What an appointment Slaven Bilic is turning out to be. There were many skeptical people when he was given the nod ahead of a host of candidates, but the Croatian has been a revelation.
Let’s discuss on the pitch issues first, before going onto his qualities off it.
Hammers fans crave good, attacking football. They want to see their team work extremely hard too and show passion for their wonderful and historic club.
Bilic has got all of these factors in with an extra ingredient – they are getting positive results too! Sitting 7th in the Premier League table and still in the FA Cup – the Hammers are enjoying themselves.
Under Sam Allardyce, there was decent enough results for the majority of the time, but there was nowhere near the connection between players and fans that there is now. Bilic has to take HUGE credit for this.
Look at Dimitri Payet. Signed by the current boss last summer, he has taken English football by storm and clearly LOVES playing for West Ham. Bilic is aware the Frenchman is his best player and treats him like it.
Do you think Payet just happened to really feel at home at Upton Park? Certainly not. He clearly enjoys playing in front of the fans, but more crucially – he enjoys playing for Bilic. The boss sold him the West Ham way.
Look at Mark Noble’s form too. He’s been at his best under Bilic and the relationship between manager and skipper is stronger than ever.
The way Bilic conducts himself in interviews is extremely refreshing too. He’s clearly someone you don’t want to mess with, but there’s a sense of humour there and he’s honest.
How brilliant was it to see him say he’d rather win the FA Cup than finish top four?
He understands the history of English football and he understands West Ham. He loves the club and right now, West Ham loves him.
What better man to lead the team in arguably the biggest season for decades?
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