West Ham have endured a turbulent few years since moving to the London Stadium but positive signs have emerged from the early months of Manuel Pellegrini’s tenure.
While finding consistency has still been an issue, improvements have been shown on the field and there has also been plenty to be pleased with off the field as the club’s recruitment has increased significantly – bringing the likes of Lukasz Fabianski, Issa Diop and Felipe Anderson in during the summer.
On top of that, Pellegrini has also managed to get the best out of important members of the squad, with Pablo Zabaleta, Declan Rice and Marko Arnautovic continuing to be stand-out performers, while outcasts like Robert Snodgrass have also been rejuvenated.
There is still a long way to go this season but an interest debate was started on social media in recent days regarding who are the early contenders for the club’s Hammer of the Year award – and plenty of names were mentioned.
We have gathered some of the responses below.
The best thing about this conundrum is there’s arguably about 9 players all worthy of a mention. I can’t remember the last time I was happy with so many of the first team.
— Wesley S (@Suvvers) December 2, 2018
DIOP OR BALBUENA
— Vratyas Vakyas (@dvcxxschariev) December 2, 2018
Diop gotta be in there
— Ben⚒ (@BenMcKeever_WHU) December 2, 2018
Fabianski has got to be in there
— Leonardo DiCaprisun (@JackMaji) December 2, 2018
1. Marko Arnatovic
2. Issa Diop
3. Declan RiceI suspect this will change dramatically before the end of the season with Felipe Anderson an outside bet if he continues to make such an impact with goals and assists. For me at the moment we are so reliant on Arnie.
— VINNYWHUFC (@vinnywhufc) December 2, 2018
Has to be zaba. He age and the way he plays week In week out is nothing but extraordinary
— barry_jones_photographer (@barryjones2010) December 3, 2018
Not in order just one of the few.. Fabianski, Diop, The general, Rice, Zaba, snodders
— FabzLewis (@fabz_lewis) December 3, 2018
So many contenders: fabianski zaba balbuena diop rice arnie snodders and even Anderson’s if he can maintain consistency for the remainder
— O Fenômeno (@CallumSecret) December 2, 2018
Lanzini will hopefully be back soon. So it will only take three or four games for him to win it
— Carl Beaumont (@CarlBeaumont6) December 3, 2018