by Paul Donovan

IT WAS another good season for West Ham, finishing 7th in the Premier League, while progressing to the semi-final of the Europa League. But it will also be remembered as a season of what might, or even, should have beens.

For much of the season a top four finish seemed on the cards, then teams with deeper pockets passed West Ham by.

Pre-Christmas, Spurs and Arsenal were hardly in the race, but they steadily improved to finish above West Ham. Spurs grabbing the fourth spot and European Champions League qualification.

Then, in the Europa League, West Ham qualified for the knock out stages, having memorable victories over Sevilla and Lyon. But then they ran out of steam, falling against what looked a lesser team in Eintracht Frankfurt.

Manager, David Moyes, will have learnt lessons and be ready to push on next season but what if the club had made the signings required to strengthen the bid this season?

It is crazy that three transfer windows have passed since striker Sebastian Haller was sold to Ajax, yet no replacement has been found. 

So much time in fact that Haller, a flop at West Ham, has resurrected his career to the extent that top Premier League sides are now seeking to sign him.

Meanwhile, the striking burden fell to Michail Antonio, who battled on courageously but he desperately needed back up in the role.

The seasons successes have included Jarrod Bowen, who has scored 18 goals in all competitions and is well overdue an England call up.

Hammer of the Year Declan Rice has once again been outstanding, needing only to add more goals to his game to be the complete midfielder.

At the back Craig Dawson has been superb, ably supported by Kurt Zouma (cat incident aside). 

Ben Johnson has shown much promise at right and left back but needs a regular starting spot next season.

Defence is another area in urgent need of strengthening. It is an ageing back line, perhaps most clearly exposed in Aaron Cresswell, who now lacks the pace he once had. It was that lack of pace and positional sense that saw him caught out and sent off against Eintracht Frankfurt and Lyon, which cost the team so dear in the end.

Midfielder, Said Benrahma has shown what great potential he has but there has been a lack of consistency. Moyes seems hesitant to play him when other options are available and often too quick to make him the first substitution.

However, Benrahma really suffers from the inflexibility of the system at West Ham The rigid almost formulaic approach that sees the ball constantly going down the flanks for the cross over. There can be gaping gaps in the middle to be filled but these are mostly ignored. More variety and shots from around the edge of the penalty area could yield more reward.

Benrahma could be as effective for West Ham as Dimitri Payet, if given that free role but will that happen?

It was also the final season for legendary club captain, Mark Noble, who has given 18 years of excellent service to the club.

His influence in the dressing room will be sorely missed. A great professional who always gave his all through thick and thin for West Ham.

So ends an exciting season at West Ham, with fans no doubt already looking forward to the new season beginning in August. The club also have the prospect of European football again, this time in the European Conference League.

If David Moyes can strengthen his squad, as well as hanging on to the likes of Rice, Bowen and Tomas Soucek, then another exciting season beckons.

West Ham are a big club now, with 60,000 plus coming into the London Stadium for every home game. They need to get the big club mentality, seeking Champions League qualification and European success as a matter of course, not exception.