West Ham United

While Leicester City have spent the last week celebrating their historic Premier League title win, it would be natural for West Ham United to look upon their story with a healthy dose of jealousy.

The Premier League establishment have all patted Leicester on the head and spoken about their win being good for the game, but the Hammers will know deep down that maybe, just maybe, it could have been them lifting the trophy.

There are distinct similarities between the two clubs this season; an inspirational new foreign manager arrives in the summer, an unheralded purchase from France emerges as one of the players of the season, and together they deliver unexpected success to haul them up from the depths of the table.

Of course, the major difference is Leicester are now the champions and have collected 21 points more than West Ham, who currently sit seventh in the table.

But the east London club should be proud of what has been their most successful season in the Premier League; they already have their highest points total since the league was rebranded in 1992, and with two games still remaining.

Their 4-1 defeat to Swansea City on Saturday should not tarnish this achievement, as but for Leicester and Tottenham Hotspur’s own unlikely transformations, West Ham would have been the story of the season.

Rather than dwell on what might have been, Slaven Bilic's side should begin to look forward to what they can now achieve in this fast-changing football landscape.

The timing could not be better, too, as they prepare to leave Upton Park and move in to their new home at the converted Olympic Stadium.

West Ham know their timely surge in form and imminent move across east London have presented them with a rare opportunity to quickly evolve from a constantly underachieving club—too easily engulfed by nostalgia—into a bolder outfit capable of taking up residence in both the top six of the Premier League, and European football.

West Ham manager Bilic told the Evening Standard:

When momentum comes in football, you have to grab it. You can’t go crazy but you have to take that opportunity. 

To match that momentum, though, perhaps you have to go outside your budget because maybe some players are ready now to come to West Ham that were not a year ago, or perhaps won’t be ready again in two years’ time. Now is the time. This club are moving ahead, you can feel that, you know that.

“Now is the time” is an apt rallying cry for West Ham next season when they look to improve their squad and consolidate the success of this season.

The Premier League is awash with money and clubs eager to climb the table and displace West Ham, so they need to spend wisely and quickly.

Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho have both played their role in this season’s success, but between them they have only managed 13 goals in the league.

A significant investment needs to be made in a new striker, a player who can be relied upon to provide a regular supply of goals, and turn West Ham's surprisingly large amount of draws into wins. 

According to the Guardian, West Ham are already on the case and have bid a club record £31.5 million for Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi.

Still only 22, he would need time to adjust to the Premier League, but buoyed by the success of signing his former team-mate Dimitri Payet last summer, West Ham believe he has the potential to score goals and develop with them.

Reinforcements are also required at the back where West Ham have flourished in spite, rather than because of their current back four.

So far this season West Ham have conceded 47 goals, five more than Watford in 13th position, and as many as Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion in the lower reaches of the table. 

Compare this with the teams they have been competing with to finish in the top four, Manchester City and Manchester United, who have leaked significantly fewer, with 40 and 31 respectively.

The simple truth is West Ham have conceded too many goals for a club with ambitions of forcing their way into the top four. 

Bilic needs to upgrade his defence for next season, with the most likely casualty being Winston Reid. 

The club’s current understudies in this position, James Collins and James Tomkins, are good, but not quite good enough, and this highlights a wider problem of not having the strength in depth to climb the table.

West Ham need better cover in several positions, because as Bilic told reporters after their unexpected defeat to Swansea at the weekend, “We had too many passengers relying on other players to do the dirty jobs.”

West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan has been keen to point out that West Ham are the “champions of London” after recording the best record against fellow London teams this season, winning 15 points from a possible 24.

With some wise investment during the summer, could West Ham finish their first season at the Olympic Stadium as the champions of the entire Premier League?

It remains unlikely, but then the same was said about Leicester City less than 12 months ago.

West Ham United revealed the capture of a player with a difference on Friday, confirming the capture of eSports star Sean “Dragonn” Allen.

The Hammers posted the following on their Twitter feed, revealing the 24-year-old, who claims to be a “professional FIFA player” on his own social media account, has even been handed a shirt number:

Sean will wear the No50 shirt. Follow and welcome @dragonn_whufc to the Club now! 🐉🎮⚒ #EnterTheDragonn pic.twitter.com/ERZeLu8zxU

— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 6, 2016

Allen finished in second place at the 2016 FIFA Interactive World Cup recently and will represent West Ham at the Play Like A Legend Grand Final on Saturday, per their official website.

