West Ham knocked out of Europa League

However, whilst such a romanticised view will likely be one strongly circulating in and around Upton Park at the moment, top-flight English football very rarely proves so accommodating for the somewhat “smaller” clubs wanting to make that all important step up in status. “I would have thought that at least two new players, not necessarily before we kick-off but before the window closes [will be signed]”.

Bilic rested all of the starting XI from the first leg of the Europa League third qualifying round tie, which they led 2-0 but drew 2-2, as he prepares for Sunday’s domestic opener at Arsenal. “Of course, why are we here otherwise?” It was an unusual situation for us, we will find out if we have made the right balance.

If West Ham start their last Premier League season at Upton Park before the 2017 move to the Olympic Stadium slowly, expect the supporters to turn on Bilic as emphatically as they did on Allardyce.

Ronald Koeman’s side continued where they let off against Vitesse, triumphing 3-0 in the first leg thanks to goals from Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Shane Long.

Budescu levelled just after the half-hour mark with a low shot, then stroked home a second four minutes later to send Marius Sumudica’s team into Friday’s Europa League draw. I don’t like that.

With Bilic watching from the stands after his red card in the first leg, it was first-team coach Julian Dicks who was leading things from the dugout.

The need for a work permit would suggest a transfer involving a player from outside the European Union, and Jimenez, a Mexican citizen, is a top priority for the Hammers.

Aberdeen were held 1-1 by Kazakh side Kairat Almaty and went out 3-2 on aggregate.

However, Kenny McLean’s away goal gives them hope ahead and captain Ryan Jack, linked to Everton, can not wait to sample the electric atmosphere in a sold-out Pittodrie.

“I said that we had more chances to win with some of the players who stayed in London but I think the boys not only did everything, the effort was there, the quality was there as well until they scored two goals”.

Sometimes simply facing reality head on is the only real option left on the table, for it nonetheless looks like West Ham are not quite ready for the Europa League just yet…