It's an exciting new era for West Ham fans following the move to their impressive new ground, the London Stadium. Despite this, the switch has not brought the success witnessed last season and their troublesome period continues to halt their progression.

You would have to search far and wide to find a more ambitious project than the one being undertaken in east London, as the Hammers' owners are determined to make the club one of England's elite over the coming years.

At the moment, Champions League qualification looks a distance away, as the team need to make some serious improvements after the international break. Bilic has the quality at his disposal to get his side clear of relegation this term, but with just a point between them and the drop zone, there still remains a feeling of worry.

The Irons' may have suffered just one defeat in six games, but here are THREE things they must improve on after the much-hated international break.

Get the strikers firing

Simone Zaza

Injuries may have decimated Bilic's chances of improving on their seventh-place finish, but when his current crop of strikers are yet to score a single league goal this campaign it's clear where improvements need to be made.

Italy international Simone Zaza is yet to score a Premier League goal while Andy Carroll remains sidelined through injury along with Diafra Sakho.

Andre Ayew's return to fitness should see the goals come, but for West Ham to continue their push towards the top half, Zaza needs to rediscover his goalscoring touch.

Stop relying on Payet

Britain Football Soccer - West Ham United v Stoke City - Premier League - London Stadium - 5/11/16
West Ham United's Dimitri Payet looks dejected
Action Images via Reuters / Tony O'Brien
Livepic
EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further d

Not since the days of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano have West Ham boasted a world-class player like Dimitri Payet.

Payet has been nothing short of a revelation for the Hammers, but the team only seems to play well when the Frenchman hits his stride.

For Bilic's ambitious Irons to achieve anything close to their potential, they must move away from their need for Payet to make things happen before anyone else does.

This is a very talented Hammers' squad and one that should be competing for a top-six place – not relying on one player.

Make the London Stadium a fortress

Britain Football Soccer - West Ham United v Stoke City - Premier League - London Stadium - 5/11/16
General view outside the stadium before the match 
Reuters / Eddie Keogh
Livepic
EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.

Much has been made of the Hammers' move to the London Stadium, and the Irons have struggled to make their new ground a fortress, like Upton Park once was.

The bedrock of most teams' good fortune is their home form, and with a state-of-the-art arena at their disposal, now is the perfect opportunity for West Ham to make their home a tough place to visit.

With close to 60,000 in full voice, this could be one of European football's most iconic grounds, given time.

[ad_pod id='playwire' align='center']