Last Season - Finished 10th in the Premier League - 49pts
Manager - Alan Curbishley

INS:
DF Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson
MF Valon Behrami - 10m US
GK Jan Lastuvka - Loan
ST Balint Bajner - Undisclosed

OUTS:
FW Bobby Zamora
RB John Pantsil
FW Nolberto Solano
MF Fredrik Ljungberg

Possibles:
FW Eidur Gudjohnsen - Barcelona
LB Nicky Shorey - Reading
MF James Harper - Reading
MF Jimmy Bullard - Fulham
GK Neil Alexander - Rangers
CB Mikael Silvestre - Man Utd

What's Left in the Kitty - 10m US

What Lies Ahead:
Aug 16 Wigan (H)
Aug 23 Man City (A)
Aug 30 Blackburn (H)
Sep 13 West Brom (A)
Sep 20  Newcastle (H)
Sep 27 Fulham (A)
Oct 4 Bolton (H)

Possible Starting XI:
GK Robert Green
RB Lucas Neill
CB Matthew Upson
CB Anton Ferdinand
LB George McCartney
RMF Valon Behrami/Lee Bowyer
CMF Hayden Mullins/Kieron Dyer
CMF Mark Noble/Scott Parker
LMF Matthew Etherington
FW Carlton Cole/Craig Bellamy
FW Dean Ashton

How They'll Stack Up:
Alan Curbishley added some decent faces to the line-up last season - but due to injury issues we didn't get a good look at Bellamy, Ljungberg, Parker and Dyer with Hammers.  Hopefully they can hold their fitness for most of the season this term - and if they do, look for West Ham to improve upon their finish last season.  This wasn't a bad team going into the off-season - the only true concern is those expensive experienced players.  If they continue to see more treatment than pitch time, perhaps it's time to move them on and invest in the youth.  Behrami has continued to develop for Lazio and should provide some stability and width at the back or on the wing.  Dean Ashton has looked good in the pre-season and much like Darren Bent at Tottenham, fans hope he's not scoring all his goals before it truly counts.  I don't see Hammers breaking the top five - but they could certainly get into the top-8 and perhaps make a deep Carling or FA Cup run.

Coming Up Thursday - Manchester City