Our final club under analysis in the series of “Promoted Teams” articles is West Ham. Finishing third in last season’s npower Championship, the London outfit arrive back in the top flight after just a season’s exodus, following a 2-1 play-off final win over Ian Holloway’s Blackpool:

Finishing bottom of the Premier League under the guidance of Avraam Grant in 2010/11, the Hammers quickly sacked the Israeli following a dismal campaign and turned to Sam Allardyce last June, handing the former Bolton boss a two-year contract. Despite losing the likes of Scott Parker, Demba Ba, Robbie Keane and Thomas Hitzlsperger, Big Sam ensured his side returned to the top-flight at the first attempt by snapping up plenty of experienced campaigners in an overhaul of the Hammers’ squad.

The Statistics

CS = Cleansheets

West Ham were the most resilient of the three promoted clubs, losing just eight of their 46 league games – in comparison, Reading and Southampton lost 11 and 10 times respectively. At home, however, Allardyce’s men seemed to struggle; while they lost on just four occasions at Upton Park, they won a mere 11 times in front of their own fans. The Hammers notched 41 times, scoring two or more goals on 11 occasions and failing to find the net in four of their 23 home matches. At the back, however, they shipped two or more goals six times and recorded just seven clean sheets.

On the road they proved more successful, picking up 45 points in comparison to 41 at Upton Park. Allardyce’s side lost just four times on their travels, scoring two or more goals 12 times and drawing a blank on just three occasions. Defensively, they returned 10 clean sheets and conceded two or more goals five times.

The Manager

Having picked up over a decade of experience in the Premier League with spells at Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn, Allardyce has developed a playing style that’s fair to say isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing around. His favoured 4-5-1 system, with a penchant for “playing the percentages” which involves plenty of long balls flighted into opposition danger areas, has been successful to a certain degree, though has picked up a fair number of detractors.

While Allardyce feels promotion more than vindicates his tactics, he has failed to appease many West Ham fans with such an approach. The Hammers’ supporters are keen for a more cultured style of play, which has led to the manager publicly slamming the boo-boys and labelling them “deluded”. Needless to say he still has a long way to endear himself to the Upton Park faithful, then.

The Promoted Squad

Listed below are the main protagonists under Allardyce last term, with only those players who started 10 or more games included in the rundown:

Robert Green (45 starts) Has been the Hammers’ first-choice stopper for the past six seasons and missed just four matches in Allardyce’s first campaign but it has been revealed he is leaving Upton Park at the end of the month on a free transfer.

Winston Reid (30 starts, 1 sub app. 3 goals, 3 assists) Suffered a dislocated shoulder in early September which kept him on the sidelines for three months. When fit, he was a regular pick under the new boss and his partnership with James Tomkins at centre-half was crucial to West Ham’s cause over the last few months of the season.

Abdoulaye Faye (25 starts, 4 sub apps. 1 assist) More than familiar with Allardyce’s style of play, having previously featured under Big Sam at Bolton. Benefitted from Reid’s injury absence after signing on a free from Stoke but won’t be featuring for the Hammers next term – he is set to be released at the end of the month when his contract expires.

George McCartney (35 starts, 6 sub apps. 1 goal, 3 assists) Spent last season on loan from Sunderland. Missed only a handful of games after suffering concussion and struggled to get back in the first XI, but a series of solid displays at left-back saw him voted Players’ Player of the Year.

James Tomkins (45 starts, 2 sub apps. 4 goals, 2 assists) Along with Mark Noble, he was one of only two Hammers named in the npower Championship team of the year. Tomkins’ role looks nailed-on at centre-half after a commanding campaign at the back and he is the one West Ham defender who is likely to throw his body in the way of the ball – a side of his game which could well be rewarded in the EA Sports Player Performance Index.

Joey O’Brien (27 starts, 5 sub apps. 1 goal, 2 assists) Yet another former Bolton man in the West Ham ranks, he arrived on a free transfer last summer. His versatility at right-back and midfield, in addition to injuries to others, boosted his game time considerably, though he is likely to struggle for first-team football if West Ham have an injury-free squad to choose from.

Guy Demel (10 starts. 1 assist) Arrived from Hamburg on the final day of the summer transfer window but his season was blighted by injuries. Mainly a right-back, he missed much fo the campaign after sustaining hamstring and thigh problems but returned towards the end of last term and held down a regular role.

Papa Bouba Diop (14 starts, 2 sub apps. 1 goal, 1 assist) Signed from AEK Athens in a one-year deal last summer, he struggled for a regular role and was hampered by hamstring injuries and a lack of form. Set to be released at the end of the month.

Henri Lansbury (13 starts, 10 sub apps. 1 goal, 2 assists) Joined on a one-year loan deal last August but was ruled out for a number of months with a knee injury and has since returned to parent club Arsenal.

