Three games into the season and West Ham United find themselves struggling at the foot of the Premier League table without a point to their name.

They downed tools against Manchester United on the opening weekend and then their experienced players let them down as they lost at Southampton.

Today they travelled up to Newcastle but once again they came away empty handed as the newly promoted side recorded an easy 3-0 victory.

The Hammers may have won the possession battle at St James’ but the Toon created more chances and more importantly more shots on target.

It really should be a different story for Slaven Bilic and his West Ham side. The board have backed their manager and they seemed to make some very decent signings in Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart, Mark Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez.

Last season they started slowly as they struggled to bed into their new home at the Olympic Stadium. This season they’ve not had a game at home yet as the London Stadium converts back from being a track and field venue.

But even with that in mind, no one would have expected three losses in their first three fixtures. They’ve conceded ten and only scored two!

Many are now questioning Bilic’s future at the club:

Bilic has to go

— Sammy McNess ⚒ (@Sammcness) August 26, 2017

Finally Bilic out. I’m done.

— Jack Dean (@Jaack) August 26, 2017

Bilic had done enough to still be manager this season. But he needed to learn from mistakes and it’s got even worse. He needs to go

— Ryan (@RyanWHU16) August 26, 2017

The fact is that after a successful first campaign in charge, Bilic has watched on as his club have gone into a decline.

The Hammers board now need ask, do they keep the Croatian gaffer and hope he can steer them away from relegation fears? Or do they get rid of him now and give a new gaffer the best possible chance at turning things right around this term?

Now it could be curtains for Slaven if the West Ham hierarchy had European ambitions for this campaign.

If they do indeed decide to sack their current boss, then I wouldn’t be surprised if they try and persuade today’s victor Newcastle United’s Rafa Benitez to take-over.

Rafa certainly has a CV that will impress co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold. The Spaniard has managed the likes of Valencia, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Napoli, Inter Milan and Chelsea plus he’s won the Champions League,Europa League, the FA Cup, the World Club Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

West Ham will have also noticed that the Spanish boss seems unsettled in the North East.

Benitez no doubt enjoys the Toon Army’s adulation but he has become increasingly concerned by Newcastle Utd owner Mike Ashley’s lack of financial backing in this transfer window.

What seems to happen is Ashley gets excited by new managerial appointments and allows them to have some cash and leave them to it. Then all of sudden when things are on the up he decides to interfere or withhold some much needed funds.

Whatever the story, Ashley has clearly left Rafa frustrated.

West Ham would no doubt offer the fifty-seven year old a massive chequebook for the January transfer window and free reign to do as he wishes as long as results improve and the team move up the table.

If Crystal Palace can tempt Alan Pardew away from Newcastle then I don’t doubt the Irons can persuade Rafa down to London.

It probably shouldn’t be that way, Newcastle should be a top English club but they seem to have an owner who has the single goal to keep his side in the top flight. That’s simply not enough to keep an ambitious coach at your club for the long term.

The international break could be huge for West Ham and Slaven Bilic. If they part company then it could mean serious repercussions for Newcastle United and Rafa Benitez’s relationship!

The bookies have Rafa as favourite to take Slaven’s job at odds of 5/2.

Posted on August 26th, 2017 by scott
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