“I am delighted to be joining West Ham United as their official eSports player,” Allen said, per the report. “This is a massive move forward for me. I have been playing competitive FIFA for a very long time and this is the biggest thing ever to happen to me.”

Even Irons boss Slaven Bilic had his say on the capture: “This is a big move for West Ham United. I have heard that Sean is a big player in the eSports arena so I am delighted that we have managed to secure his services.”

Allen lost out in the final of the FIWC to Mohamad Al-Bacha in March in the most dramatic fashion possible. Here’s a look at how that contest went, including the remarkable finish:

While the majority play these sorts of games for a release, competitive FIFA is serious business for those good enough to reach the highest level.

Indeed, according to FIFA’s official website, Al-Bacha picked up a prize of $20,000 for his win in the final against Allen, as well as a trip to the 2016 Ballon d’Or ceremony and a trophy presented by Spain legend David Villa. The man known as Dragonn picked up $5,000 for finishing as the runner-up.

West Ham’s new No. 50 revealed on Twitter he has received a fair bit of flak since the deal was announced, although he is excited about the opportunity:

Thanks everyone for your support. I see all the haters comments too, good stuff! Keep it coming 😁 haters keeps the fire alive. #TheDream

— Sean Allen (@SeanAllen180) May 6, 2016

For traditional fans of English football, such a move may seem ridiculous. But West Ham’s head of digital marketing, Karim Virani, wants the Hammers to become “a leader in this field,” per the report.

Given so many football supporters play the game from around the globe, not to mention the FIWC being broadcast on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, it’s a trend many clubs may follow in years to come.

West Ham United are looking to become an established UEFA Champions League team, which means they'll have a busy summer in the transfer market.

In the video above, Bleacher Report Insider Dean Jones reveals that Hammers manager Slaven Bilic is after Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Bilic could also move for Theo Walcott if that deal doesn't happen. 

UPTON PARK, London — West Ham United and Arsenal played to an entertaining, exhilarating and exciting 3-3 draw on Saturday afternoon, with Andy Carroll’s brutish hat-trick paving the way for an epic Hammers comeback after initially falling two behind—and also sparing West Ham manager Slaven Bilic’s tactical blushes.

The Gunners’ slick passing football proved too hot to handle early on, with Alex Iwobi pulling the strings and providing two assists—one for Mesut Ozil, and one for Alexis Sanchez. Carroll’s 10-minute triple salvo, though, turned the scoreline on its head, and Arsenal could only claw their way back to a draw via an opportunistic Laurent Koscielny finish.

Slaven Bilic constructed a 3-4-3 formation for the game similar, in parts, to the system he used to nullify Tottenham Hotspur in March. In that game, he stuck Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio in one-on-one marking roles with Danny Rose and Kyle Walker, attempting to stymie their aggressive nature and ensure they couldn’t make the difference in the final third.

Hector Bellerin is just as aggressive (from a positional perspective) as Walker or Rose, and Nacho Monreal is a fantastic out-ball in possession, so the decision to try to replicate—on paper—made sense. Remove Arsenal’s width, then rely on the hard-working Cheikhou Kouyate and Mark Noble to patrol the middle.

Only, in practice, it didn’t work; West Ham were torn to shreds in the channels between the outside centre-backs and wing-backs. Arsenal played a slew of through balls into that area for 43 minutes, working the space and creating confusion in the hosts’ tracking and marking responsibilities.

One-touch, quick-passing football can spell death to any defensive system no matter how sophisticated it is or deep it sits, but the Gunners didn’t have to emulate Spain of 2008 to scythe through Bilic’s men here. Antonio and James Tomkins looked perplexed by Danny Welbeck and Iwobi’s movement, while Cresswell and Angelo Ogbonna failed to pass off responsibility of Bellerin on several occasions, leading to chances.

While West Ham did have an opening goal by Lanzini ruled out incorrectly, there’s no doubt that Arsenal played the hosts off the park in the first half. They worked those channels again and again—be it on the counter-attack or while in possession—and carved out a number of clear-cut chances.

But Bilic was bailed out.

In the closing stages of the first half, Andy Carroll popped up with two goals to draw his side level. The goals were not a product of a system, nor any intricate formation-based play—they were exactly the types of goal you would expect Carroll to score. His first was a bruising header from a looping Aaron Cresswell cross, his second a well-executed, acrobatic strike following a melee in the box from a corner.

Minutes after the restart, he bagged his third, heading an Antonio cross in at the far post. In the space of just 10 on-pitch minutes, West Ham had gone from 2-0 down to 3-2 ahead, all thanks to their towering target man.

