West Ham’s dreams of a Champions League place aren’t over yet.

Despite dropping much-needed points during the past few weeks, the Hammers could actually, mathematically speaking, still, with the right results and a fair wind, climb into that coveted fourth spot.

Realistically, however, a Champions League place is a fairy-tale for another year. In honesty, the majority of West Ham fans would own up, that the Champions League is a step too far for the east Londoners right now.

The squad under Slaven Bilic has been re-energised and the team are playing, most of the time, the kind of football that has been missing for a few years. Individuals like Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini have become Premier League stars, whilst others, such as Michail Antonio, have Premier league clubs considering scouting the lower leagues far more intensively.

Last summer, West Ham invested heavily and the largest number of new faces came through the Upton Park gates with nothing more in mind than to stay in the Premier League. No thoughts of cup triumphs or European qualification even entered their heads, as the club just needed to stay in the league and to reap the huge amount of money coming their way.

To be where they are is magical for West Ham fans and they’ve given teams a good run for their money, but the Europa league is probably where West Ham ought to be at the moment.

As time has gone on, Bilic has shaped the squad into a good counter-attacking team with some flair, but for all of their creativity, the Payet free-kicks, the strength and the physical prowess of many, West Ham lack two ingredients.

Had they had these two vital, and vital they are, ingredients from day one, then the Hammers would be third today and not fifth. They would be considered Champions League material without disgracing themselves or English football, but right now, Mr. Bilic needs to put it right over the summer.

I’ll start with problem number one – the defence. The Hammers were always known to be a bit of a soft touch defensively and lately, they have conceded two at Norwich, two at Chelsea, two at Everton, two against Palace and three more against Arsenal. Yes, West Ham scored the same or, in one game more, than the opposition, but they cannot afford to keep shipping goals that then means they drop points. All to often, the Irons have to come from behind and don’t seem to start playing unless they are two goals down.

The arrival of Ogbonna was a notable move, and in his first season the Italian has been quite a decent player, but conversely Winston Reid seems to be lacking his sparkle. The defence has seen too many injuries, which never helps, but the partnership of James Collins and Ogbonna seems more stable than any other pairing. Aaron Cresswell on the left is comfortable enough and a fit again Sam Byram on the right, make it look as though the left and right back berths are sewn up. But they need to play as a unit, and that has been lacking and has cost West Ham this season.

Problem two concerns the strikers. If you take a look at the quality that is available, then you have to wonder why as a collective they have only mustered 15 goals between all four of them. As is the case in defence, West Ham have had their injury concerns up front, but with the talent available, it shouldn’t have been left to top scorer, Payet and Antonio to weigh in with the majority.

You can see why a striker is a priority. Equally, the strikers might be looking over their shoulders this summer. Diafra Sakho is seemingly touting for a move and likes to throw his toys out of the pram if he doesn’t get his own way, no matter what the club say officially. Andy Carroll offers an alternative that isn’t the manager’s preferred option, while Enner Valencia seems to struggle and Emmanuel Emenike, who is on loan, is looking destined to go back from whence he came.

All in all, a pretty poor return.

So, if West Ham want to achieve Champions League status and hold their own and if they truly want top four finishes in the Premier league, then they need to tighten up defensively and find themselves a Tony Cottee/Frank McAvennie pairing.

Watch this space. It will be interesting to see them develop next season.

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