Dig into the data - what will season deliver?

Many people outside of West Ham could not understand supporter dissatisfaction last season given the club's top-half finish, but the stats do support some of the concerns they had.

Match-going fans did not often see the team play on the front foot, as the Hammers rarely dominated the ball or fought to win it high up the pitch. While that can be written off as a preference of playing style, the fact only four teams had fewer shots going forward and only three faced more at the back cannot.

Results are what matter most so a third top-half finish in four seasons is a great achievement, but new head coach Julen Lopetegui has more to work on than last season's table suggests if West Ham hope to repeat the feat.