By substituting James Tomkins (the third centre-back) for auxiliary right-winger Emmanuel Emenike at half-time, Bilic all but admitted his first-half shape had failed. The change saw the Hammers transition from 3-4-3 to 4-4-1-1, which eventually merged into more of a 4-3-3 with Lanzini playing something close to a No. 8.

Contender for game of the season, surely?

— Huw Davies (@thehuwdavies) April 9, 2016

Arsenal were nowhere near as threatening in the second half—though they did enjoy spells of pressure here and there—with Ogbonna in particular looking far more comfortable in a back four. Antonio (who was now at right-back) and Cresswell’s roles were simplified, and the Gunners’ best moves emanated on the counter through the centre, rather than from wide areas.

The draw helps neither team. “It’s a blow,” Bilic admitted after the game, while Wenger expertly sidestepped questions over where this leaves Arsenal, replying rather dryly: “In third place with 59 points.” But while Bilic went on to suggest his team "deserved to be third [in the league]," the truth is he was fortunate to bag a point from this one.

Facebook.com/SamTigheBR

*Quotes obtained firsthand

"Practice makes perfect," as the old saying goes.

But what do you do once you achieve perfection? Well, according to Dimitri Payet, you can stop practicing.

The West Ham midfielder has been heralded this season for his ability from dead-ball situations, having found the net in spectacular fashion against Bournemouth, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United, Russia (while representing France) and, most recently, Crystal Palace.

And while Payet insists it took a lot of practice to get his technique just right, he hasn't needed to do much else since that first strike on January 12:

"I worked very hard on taking them earlier in the season up until the Bournemouth game when I scored," he told the Evening Standard's James Olley. "Since that game I have not been practising as I have been happy with the way I am hitting the ball so I am carrying on with that technique, and now I just take a few before each game when I am warming up."

The acclaim reached a new high on Saturday after Payet's stunning effort against Palace, a goal that took the player himself by surprise.

"I must say I was surprised by how the ball travelled and usually I can tell when I hit it if it is going to go in and I can sometimes celebrate beforehand, but with this one I thought it was going over but it then dropped in," he said.

No wonder opposing 'keeper Wayne Hennessey was left motionless.

"I am enjoying a very good period at the moment in terms of free-kicks. I am full of confidence and that allows me to try out these new things. The ball seems to be going in at the moment which is great for all of us," Payet said.

[h/t the Evening Standard, Instagram]

Mark Noble just had to score in his testimonial. Fantastic support for the former-England player! Pictures from BT pic.twitter.com/wdSkAYYcvj

— fanatix (@therealfanatix) March 28, 2016

⚒ 358 apps.
⚒ 38 goals.
⚒ 155 teammates.
⚒ 6 managers.
⚒ 52 teams faced.
⚒ 1 club.

👏 Mark James Noble 👏 #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/L1JLUaNodp

— bet365 (@bet365) March 28, 2016

Mark Noble's West Ham United testimonial was held at Upton Park on Monday afternoon to cap an impressive career with the London club.

Anything @Noble16Mark can do, @AdriSanMiguel can do better! 😂👐⚒ #MN16 #WHUFC https://t.co/pwvQE2VnD3

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 28, 2016

The 28-year-old was denied by opposing goalkeeper David James once, before he scored the goal everybody came to see in the first half.

Say what you will about the defending, but your suspicions would have been confirmed shortly afterward when Adrian (yes, the goalkeeper) ran the length of the field to score West Ham's second.

The fans were also treated to some magic from West Ham legend Paolo Di Canio. 

Paolo Di Canio reminds the @whufc_official faithful of what he was all about... 👌 #MN16 #WHUFC https://t.co/Fu0QjTUl0B

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 28, 2016

#Paolo #Di #Canio scores a beauty solo goal at #Mark #Nobles #Testimonial at #Upton #Park #MN16 #WHUFC⚒ https://t.co/hEkOZkzbKZ

— Alex Robertson (@19ARobertson) March 28, 2016

.@Dean36ashton10 take a bow...  #MN16 #WHUFC https://t.co/9b9406XOkk

— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) March 28, 2016

And Dean Ashton scored the goal of the day.

It looks like everyone enjoyed themselves in the Easter Monday sunshine. The Hammers XI beat the All-Stars 6-5.

[Twitter]

West Ham United midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate has agreed a new five-and-a-half-year deal with the club, it was confirmed on Friday.

