The majority of Claret and Hugh readers believe Manuel Pellegrini will struggle to make the top seven this coming season.
With over 1,705 voting in our poll nearly 58% said they did not believe the Hammers will make the top seven with the remaining 42% saying they could.
Many of them voting No suggested it was slightly too early to say depending on the incoming or outgoing of players in the transfer window and it was dependent who starts on the 10th August.
Manuel Pellegrini finished in tenth position in his first season in charge even though a seventh-place finish seemed in his grasp at several points during the season.
Ultimately Pellegrini is ambitious and wants to push for a top-six position during his tenure at West Ham but is pragmatic enough to understand a seventh place might be the only realistic target with the funds and resources at his disposal.
Bookies Sky Bet 8/1 for a top six finish while Betway are offering 16/1. They are 5/4 to finish in the top ten, a market you might want to include in a Round robin bet, 500/1 to win the Premier League and 12/1 to be relegated.
If we can sort out the inconsistency & injuries next season we can match any side in & around top 6/7. We showed at times how good we can be, if it wasn’t for the above we would have been there this season.
I was one of the ‘no’ voters, and I think we will struggle to get in the Top Ten. But if we do I would see that as a step forward. I reckon the PL is going to be a tougher competition next season. I take Iron Man’s point about injuries & inconsistency, but in the end we nearly ended last season several places lower. To finish 2019/20 ahead of any of Leicester, Watford or Wolves will not be easy & there will probably be one or two challengers for a place in the top half who finished below us this time. I am hoping we can do it, but it won’t be easy.