Pick your West Ham player of the seasonpublished at 12:27 21 May
12:27 21 May
James Jones Fan writer
We asked our West Ham fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.
Jarrod Bowen
Has found it tough at times in his first season as club captain, but has still delivered double figures for goals for a fourth consecutive season and is only one goal contribution away this term from making it 20 or more in all competitions for a fourth straight campaign. The man is priceless.
Tomas Soucek
Many expected him to be one of the first casualties of David Moyes' departure last summer. Instead, he has doubled down on his importance to this football club with another nine goals from midfield, most of which have been so important. Criminally underappreciated.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Found it difficult under Julen Lopetegui because he was asked to play so high up the pitch, almost like an inverted right wing-back. But under Graham Potter he has flourished and has arguably been our best defender since the turn of the year. A snip at £15m.
Max Kilman
Has come under a lot of stick because of the amount goals we have conceded this season but - his mistake against Tottenham aside - he has barely put a foot wrong. Was arguably a victim of poor tactics earlier on in the season but, in reality, worth every penny of the £40m paid.
'We go again next season'published at 12:35 20 May
12:35 20 May
James Jones Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Another week down and another week closer to a much-needed break for West Ham fans.
This season has been a cocktail of disappointment, anger, frustration and disbelief. It is fair to say every West Ham supporter on the planet will be overjoyed when the final whistle blows at Portman Road on Sunday.
Having parted ways with David Moyes last summer, there was an element of excitement and anticipation for what the future might hold, especially after new boss Julen Lopetegui wasted no time in splashing almost £150m on new players.
The Spaniard flopped, though, and despite impressive away wins at Crystal Palace and Newcastle, failed to convince anyone he was the man to lead the club into a new era.
Graham Potter has also struggled to convince many fans at this stage, but it is still very difficult to make a fair judgment on him, given he is working with a squad of players who were on the decline under Moyes and struggled for any kind of form under Lopetegui.
It will take at least one transfer window, if not more, for Potter to really put his own stamp on this team.
That is why I am trying so hard to remain positive about what next season might bring. I know many are pessimistic and many have already written Potter off, but I am reserving my judgement until we are able to see a squad of players built by Potter playing in Potter's preferred system.
Until then, I am just looking forward to the final whistle this weekend. Because I need a break from this team after this season.
West Ham 1-2 Nottingham Forest - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:14 19 May
11:14 19 May
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League match between West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
Here are some of your comments:
West Ham fans
Mark: Sack the board, manager and all the players - woeful display.
Steve: Same old West Ham, a season to forget. Too slow and negative in the build-up and really not got going after Forest scored their second goal. So much money spent on average players, aside from Wan-Bissaka, although there are a couple of hopeful names like Guilherme and Summerville who look promising.
Peter: Thank goodness the season is over and we can put it behind us, get a complete makeover and claw our way back to where we belong.
Forest fans
Callum: Nottingham Forest played well - we really needed that win! Here's hoping we can get a win next week against Chelsea at home, I look forward to being there at the world famous City Ground cheering them on! YOUUUUU REEEEDS!
Ben: It is a simple formula for Forest: score first, and you win. And so it proved. A dogged performance from them (despite a late wobble) gives us the final day showdown we were all hoping for. Now if one of the other contenders could play their part and lose then we can all finish the season happy!
John: Phew! When the second goal was finally confirmed that should have been it. But substitutions, indiscipline, VAR and a brilliant volley from Bowen made for a very nervy extra time but, Forest held on to do the double over a questionable West Ham. Too busy bringing their kids on beforehand after beating Manchester United to really get anywhere in this game.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 08:23 19 May
08:23 19 May
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
Graham Potter spoke to BBC Match of The Day after West Ham's defeat against Nottingham Forest: "We started the game well. Had a good chance with Tomas [Soucek] and Vlad [Coufal] we're competing against a good team competing for the Champions League. It was an even game, we concede the early goal from a mistake which is disappointing then we made changes and they scored straight after. Marginal offside that took a while to sort out. Credit to the players they kept pushing, they gave everything we just came up a bit short.
"Forest going for what they are and we wanted three points and it was a bit stop start. The goal makes it difficult for the referee and it was stop-start.
