It hasn’t been the best season for West Ham United, one of London historical clubs. The arrival of David Moyes hasn’t had the desired effect. The Hammers will be battling against relegation for the remainder of the season, and their upcoming fixtures don’t offer them much hope.

 

West Ham travel to Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in their next three away games, which makes their home form pivotal to their chances of staying up this season.

 

Moyes hasn’t had a win since his first game in charge when the Hammers beat Bournemouth 4-0. However, what can be done to ensure that there is Premier League football at the London Stadium next season?

 

Get Haller Firing

 

The signing of Sebastien Haller from Frankfurt in the summer was meant to kick West Ham into a new level. With the pace and stamina of a stallion on the Kentucky Derby horse race, the Frenchman looked promising indeed. However, the signing hasn’t gone to plan, and instead, he has struggled to find the form that could pull West Ham away from the bottom three.

 

He has scored just six goals in 23 games this season, and the Hammers faithful have begun to reach the end of their patience. Moyes will remain trusting on the big striker, but he will need to start scoring goals if they are to stay off relegation.

 

Moyes may look to play him up front with a partner after that was the way he was deployed last season for Frankfurt. He was used as the target man, and West Ham could use the same tactic. Haller could be deployed as the target man, while Michael Antonio could be used as the player to get in behind. Moyes will be happy to try this new tactic as goals will be the key to West Ham staying up.

 

Improve Home Form

 

The West Ham record at the London Stadium has been very poor. They have only won three games at their home stadium this season, with that last victory coming in Moyes’ first game in charge. The only other victories that they have achieved have come against Manchester United and Norwich City. If the Hammers are going to stay in the Premier League for next season, then they will need to improve that record quickly.

 

West Ham’s next couple of home games include fixtures against Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton, and they will be the crucial fixtures that will ultimately determine whether the Hammers will be playing their football in the Premier League next season. Maximum points from those fixtures are the only acceptable results, but odds suggest that it is unlikely.

 

Out Of Form Stars

 

Haller isn’t the only player that has been out of form this season, as Declan Rice and many of the Hammers defenders have also struggled this campaign. Rice was expected to kick on with his development this season, but he has struggled in his second season in the Premier League. Moyes has stuck with the midfielder, however, but Rice’s form will be crucial in determining whether he will get a place in the England squad for the European Championships.

 

Rice will be crucial for the Hammers staying up, but his form has been matching the poor form of the Hammers. However, he isn’t the only star that has been out of form, with Felipe Anderson, Manuel Lanzini and Pablo Fornals also struggling.

 

Many fans feel that the Hammers have struggled this season is down to the fact that they have failed to sign younger players and have instead relied on older players that are past their prime. In the deadline day they secured Czech midfielder Tomas Soucek, as they are also trying to offload Carlos Sanchez on other way. How will these transfers impact the team?

 

West Ham still have a chance of staying up, but they need to turn around their poor form, and quickly. Otherwise, they will continue to get closer to the foot of the Premier League table.