On the eve of their London derby with Chelsea, the Irons announced the news on their Twitter feed with an accompanying clip of the Senegal international:

BREAKING: @PapiCheikhou has signed a new contract until 2021! ⚒🇸🇳🇸 🦁 ➡️ https://t.co/AwbKtmyu7c #CheikhouSignshttps://t.co/adiMxD1wwC

— West Ham United (@WestHam) March 18, 2016

The 26-year-old has become a popular figure at the Boleyn Ground since signing in the summer of 2014, revelling in the heart of midfield for Slaven Bilic’s enterprising outfit. West Ham are enjoying a campaign to remember, sitting in fifth placed in the Premier League table and one game away from an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Kouyate, whether used in the heart of midfield or as a back-up defender as he has been at times this term, has been vital to the West Ham cause.

Blessed with brute strength, he’s a footballer who can nudge opposition attackers out of possession with ease. Additionally, when on the ball Kouyate has regularly shown a Yaya Toure-esque turn of pace, with his elegant loping stride allowing him to scythe through phases of the pitch to devastating effect.

As noted by Squawka Football, he’s a tenacious presence for this Hammers team:

Cheikhou Kouyaté has won more tackles (55) than any other West Ham player in the Premier League this season. https://t.co/f9flcSLadK

— Squawka (@Squawka) March 18, 2016

It’s another exciting bit of business done by West Ham too. Star man Dimitri Payet agreed a bolstered new deal earlier in the season and it’s clear the club are keen to get their star men contented. Kouyate, while not as spectacular as the Frenchman, has been a crucial cog in their line-up.

After being rewarded with this contract, Bilic will now want to see the Senegal star go up another level in his performances. Although given his appetite for the game and the continued ease with which he’s coping with the Premier League, it’s seems inevitable that Kouyate will do exactly that in the years to come with the Hammers

It doesn't get much better than this for West Ham United fans.

The Hammers came from 2-0 down late on at Goodison Park on Saturday to register a last-gasp victory over Everton, and star Frenchman Dimitri Payet played a key role in the comeback.

The 28-year-old's brilliant season continues, and he is the deserving winner of our man of the weekend prize.

Payet provided the assist for Diafra Sakho's equaliser in the 82nd minute and stabbed home in the 90th minute to send Slaven Bilic's men above Manchester United and to within touching distance of the top four.

[Instagram: Bleacher Report UK]

One West Ham United fan had an 18th birthday he'll never forget when he was given an exclusive look at the club before their 1-0 Premier League win over Sunderland on Saturday.

A keen supporter named Matthew was given access to the dressing room before kick-off and met Hammers boss Slaven Bilic, who invited him along to his post-match interview.

Michail Antonio's goal proved the difference, as West Ham moved above Manchester United into fifth in the league table.

[Facebook: West Ham United]

Dimitri Payet has signed a new contract with West Ham United, it was announced on Thursday, with the player inking fresh terms until 2021.

The club relayed the news via their official site, with the report also detailing the impact Payet has made since arriving in the Premier League: "The 28-year-old, who has scored six Barclays Premier League goals, chalked up six assists and averages a formidable 3.7 key passes per game, is delighted to have pledged his long-term future to the Club."

Payet only arrived last summer and agreed a five-year deal with the Hammers at the time, but after quickly impressing with a series of excellent displays, he has earned an improved deal at Upton Park.

The Frenchman has undoubtedly been the Irons' best player this season, contributing flair and vision while excelling in his role as the creative playmaker in the team.

With him on the pitch, Slaven Bilic's side pose a far greater attacking threat, not only from open play but at set pieces as well, thanks to his pinpoint accuracy, particularly from free-kicks.

He played a key role in helping West Ham beat Liverpool in their FA Cup fifth-round replay, supplying this outstanding assist for Angelo Ogbonna in the dying seconds of the match, per BT Sport Football:

"It's a glorious header!" @OgbonnaOfficial's late header sends @whufc_official into the #EmiratesFACup fifth round. https://t.co/SxIFaJH5KS

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2016

In January, Match of the Day's Gary Lineker hailed him as one of the signings of the season:

Payet is a hell of a player. Him and Kante are the signings of the season.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 23, 2016

Despite only recently arriving in east London, his exceptional displays would likely have attracted interest from bigger and wealthier clubs in the summer, so the Hammers will be delighted to have successfully tied him down for longer.

With his future at the club secured, West Ham should look to build their team around him as they move to the Olympic Stadium next season.