is proving to be the perfect confidence builder. It may prove to be hard to maintain this promising start across the whole season, but while they keep aiming high and winning, it will be up to others to knock them down. After all, if Leicester City can win the Premier League, then why not West Ham?