Premier League team performance: West Ham’s squad is too narrow, can it hold its own?

After a memorable season comes an extremely difficult season. West Ham will be defending their great achievement of finishing sixth in the Premier League, plus they will be facing the European Cup after 41 years. They will have to do it all with a very tight squad.

How long can the Hammers hold out? That is perhaps the main question that football experts, focused on West Ham United, are asking themselves before the start of the new season.

After all, after a long gruelling season, the biggest mainstays have still embarked on a pilgrimage across the continent to represent their home countries at the European Championships. And there’s a proper merry-go-round in store for them in the coming months.

The Hammers will start the next season with a traditionally narrow squad. But if it was useful last year, there is no doubt that it will harm the London team this year. After all, in addition to the league matches and both English cups, this year they will also have to face tough Europa League battles, coupled with long travel.

Meanwhile, they are practically inactive on the transfer market, in fact the only change in the line-up towards the team is the arrival of goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on loan from PSG. And it is in the goalkeeping position that West Ham have probably the most competition at the moment.

Lukasz Fabianski, already 36 years old, will fight for the number one spot with Areola, but in the previous season he showed that he is definitely not an old man. Two very experienced players, Darren Randolph and David Martin, remain in the midfield for a place between the sticks.

All in all, West Ham have four goalkeepers at their disposal. Compare that to the only centre forward, who is Michail Antonio. Jessie Lingard has returned to Manchester United for a second chance, and Andriy Yarmolenko looks to be on his way out.

So the Hammers desperately need to strengthen with at least one stud player. But so far, they are not leaning towards that. Meanwhile, additions would be needed at the London Stadium at virtually every position.

Eventually, the holes in the lineup will probably be filled by mostly young talents. For example, Armstrong Oko-Flex, a 19-year-old offensive player who showed that he can play in the centre of the attack as well as on the wing.

However, Jamal Baptiste, Conor Coventry, Thierry Nevers and Mipo Odubeko could also prove their worth in the coming season. David Moyes will thus rely mostly on his steady, narrow squad from last season, supplemented by a few youngsters with considerable potential.

How will this team succeed in defending sixth place in the Premier League and participating in the Europa League?

Sources: The Athletics, West Ham, Premier League