West Ham have faced a struggle fighting for consistency in the first few months of Manuel Pellegrini’s reign in East London but there have been a number of positives to take.
The Hammers returned to winning ways at the weekend by sweeping past Brighton, picking up only a third win from 11 Premier League matches, and improvements need to be shown heading into the coming months.
Pellegrini splashed the cash during the summer, spending in excess of £100m to bolster his side, but it has been some of the more familiar names that continue to catch the eye at the London Stadium – including veteran defender Pablo Zabaleta.
Signed in 2017 on a free transfer by Slaven Bilic, the Argentina international has become an important figure at West Ham both on and off the field – which has led some supporters to be concerned by a suggestion he is looking for a new adventure in the next stage of his career.
Many took to social media to urge West Ham to take action ad we have gathered some of the best reactions below.
Not happening he’s on lockdown
— Jay Rudd (Hammer) (@JayRudd4) November 4, 2018
Time to offer him a further year with a coaching role to follow – need to keep him here he is crucial to team morale
— Dave Enright (@booshmoon2) November 4, 2018
Give us another year @pablo_zabaleta #baller
— Mark Smith ⚒️ (@marksmudge67) November 6, 2018
#one more year for zaba!!
— andrew wickstead (@AndrewWickstead) November 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/AzamWHUFC/status/1059728446593622016
One of the best RB we’ve had at this club. We are very lucky to have you, hopefully a couple of years more to come 💪
— West Ham COYI (@TheHammers_) November 4, 2018
Please please please stay at West Ham for as long as humanely possible, become a coach of some kind you’re a top professional Zaba
— ˗ˏˋ JΔMES ˊˎ˗ (@JameswhufcJones) November 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/PerkyUpton/status/1059679767954370561