"They scored after the subs but then we pushed and pushed, scored a good goal and had other opportunities but fell short."
"It is [frustrating day] when you want to finish with a win at the last home game of the season with some players making their last appearance you want to go out in a positive. We have to lick our wounds and go again next week.
"We focus on Ipswich first because we have another week and we ant to finish with three points. We use the summer to try to improve it's as simple as that."
Analysis: West Ham 1-2 Nottingham Forestpublished at 16:54 18 May
16:54 18 May
Emma Smith BBC Sport journalist at London Stadium
Image source, Getty Images
In the 58th minute of this near two-hour epic, Graham Potter made a quadruple change and it worked - West Ham became much more flowing and dangerous.
Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus flanked Niclas Fullkrug to great effect, and the change of shape from 5-3-2 to 3-4-3 caused Forest serious problems.
Which raises the question as to why Graham Potter left all those attackers on the bench, naming nine defensive-minded players in the starting XI.
It meant West Ham struggled to respond to going behind early on. And soon after the change was made, Forest scored their second goal which proved decisive.
There is no question that West Ham need to rebuild in the summer, and Potter can only be judged at London Stadium once he has a full pre-season.
But he could help his cause, and win over a few Hammers fans already tired of their poor form, by taking off the handbrake and letting the attackers free.
West Ham 1-2 Nottingham Forest - send us your thoughts published at 16:26 18 May
Sutton's predictions: West Ham v Nottingham Forestpublished at 16:56 17 May
16:56 17 May
This is a huge game for my boyhood side, Nottingham Forest.
They need to win to keep their hopes of a top-five finish alive, but my fear is they have already blown it.
I played at the City Ground many times but I think my stint there as a Sky pundit for last weekend's draw with Leicester was the first time I've watched a game there rather than been on the pitch, and it was not enjoyable viewing for us fans.
I thought that game was a must-win for our Champions League hopes, and if they drop more points here they could drop out of contention completely.
I've heard some people say that Forest have bottled it, but I don't agree. They have just run out of steam.
Forest's aim now is to get to next weekend and still be in touch before they host Chelsea in their final game of the season, but whether that happens or not relies on which West Ham team turns up.
The Hammers were on a poor run before they went to Old Trafford last weekend and won. That would usually be an impressive result but it is not much of an achievement at the moment.
I know who I want to win but, for different reasons, it is hard to back either side here.
Potter looks forward with Soucek published at 17:09 16 May
17:09 16 May
Image source, PA Media
West Ham United head coach Graham Potter is confident that midfielder Tomas Soucek will still be a Hammer next season.
The 30-year-old is contracted with the club until June 2027 and Potter is more than happy to continue the West Ham project with him, despite Soucek being linked with moves to the likes of Everton and Leeds.
"He's been a fantastic signing for the club, first and foremost, to deliver what he has delivered over a period of time," he said.
"He's a top professional, he has been a fantastic servant to the club, and I am looking forward to working with him in the short, medium and long-term future."
Potter tried to sign the Czech Republic international five years ago during his spell with Brighton and his opinion on the player hasn't changed in that time.
He added: "What did I see in him at Brighton? The same. The same that West Ham have seen in him, and what he has developed in fairness.
"He's a midfield player that can do both sides of the game. Affects the game. Scores. In the boxes, he's fantastic, defence and attack, set pieces.
"Add to that, a really, really good professional. He is a quiet man but leads by example in terms of how he conducts himself every day."
The answerpublished at 16:00 16 May
16:00 16 May
Image source, Getty Images
Earlier, we asked you to identify the current West Ham player.
The answer is Crysencio Summerville.
Potter on improving for fans, working with Soucek and facing Forest published at 14:11 16 May
14:11 16 May
West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest (kick-off 14:15 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news: "We are pretty much as we were last game. There are no injuries and everybody has been training well."
There is still lots to play for and West Ham want to "finish as high as we can. Potter is focusing on Nottingham Forest who are challenging for Champions League football, but wants to "finish the season with two wins."
The most important relationship a team has is that with its fans. For a while West Ham's performances "haven't been what we wanted", says Potter, so it is hard to get that connection. "We'll try to improve to the best of our ability on Sunday but it is a process of work."
