Slaven Bilic: Five things the new West Ham manager must do

Bilic has an exciting challenge in his hands at West Ham. Credit: Reuters

By Jamie Roberton: ITV News

So after the attempts to lure Klopp, Ancellotti, Benitez, Emery and Bielsa to East London failed, Messrs Gold and Sullivan have entrusted former Hammers defender and cult hero Slaven Bilic with leading West Ham into the most important years of the club's history.

It's a huge risk. An impressive period in charge of Croatia was followed by underwhelming spells at Lokomotiv Moscow and Besiktas.

Here are five things the Croatian boss must do to prove the doubters wrong:

1) Please avoid relegation

It would quite simply be a disaster.

The prospect of launching a new dawn in the 54-000 seater Olympic Stadium with a game against Rotherham is unthinkable.

Bilic must hit the ground running in his first season in the Premier League to keep fans' nerves at bay.

2. Keep the squad fit

Bilic must keep West Ham's big players fit and firing on top form. Credit: PA

West Ham will have a shorter summer than their rivals with Europa League qualifiers set to begin next month.

The new manager must show he is skilled at rotating his players and identifying targets to add depth and quality to the squad (although how much control he will have over recruitment is another matter).

If he can keep that tall Geordie lad (pictured above) fit then he deserves a knighthood.

3. Be ambitious

Slaven Bilic must demonstrate his ambition to the owners. Credit: PA Wire

This season must mark a shift in the club's mentality: simply avoiding relegation is no longer good enough.

West Ham's ambition should be terrifying those above them - especially Spurs.

Bilic must be telling fans to expect the team to challenge for trophies and European football on a regular basis.

While Sam Allardyce seemed content with 12th and 13th place finishes, the ambitious owners and notoriously difficult to please fans wanted more.

Playing the so-called "West Ham Way" in the process would also help to keep everyone in the stands happy.

4. Make the academy great again

West Ham's academy was the envy of the top flight. Credit: PA Wire

For years, West Ham was regarded as the "Academy of Football" with England regulars Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole all coming through under Tony Carr's tutelage.

But since then - with the exception of first-time regulars Mark Noble and James Tomkins - the talent has dried up.

The likes of Junior Stanislas, Zavon Hines and Freddie Sears have broken through before being let go.

Allardyce was often criticised for not giving youth a chance during his tenure, but the stark reality is that the homegrown talent coming through has not been good enough.

Bilic must assess what is going wrong and push for the necessary changes to make the club's academy the envy of the top-flight once again.

5. Make Mark Noble captain

Mark Noble would be a popular choice as captain. Credit: PA Wire

Kevin Nolan - who became increasingly unpopular with fans last season - is no longer good enough to play for a Premier League team let alone to captain one.

Mark Noble, the ever-reliable academy graduate, should be the man wearing the captain's armband when the Hammers play their first game in the Olympic Stadium in August 2016.