Premier League 2013/14: Predicting Best Players Of Each Club

West Ham United - Joe Cole

Finally, we reach the side that starts the season at the bottom of the league, but on the strength of last season's performances are unlikely to stay there for long. West Ham United re-entered the Premier League as if they had never left, with Sam Allardyce proving if there was any doubt remaining that he is one of the most consistent managers in the top flight. Though a number of fans have bemoaned his style of football as dull and defensive, the alternative for Hammers fans is all-out attacking and they can see the club get relegated. Again. The system suits the club and Allardyce particularly well, and if West Ham were to become his new Bolton, they will be firmly established in the top division by the time they move into the Olympic Stadium in 2016. With the club finishing in the top half last season, it will be unlikely that they can progress much further than that so soon, so the goal will be the build the team up, consolidate their successes from last year, and hopefully remain in mid-table and have a run in the domestic cups. The team looks in good shape approaching the weekend, with a number of new signings showing the clubs desire to impress and grow before they move to a massive new stadium which could push the East London club to the next level. Signings such as Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll have come through difficult spells at Liverpool and will be looking to impress with a World Cup (hopefully) coming up, and Razvan Rat gives them an experienced defender with a speciality in dead ball situations. However, I feel their best signing for this season happened in January, as the prodigal son of the Hammers returned home. Joe Cole is one of the beacons of the club's fantastic knack for nurturing young English talent. Cole was seen as one of the best of this bunch, as the reputation and relationship that he developed with the fans in the early 2000s has lasted until today, and when he retires he will be fondly remembered for his love for the club. Though he did move on due to his immense quality and dribbling skills, and achieved great success in helping Chelsea to winning the title, he is now back at the club that he calls home, and looking to make an impact again in the Premier League after a poor spell at Liverpool. West Ham have a large majority of effective English talent among their ranks, and many of them will be looking to use the Premier League as an audition before Brazil 2014. Cole will be hopeful of a return to the national side for the first time in years, and hopefully his desire to succeed both domestically and internationally will only benefit the prospects of West Ham in the coming season. Where will they finish? - 12th