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Top 5 players West Ham must upgrade for Champions League football

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Andy Carroll (2nd L) of West Ham United celebrates scoring his team's second goal with his team mates during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on March 19, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Andy Carroll (2nd L) of West Ham United celebrates scoring his team's second goal with his team mates during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on March 19, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 29: Pedro Obiang of West Ham United in action with West Brom’s James Morrison during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion at Boleyn Ground on November 29, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by James Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 29: Pedro Obiang of West Ham United in action with West Brom’s James Morrison during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion at Boleyn Ground on November 29, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by James Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images) /

5. Pedro Obiang

Obiang hasn’t been a bad player for West Ham this season, he’s just been the weakest of their midfielders that consistently play. Mark Noble and Cheikh Kouyate have been a cut above the 23-year-old this season and that should be enough to make him the odd man out next season.

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In particular, I think West Ham need to purchase another defensive midfielder who’s a little more positive than Obiang. They are going to need more dynamic play from the middle of the pitch to compete in the Champions League, and that’s too much to ask out of Obiang.

The midfielder has made 21 Premier League appearances for the club this year and has posted a very average Whoscored.com player rating average of 6.70. That equates to 16 West Ham players having a superior rating than the former Sampdoria man.

West Ham would be wise to hang on to Obiang, but deploy him much less frequently. He can be a useful squad player to help them through some lesser Cup ties, but he shouldn’t be seen in the Champions League or high stakes Premier League matches. He might develop into a player of that quality, but West Ham can’t afford to wait.

Next: 4. James Collins

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