Alan Pardew believes that West Ham United have the attributes to be the best of the rest in the Premier League.
The Hammers currently sit in ninth place in the top flight on 26 points, and because they are not in a relegation battle and are not challenging the clubs in the top six, they are more than capable of being “top of the league in terms of their league”.
Pardew adds that seventh place should be a realistic possibility for them, especially as they have the attributes within their squad – but says that they obviously have bigger ambitions than that.
“I think for them, you look at their squad, you would like to think that they could make the top of the league in terms of their league, because I think seventh place is possible for them,” he said on beIN SPORTS.
“They have certainly got the attributes within the squad to do that. I think for West Ham at this particular time [it is realistic to be the best of the rest]. I think their ambitions are loftier than that, whether it comes into fruition, I don’t know.”
Alan Pardew believes that @WestHamUtd could be "top of the league in terms of their league".
Are the #Hammers fighting to be the 'best of the rest'?#beINPL #WHUFUL pic.twitter.com/wbgfTCP4z5
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) February 22, 2019
OPINION
Pardew has definitely got a point here – West Ham are definitely the best of the rest when you look at how they have been performing this season. There is no doubt that they have significant quality within their squad, but that quality neither condemns them to relegation, nor does it guarantee them to challenge the clubs in the top-six. They are lingering in the middle of things, but they are certainly one of the best teams aside from those that are struggling and those in the mix for the title. Yes, there is no harm in having big ambitions, but are they really realistic? They are more than capable of achieving a top-ten place season after season, but getting within touching distance of the top-six does not seem very likely. The Irons may have the quality, but they often lack consistency – and that is something that needs to be addressed if they are to move on from being the best of the rest.