Can West Ham really secure a top-four spot this season?

Despite seeing Chelsea awarded a last minute equalising penalty last time out in the English top-flight, Slaven Bilic and his determined West Ham United outfit have certainly had a lot to shout about across 2015/16 thus far.

 

The likes of Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini have been an absolute revelation in the middle of the park for their newfound side this season, the Hammers remain well placed in the F.A. Cup with an upcoming quarter-final replay on the cards against Manchester United next month – and although West Ham would theoretically be sitting among the top-four but for the recent exploits of referee Bobby Madley this weekend – everything looks to be going rather well down at Upton Park these days…

 

However, as this current domestic season has arguably proven the least predictable Premier League campaign yet – do West Ham really have what it takes to make the top-four this term, or will Champions League qualification ultimately prove a step too far for Slaven Bilic’s side when all is said and done?  

 

Well, as Manchester City certainly haven’t been performing to the best of their supposed abilities in recent weeks, perhaps a surprise top-four slot could possibly be on offer for the plucky Hammers in 2015/16…

 

We are well in this top four race. City looked poor and United are beatable. Just need to keep picking up points

— WHUFC (@Forever_WestHam) 20 March 2016

 

…which is a notion some football fans clearly weren’t expecting at the start of the current league campaign…

 

Just imagining a top four of: Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal and West Ham. Bloody hell. Champions League football at the new Olympic Stadium.

— Liam (@OffsideLiam) 20 March 2016

 

West Ham fans seemingly aren’t the only ones fancying their team’s chances for the top-four this season however…

 

West Ham are only going to get stronger in my opinion. Good manager, moving into a massive stadium. Top four possibly. Fair play to them.

— – (@AnfieldRd96) 19 March 2016

 

…and if this former Premier League legend is to be proven right in the end, perhaps the Upton Park faithful have genuine reason for excitement after all…

 

Thierry: ''if I had to put my money on a team finishing in the top four this year, it would have to be West Ham'' ⚒ pic.twitter.com/cX32kYubbW

— West Ham Social (@WestHamSocial) 18 March 2016

 

It seems certain West Ham fans nonetheless remain slightly bitter over what took place last time out at Stamford Bridge though…

 

Watch us miss out on top four by one point, all because some Chelsea kid I've never heard of decided to trip himself up outside the area.

— West Ham Central (@WestHam_Central) 19 March 2016

 

…with some seemingly looking towards the F.A. Cup instead as a potential alternate route for success…

 

Today should make West Ham more determined to win the FA Cup.
Definitely the best team left in it.
No reason why not.
This team can do it.

— Gary Lewis (@Gaznipper) 19 March 2016

 

But if the Hammers do in-fact finish among the top-four instead of their counterparts down at the Etihad this season, the immediate implications could prove rather precarious for Manchester City…

 

Would love West Ham finish top four, Pep Guardiola will trip to Lithuania in Europa league in Thursday night football next year!!

— Eamon Byrne (@EamonByrne8) 20 March 2016

 

With everything fairly taken into account, finishing within the top-four and subsequently securing safe passage to the Champions League group-stages will certainly prove a tough ask for West Ham at the end of the day…

 

This season is just so good, Really hoping West Ham are in the top four at the end of it

— Anton Button (@Anton_button) 2 March 2016

 

…but if Slaven Bilic can finish the current campaign in similarly strong fashion throughout the remainder of the season, surely this West Ham team could well represent a wise bet to eventually make the top-four this term, whilst earning the right to dream big in their debut season at the Olympic Stadium!