It was an eventful transfer window for West Ham United. The Hammers shifted to the Olympic Stadium this summer after their more than 100-year stay at Upton Park and this season could be a deciding one for their future endeavours. Slaven Bilic tried everything to utilise the summer transfer window in a perfect manner and made as many as 11 senior signings. So after this eventful transfer window, here are three questions that will arise in the fans’ minds.
What’s the best XI?
West Ham United have acquired a serious squad depth and the team looks quite solid in terms of quality. However, a big question that is bound to arise if you take a closer look at the team is that what is the best possible starting XI? There is a tight competition for places among the players right now but the squad size looks too big to be fair. If West Ham had not failed to make it to the Europa League, Bilic could have rotated his starting XI in a wise manner but right now it looks like a recipe for a squad revolt. Keeping every player happy will be an uphill task for Bilic and we have to look forward to how the Croat deals with it.
West Ham are playing their first competitive match at their new home, the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, against Slovenia’s NK Domzale in the third qualifying round of the Europa League. / AFP / Ian KINGTON (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Is Zaza really the striker West Ham were craving for?
It was a public knowledge that West Ham were looking to sign a quality number nine this summer and their search finally ended with the loan signing of Simone Zaza from Juventus.West Ham also brought in young Jonathan Calleri and Ashley Fletcher but neither appears to be a big upgrade on Andy Carroll. Signing Zaza on the second last day of the transfer window looked like a desperate addition.
How will Bilic look at Michail Antonio?
Antonio, right after he was signed by Bilic last season, has been a great success for West Ham. The pacey and strong winger had a brilliant debut season at Upton Park and in the closing stages of the last season, he was mostly been used a right-back. With the signings of Feghouli, Tore and Ayew this summer, it looked like Bilic sees the Englishman as a permanent right-back but signing Alvaro Arbeloa on the deadline day made us have a second thought. It remains a big question how Bilic sees the 26-year-old in the long run.
