West Ham United: Three hopes, one fear

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Dimitri Payet of West Ham United in action during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Swansea City at the Boleyn Ground, May 7, 2016, London, England. (Photo by James Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Dimitri Payet of West Ham United in action during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Swansea City at the Boleyn Ground, May 7, 2016, London, England. (Photo by James Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)
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GIURGIU, ROMANIA – AUGUST 18: Slaven Bilic of West Ham United with his assistants Edin Terzic (L) and Nikola Jurcevic (R) prior to the UEFA Europa League Play-Off First Leg against FC Astra Giurgiu at Marin Anastasovici Stadium on August 18, 2016 in Giurgiu, Romania . (Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)
GIURGIU, ROMANIA – AUGUST 18: Slaven Bilic of West Ham United with his assistants Edin Terzic (L) and Nikola Jurcevic (R) prior to the UEFA Europa League Play-Off First Leg against FC Astra Giurgiu at Marin Anastasovici Stadium on August 18, 2016 in Giurgiu, Romania . (Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)

Will the bubble burst at West Ham without ‘Big Sam’?

Sam Allardyce left a managerial job and not everyone is happy about it. Let that one sink in for a minute. After getting West Ham United into seventh place last season (16-14-8, 62 points) it was expected that Allardyce would lead The Hammers into their  first season at the Olympic Stadium and that they will earn a top five spot. But on the way to the top of the standings England came calling and Allardyce left the East London.

All hope is not lost for the Hammers. Dmitri Payet is back as well as Winston Reid, Andy Carroll, Mark Noble, and Michail Antonio. Those returns along with the addition of Sofiane Feghouli, Andre Ayew, and manager Slaven Bilic have West Ham thinking that they can make a run for a top five finish and at the Europa League title.

So can West Ham United impress for a second straight season? Let’s find out!

Next: Hope #1: That Sofiane Feghouli is the steal of the summer transfer window.