Gary O’Niel (12 starts, 7 sub apps. 2 goals, 2 assists) Missed the first half of the season with serious knee injury and featured from the bench on a handful of occasions as he built up his fitness. Found a place in the first-team as the season unwound, suggesting he could feature more prominently should be remain injury-free.

Julian Faubert (28 starts, 8 sub apps. 1 goal, 5 assists) Failed to nail down a regular starting role and started just over half of the Hammers’ games. Mainly used as a right-back but can also feature further up the flank – was dropped by Allardyce for the play-off final and will be released at the end of the month when his contract expires.

Jack Collison (29 starts, 5 sub apps. 6 goals, 4 assists) Utilised in central midfield or wide right, the young Welshman started just over half his side’s games last season – an indication that his game time is far from assured. Played a crucial role in the play-off semi-finals by notching a brace against Cardiff but could struggle to nail down a starting position, with Allardyce looking for experience in the summer transfer market.

Mark Noble (46 starts, 2 sub apps. 8 goals, 10 assists) Voted “Hammer of the Year” last term after playing a part in more goals than any of his team mates. First-choice penalty-taker, he also has the lion’s share of set-pieces and helped himself to eight goals and 10 assists; as a result, could offer Fantasy managers a decent mid-price prospect in the season ahead.

Matt Taylor (29 starts, 2 sub apps. 1 goal, 9 assists) Joined from Bolton last summer and added a wealth of top-flight experience to the Hammers’ first-team. His game time was curtailed by a couple of calf injuries and, while Taylor provided a strong creative threat from midfield, Allardyce also utilised him at left-back on occasion.

Kevin Nolan (45 starts. 13 goals , 5 assists) One of Allardyce’s most trusted lieutenants, he joined up in a five-year deal from Newcastle last summer and was immediately made captain. His top-flight experience will be vital this upcoming season and, with double-figure returns in each of his last two campaigns in the Premier League, his price tag will be eagerly anticipated by Fantasy managers looking for a mid-price bargain.

Sam Baldock (10 starts, 13 sub apps. 5 goals) Snapped up on a four-year deal from MK Dons last summer but has failed to establish himself as a regular at Upton Park. Is likely to struggle for starts once again, though his speed could see him afforded some game time from the bench as an impact sub late in on matches.

Carlton Cole (31 starts, 12 sub apps. 15 goals, 6 assists) Started and finished the season strongly but flitted in and out the first-team after struggling for consistency. Featured in the first-team in two-thirds of the Hammers’ games, suggesting he has yet to persuade Allardyce he is worthy of a regular role.

Ricardo Vaz Te (16 starts, 2 sub apps. 12 goals) Snapped up from Barnsley in January 2012 and, aside from notching the play-off final winner against Blackpool, made a significant impact. Averaging almost a goal per start under Allardyce, he was voted Championship signing of the season – could well get the nod ahead of Cole if the 4-5-1 system is maintained, particularly at home.

Potential Targets

As mentioned above, the club are set for another summer of rebuilding, with many faces leaving by the start of July. Hammers co-chairman David Gold recently revealed they intend to sign “up to four players”, though the rumour mill is already in overdrive as to who the new faces may be.

With Rob Green on his way out of Upton Park, Allardyce has turned to a familiar face to fill the breach between the posts. Jussi Jaaskelainen will arrive on July 1 in a one-year deal with an option for a further 12 months – the Bolton keeper is a free agent and is no longer first-choice at the Reebok, having lost his place to Adam Bogdan last term.

Once again, Allardyce is targeting experienced campaigners as he looks to establish a top-flight foothold. Intriguingly, former Real Madrid man Guti is being lined up for a move, according to the player’s representatives – he is available on a free transfer after being released by Turkish club Besiktas.

Matt Jarvis is also on the radar. Reports suggest West Ham have already had a bid rejected for the Wolves winger but are likely to increase their initial offer of £4m – the Molineux outfit are keen to keep their influential wide man as they attempt to engineer a quick return to the Premier League and are thought to be looking for around £10m for his services.

Having recently been caught on camera with Juventus director Fabio Paratic, Allardyce has been linked with a move for winger Milos Krasic. Bearing in mind he brought the likes of Jay Jay Okocha and Nicklas Anelka to Bolton, this may not as unlikely as it sounds – Big Sam clearly has the potential to pull off the most unexpected of deals.

At the back, Jonas Olsson has also caught Allardyce’s eye. The West Brom centre-half has just one year left of his contract and could be the ideal partner for Tomkins in the heart of defence. Crystal Palace’s highly-rated young winger Wilfred Zaha and Wigan’s out-of-contract midfielder Mohamed Diame have also been linked with moves. It’s likely to be a busy summer, then, with business on the agenda all the way up till the end of August.