Even by West Ham’s standards, 2024 was one hell of a rollercoaster.
From the highs of taking a record breaking Leverkusen side to the limit, to a car crash managerial appointment - and an actual car crash. Life donning the crossed hammers has never been simple, but this has taken the proverbial biscuit.It started with the end of the Moyes era. Whilst in European competition we still looked exciting, threatening and competitive, domestically the wheels had fallen off.
Once we exited the Europa League then the season largely petered out with a whimper until we signed off the Moyes era with a fine win capped with a George Earthy goal, bringing cheer and hope for the impending new era.
Enter Julien Lopetegui. A string of new signings. A fantastic new home shirt, too. But then, inadvertently and almost inexplicably, there exited any positives.
The performances this season have been well documented, discussed and dissected. Needless to say everyone bar the powers that be, can see yet another change is desperately needed.
But to compound matters it’s injuries and off-field issues that have compounded the claret and blue annus horribilis. From allegations surrounding the chairman and his current beau. Two of our new signings already homesick.
Dressing room bust ups. Ill discipline amongst the playing staff. Your traditional innocuous West Ham injury, developing into a long term problem. Gambling inquests with enough evidence lost to fill a Netflix drama. Huffs, puffs and strops. An injury to our captain and to trump it all, the horrific incident involving Michail Antonio.
Never a dull moment, except for the actual football. After four years of Moyes, where we experienced highs, lows and glory. Perhaps the bar has been raised in terms of expectations. The transition to Lopetegui has not gone to any form of plan, in true West Ham style.
It would almost feel comforting to have a good old fashioned season of mid-table, bloodying the noses of the so called big boys, losing to easy pickings. But even mediocrity isn’t sacred any more.
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