Club guide: West Ham United

Title: 2,000-1 Relegation: 5-1 Sack Race: 16-1

Transfers

IN

P Barrera (UNAM Pumas, £4m), W Reid (Midtjylland, £3m), F Piquonne (Lyons, £1m), T Hitlzlsperger (Lazio, free), Tal Ben-Haim (Portsmouth, loan)

total spent: £8m

OUT

B N’Gala (Millwall, free), G Franco (released)

total made: £0m

Player to watch

Scott Parker. Significantly, the club’s owners insisted he was the one player not for sale. Driving midfielder who deserves another England opportunity.

Squad worries

Deficient in all areas last season, so much depends on new signings, of whom Thomas Hitzlsperger, once of Aston Villa, is very similar to Parker and Mark Noble.

Manager speak

Avram Grant’s lugubrious ways may not be West Ham’s cup of Rosie Lee, but they have proved effective at Chelsea and Portsmouth with squads of contrasting strength.

Story of the summer

Grant jumped ship from sinking Pompey to prolong his top-flight association. Supporters hoping for an exciting World Cup arrival were left with Winston Reid. Yes, that Winston Reid.

Last season 17th

Got their lowest Premier League points total ever.

This season 14th

Strengthening in all positions ought to bring improvement.