Harry Redknapp has made a few significant directional changes over the past couple of seasons with his initial devotion to all things foreign abandoned in the nick of time last season when the arrival of John Hartson and Paul Kitson (pictured) saved West Ham from the drop.
Kitson will again be important. Having realised that moderately priced overseas players do not necessarily have to be good, Redknapp appears to have bought well this summer in the form of Eyal Berkovic but, with Julian Dicks due to miss the start of the campaign through injury, Slaven Bilac will be sorely missed at the back which could be the source of this year's problems.
Manager: Harry Redknapp.
In: Eyal Berkovic (from Maccabi Haifa) £1.75 million, Andy Impey (from QPR) £1.2 million, Craig Forrest (from Ipswich) £500,000, David Terrier (from Metz) £1 million.
Out: Slaven Bilic (to Everton) £4.5 million, Hugo Porfirio (loan period ended).
Last Year: 14th. FA Cup: Third round. Coca-Cola Cup: Fourth round. [Q L]
Betting: 200 to 1.