When asked about Mohammed Kudus' improvement, Potter said "He has been working hard all season. Individuals can suffer when the team doesn't play well, but he has given his best and has been rewarded for his work."
On what it has been like to work with Tomas Soucek: "He has been a fantastic signing for the club, to deliver what he has delivered. He helps defensively; in the boxes; in set pieces and contributes to goals in mid-field. He goes about his work in a quiet way and has been fantastic to work with."
When asked about the possibility of finishing the season above Manchester United and Tottenham, Potter made clear that "the team name doesn't mean anything because clubs are well organised and use resources well. You can see what a competitive tournament the Premier League is."
Asked about opponents Nottingham Forest, his response was that they have had "a fantastic season and Nuno [Espirito Santo] and his team have done an excellent job to bring stability. They have a very clear plan on what they want to do from a football perspective and have made the step from the Championship to the Premier League really well. You can see why they have the points they have."
West Ham's Jarrod Bowen has been involved in six goals in his past six Premier League games (four goals, two assists), scoring in each of his past three at London Stadium. The Hammers player to score in four consecutive home league games most recently was Jesse Lingard in April 2021.
West Ham have not lost their final home league game in any of the past seven campaigns (W5 D2), since a 4- 0 loss against Liverpool in 2016-17.
They have won five of their six Premier League home games against Nottingham Forest, the exception being a 1-0 defeat in January 1997.
'It should never happen' - has offside rule been a 'time bomb'?published at 13:14 14 May
13:14 14 May
Image source, Getty Images
For the players and fans, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi getting this injury in a situation where the offside flag should have been raised is so frustrating.
The frustration is when it is clear and obvious. Officials have been overseeing games for many years and they would always flag whether they were right or wrong.
Now technology has come into it, they are very reliant on VAR to make the right decision, the factual decision, about an offside. But, I think when an offside is so clear and obvious, it should be the duty of the assistant referee to put their flag up and stop play from the off.
When it is marginal, I understand we are a bit more hesitant when there are really fine margins, and we have seen those fine margins when goals have been given and it is a toenail to keep them on-side. I would understand it from that point of view, but it was on the halfway-line where the offside happened on Sunday, only for play to be allowed to continue.
It has been a matter of time. It has been a time bomb waiting to go off for somebody to get seriously injured. Awoniyi is the one that has got that injury - that horrific injury - because of it. Some will say it is only the first time it has happened in the duration of this rule, but it should never happen. That is how players will be looking at it, how fans and managers will be looking at it and saying 'it should never happen'. We should not wait for something to happen to reassess rules like this.
I don't like the ruling of it - it is on the halfway-line, it is clear and obviously offside, everybody in the stadium could probably see it. It should be for the assistant referee to make the decision. There are small margins in the box, I understand why they are a bit hesitant, but in open play, if somebody is sprinting, you could cause hamstring, quad, and all types of muscle injuries.
I am totally against this rule of waiting to put up the flag and I think most players and managers are as well. It's disappointing. I think it's a rule that nobody likes, and I'm sure in the summer off the back of this injury, one that will probably be reassessed.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
'Feeling of general apathy' despite win at Old Traffordpublished at 12:17 13 May
12:17 13 May
Will Pugh Fan writer
Image source, PA Media
Before this season it was hard to imagine a world where West Ham fans would struggle to care about doing the double over Manchester United.
Of course it was great watching us win 2-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, after our 2-1 victory in October at London Stadium. But given how woeful United's Premier League season has been and their upcoming Europa League final against Tottenham (come on you Reds, by the way!) their players could not have cared less, and it showed.
However, arguably the most important factor, and the most disheartening, in why there was a feeling of general apathy after the win is how abject 2024-25 has been for West Ham - proven by the fact the victory moved us to the heady heights of 15th!
It's a shame really and sadly I can't see next season or beyond being much better.
We also bid farewell to some club legends at the end of the season, with Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal and Lukasz Fabianski all leaving when their contracts expire.
Even in my 30s, I still feel emotional saying goodbye to players who have given so much to our club. All three were integral in our recent historic European runs while Cresswell is the only player, along with Michail Antonio, who was there for the iconic last season at Upton Park.
Although I can't help but feel Coufal's departure is a little premature, I wish them all the very best for the future and thank them from the bottom of my heart for everything they have done for West Ham.
