Stewart Downing told West Ham TV he expects there to be plenty of ins and outs at the Boleyn Ground over the next few weeks
Stewart Downing expects plenty of changes over what could be a very short but eventful summer break for West Ham United.
Should the Hammers qualify for the UEFA Europa League through the Fair Play League, the squad could be back in training as early as 22 June – just four weeks from now – with a new manager at the helm to boot.
With a host of players either out of contract or returning to their parent clubs at the end of loan spells, Downing could have plenty of new faces to get to know come next month.
“Whoever comes in has obviously got really good players and we’ve proved this season that we can mix it with the best,” the midfielder told West Ham TV.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of changes in the summer. Sam Allardyce and his backroom will go, so there is going to be a whole new management side with new ideas.
“I’m guessing there will be new players coming in because there will be people leaving who are out of contract etcetera, so there will be a lot of changes for what is a big season for us ahead of going to the Olympic Stadium the year after. We need to start it well.”
Should the Hammers qualify for the UEFA Europa League through the Fair Play League, the squad could be back in training as early as 22 June – just four weeks from now – with a new manager at the helm to boot.
With a host of players either out of contract or returning to their parent clubs at the end of loan spells, Downing could have plenty of new faces to get to know come next month.
“Whoever comes in has obviously got really good players and we’ve proved this season that we can mix it with the best,” the midfielder told West Ham TV.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of changes in the summer. Sam Allardyce and his backroom will go, so there is going to be a whole new management side with new ideas.
“I’m guessing there will be new players coming in because there will be people leaving who are out of contract etcetera, so there will be a lot of changes for what is a big season for us ahead of going to the Olympic Stadium the year after. We need to start it well.”
There will be a lot of changes for what is a big season for us ahead of going to the Olympic Stadium the year after. We need to start it well
Reflecting on Sunday’s season-ending defeat at Newcastle United, Downing felt the defeat summed up West Ham’s inability to create and convert chances in the second half of the season.
The Hammers were in charge before half-time at St James' Park, but could muster only Downing's shot, which was saved by Tim Krul, despite controlling possession. Newcastle recovered after the break to score through Moussa Sissoko and Jonas Gutierrez to save themselves from relegation with a 2-0 victory.
“I thought we were in control and they were a little bit nervy, as was to be expected, but we just didn’t have that cutting edge or produce that final pass really,” the No11 recalled.
“I had that chance from Cressy’s pass and I thought I was offside, to be honest, but their ‘keeper has still made the save.
“The second half was disappointing, really. We should have capitalised on them being nervous and pressed them a little bit harder than we did. It was a big goal for them when they scored and it gave them momentum and a bit of confidence.”
So, why did West Ham’s season come down with Christmas decorations? Downing believes it was a combination of factors which caused the Hammers to slide down the table, most notably the absence of leading marksmen Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll.
“Obviously we were free-flowing and scoring goals, so losing Sakho was massive for us,” he confirmed. “He was on really good form and didn’t really have a dip, he just kept going and going.
“Enner Valencia came in and settled well, too, but we had a lot of new players to the Premier League and they – and us – are going to have dips in form and it might have caught up with them a little bit. Overall, though, they settled well and you’ve seen other clubs where it’s taken them a year to settle.
“Overall, we’ve done well, but it’s disappointing because we were fourth at Christmas and have finished 12th. I said before the last game that we should have finished in a European spot.”
Downing also had words of thanks for outgoing manager Sam Allardyce, who signed the England international from Liverpool in summer 2013 and helped him to regain his spot in Roy Hodgson’s squad earlier this season.
“You could see on the manager’s face that he was disappointed, and he has thanked us for the work we put in for him. He was a great manager to play for and obviously took me out of the situation I was in at Liverpool where I was not playing and I’ve played nearly every game for him since I’ve been here.
“I’m disappointed for him because he’s a good man to play for and first-class whenever I had any problems and such like. It’s a big decision for the Club, but obviously Sam moves on.”
The Hammers were in charge before half-time at St James' Park, but could muster only Downing's shot, which was saved by Tim Krul, despite controlling possession. Newcastle recovered after the break to score through Moussa Sissoko and Jonas Gutierrez to save themselves from relegation with a 2-0 victory.
“I thought we were in control and they were a little bit nervy, as was to be expected, but we just didn’t have that cutting edge or produce that final pass really,” the No11 recalled.
“I had that chance from Cressy’s pass and I thought I was offside, to be honest, but their ‘keeper has still made the save.
“The second half was disappointing, really. We should have capitalised on them being nervous and pressed them a little bit harder than we did. It was a big goal for them when they scored and it gave them momentum and a bit of confidence.”
So, why did West Ham’s season come down with Christmas decorations? Downing believes it was a combination of factors which caused the Hammers to slide down the table, most notably the absence of leading marksmen Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll.
“Obviously we were free-flowing and scoring goals, so losing Sakho was massive for us,” he confirmed. “He was on really good form and didn’t really have a dip, he just kept going and going.
“Enner Valencia came in and settled well, too, but we had a lot of new players to the Premier League and they – and us – are going to have dips in form and it might have caught up with them a little bit. Overall, though, they settled well and you’ve seen other clubs where it’s taken them a year to settle.
“Overall, we’ve done well, but it’s disappointing because we were fourth at Christmas and have finished 12th. I said before the last game that we should have finished in a European spot.”
Downing also had words of thanks for outgoing manager Sam Allardyce, who signed the England international from Liverpool in summer 2013 and helped him to regain his spot in Roy Hodgson’s squad earlier this season.
“You could see on the manager’s face that he was disappointed, and he has thanked us for the work we put in for him. He was a great manager to play for and obviously took me out of the situation I was in at Liverpool where I was not playing and I’ve played nearly every game for him since I’ve been here.
“I’m disappointed for him because he’s a good man to play for and first-class whenever I had any problems and such like. It’s a big decision for the Club, but obviously Sam moves on.”