Harry Redknapp: West Ham's Slaven Bilic was right to put his Premier League plans above Europe

Finishing higher than the 12th place Sam Allardyce achieved will be very difficult for Slaven Bilic in his first season at West Ham.

So you can understand why he didn’t necessarily take the Europa League seriously — even though it cost them as a much-changed side went out last night.

You would bet your life on knowing what the top seven are so anyone else praying for a top-10 finish is basically playing for one of three positions. Slaven has got a hard job on his hands and people have got to be patient.

He has already lost Enner Valencia in the competition and when you look at all these games that West Ham have played, you cannot think of a worse way to prepare for the first Premier League game, away at Arsenal of all places.

It is no coincidence that almost every English team that goes into the Europa League struggle domestically and even though they have gone out, I think it will be a tough season for West Ham.

They won’t go down but Slaven will need time.

Winners Arsenal

Top four Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City

Best signing I’m told Dimitri Payet (left) is a good player but Bastian Schweinsteiger is a great signing for United. He has done it all and will control the midfield for them.

Surprise package Bournemouth will be fine this season. They were one of the best teams to come up from the Championship in the last 10 years. The football they played was fantastic and they’ve made good signings.