West Ham United’s awful Premier League record at Anfield continued with a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool yesterday.
The result saw Sam Allardyce’s men slip to eighth in the Premier League table, and dented their hopes of European qualification.
However, most Hammers supporters would have bitten off any hand that had offered them 36 points from 23 games at this point in the season.
Sam Allardyce has turned things around at Upton Park having been one of the early season favourites for the sack.
But the summer signings have been hugely impressive, Stewart Downing has transformed into a creative playmaker at the tip of a new diamond formation, whilst even Andy Carroll has managed to find some form and fitness at long last.
Allardyce has the backing of the club’s owners and will be allowed to continue his rebuild of the club in the summer ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium.
In what has been a very good season at West Ham, we have identified five players who may not stay on beyond next term as the squad continues to develop.
[ffc-gallery]
Click on Sam Allardyce to reveal the 5 West Ham United stars who won’t be lining up at Upton Park next term.
[/ffc-gallery]
Kevin Nolan
The selection of Kevin Nolan is a point of contention amongst some West Ham fans. Captain of the side, Nolan missed the early part of the season and has replaced fans favourite Mark Noble since his return.
The Hammers have evolved in his absence however and his days of popping up with important goals are no longer as frequent.
If the supporters get their way, Nolan could be one of the players to make way in the summer – especially if the Hammers can complete the permanent signing of Alex Song.
Winston Reid
The centre back has been excellent for West Ham this season but he is still yet to sign a new deal at Upton Park. Reports have consistently linked Reid with a move to Arsenal but he is yet to make any decision on his future.
West Ham will be hoping they can keep him until the end of the season at least but with his contract set to expire in May and with big clubs sniffing around, it may prove hard to hang onto him further than that.
Jussi Jaaskelainen
One of the most experienced goalkeepers in the country, Jussi Jaaskelainan has lost his place to Spanish stopper Adrian as the Hammers’ favoured number one.
He has not featured this season – even in the cup – and will feel he can still offer something to a club in the top tier or the Championship before he eventually hangs up his gloves.
Carlton Cole
Something of a cult hero at Upton Park, Carlton Cole has been a decent servant to the Hammers. But with Andy Carroll now fit and firing as well as the form of summer signings Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho, Cole has found his first team opportunities extremely limited.
It remains to be seen whether there is still a place for him come the end of the season or whether he may have to drop down a division in search of first team opportunities.
Carl Jenkinson
The full back on loan from Arsenal has enjoyed an impressive campaign at Upton Park and along with fellow summer signing Aaron Cresswell has made a marked difference to the way in which West Ham play.
The fans have enjoyed seeing two young English full backs getting up and down the flanks and you get the feeling Arsene Wenger may have done also.
With Mathieu Debuchy enduring an injury plagued first season at the Emirates Stadium, it would hardly come as a surprise if Jenkinson was called back in the summer after several impressive displays.
