Before the start of the campaign, many journalists and pundits had West Ham down as one of the Premier League’s European contenders.
Some, such as Jamie Carragher and Clinton Morrison even tipped the Hammers as potential dark horses for a Champions League spot.
Nottingham Forest meanwhile were being predicted by many to struggle against relegation.
With nine games to go, it is Nuno Espirito Santo’s swashbuckling Nottingham Forest side who are on course for a Champions League spot and in an FA Cup semi-final.
Roles reversed for West Ham and Nottingham Forest
And while West Ham have not found themselves in a relegation battle at any stage, they sit a lowly 16th, miles below expectations after a £155m summer spend.
Julen Lopetegui paid the price for that with his job as Graham Potter replaced the Spaniard.
On arriving at West Ham, Potter would undoubtedly have been bemused by any number of things.
He has even admitted that there were some nasty surprises when he got to ‘look under the bonnet’ after taking over in January.
Now a West Ham star who had Potter baffled has dropped a shock new claim about moving to Nottingham Forest.
One of Lopetegui’s most debated decisions from last summer has become a major talking point since Potter’s arrival.
The new Hammers boss admitted he was perplexed as to why Lopetegui allowed James Ward-Prowse to leave the club for Nottingham Forest on deadline day in the summer window.
The move sparked plenty of discussion, at the London Stadium and the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest’s interest emerged late in the window, resulting in a season-long loan agreement.
Despite Ward-Prowse registering 18 goal contributions in his first season, Lopetegui’s choice to send him to Forest has been a divisive topic among fans and pundits alike.
Ward-Prowse drops shock new claim about moving to Forest
Especially as he was a well-liked character and leadership figure in the West Ham dressing room.
There is no hiding the fact Ward-Prowse had seen his contribution in open play and his mobility and athleticism questioned since joining the Irons for £30m.
But one of Potter’s first acts as manager was to look into ripping up Ward-Prowse’s disastrous loan which saw him make only four appearances for the Tricky Trees.
Ward-Prowse’s lack of game time and criticism from some of Forest’s fans suggested Lopetegui may have made the right call after all.
Potter has had the set-piece specialist back in the West Ham starting line-up since his return to east London.
The 30-year-old could be forgiven for regretting ever joining Nottingham Forest with the way things panned out.
But Ward-Prowse has made a startling admission about his time at the club which will surprise fans on both sides.
Because the Hammers midfielder says moving to Nottingham Forest was actually one of the best things that has ever happened to him in his career.
Ward-Prowse says he learned a lot from the experience and believes it has actually reignited his career.
‘Forest move reignited my career’ says Ward-Prowse
“I’m just delighted to be back (playing at West Ham), I think the first few months of the season (at Nottingham Forest) were a bit of a rollercoaster kind of ride really, with a bit of instability for myself, but I think that’s going to happen in your career,” Ward-Prowse told West Ham’s website.
“It’s the first time it’s happened in a long, long time in my career, so it was a good challenge, one that I don’t sort of regret happening in a way, as I think it kind of kick-started me again and really lit that fire in me to come back and to prove a point.”
That is a great attitude to have towards what was – by his own admission – clearly a difficult period in Ward-Prowse’s career.
The former Southampton man has been predictably consistent since return to the West Ham team.
It has been without pulling up any trees, though, if truth be told.
Whether he is doing enough to remain part of Potter’s plans next season remains to be seen.
The Athletic believe he is and claim that, internally, letting Ward-Prowse join Forest was viewed as a mistake.
