Eight Games Left - Where Will the Vital Points Come From?

No way.....probably

Our season looked over when we exited the Cup in embarrassing circumstances in early January - mid table and marooned, we followed up with three wins and looked home. However, after a series of narrow defeats to relegation rivals we are back in the think of it. Even worse, Andrea Ranocchia's late winner on Saturday was truly significant as it suddenly pulled us to within Hull's grasp. 

Tomorrow night we make the short but arduous trip to the Emirates where we rarely get anything apart from a hiding. If the result goes as expected we will be left with seven games looking for 4-5 points to survive - but where might they come from? 

Saturday's visit of Swansea is crucial - if we win then they would surely find it hard to crawl back above us BUT if we lose then the really pressure will kick in! 

Sunderland away looks promising for at least a draw, and in all fairness the Black Cats look doomed, but Mr Defoe is always lurking and can make the difference at crucial moments... 

Then a series of fixtures against sides that we hate and often underperform against - Everton, Stoke, Spurs and Liverpool...does anyone want to go to Turf Moor on the last day of the season looking for points? 

Right now, it's all about Swansea on Saturday...a win and then a couple of draws and we are safe. It's been a disappointing season after all the hope and expectation. The Davids need to talk less and actually sign (no - not loan with an option!) the type of quality player that we aspire to have at the club and, in all honesty, can now afford.


 

West Ham Chase Experienced England Striker

The rumours are on again - prodigal son Jermain Defoe to return to West Ham at the end of the season! Defoe is not quite as old as the three eyed raven from games of thrones, but is approaching 35 years of age and has his best years behind him...or does he? The 5 ft 7 inch dynamo has scored 14 goals in 28 games this season and now been rewarded with an England call up!

Defoe's contract at Sunderland runs out at the end of this season and it seems likely that a host of clubs will be queuing up to grab his services as he looks to have another season of top flight footie left in him!

With West Ham's dreadful injury record, Defoe can expect to get first team opportunities aplenty. What do you think – should West Ham bring him back to the club at the end of this season?


 

Defoe: I Want Another Bite at the Hammers!

My ole man's....

Just as the bookies slashed the odds on Jermain Defoe returning to the Hammers, Ex Captain Kevin Nolan has advised the prolific striker to seize the opportunity if and when West Ham come calling.

While Defoe is still 8/15 to stay at Slumberland, West Ham lead the chase at 51/8, with Crystal Palace second favourites at 8/1 and Spurs next at 28/1. Undoubtedly David Moyes will want to keep Defoe on Wearside as Defoe's goals are the main barrier that exists between the Black Cats and another relegation to the Championship.




 
 
 
 
 
Defoe remains something of a controversial figure for Hammers fans and is sometimes referred to as Judas #2 after handing in a transfer request within hours of our tragic relegation in 2003. However, a recent poll indicates that over two-thirds of fans have forgiven him for his insensitivity and would welcome him back to the club to add a bit of much-needed bite to our misfiring attack.




Oi, wot u doin - this aint Gauchos mate!

However, some fans remain sceptical and recall
Defoe's outlandish attack on then-Hammer Javier 'i can probably play better than this' Mascherano in 2006. Defoe was subsequently given a life ban from playing for a proper football team, something which forced him to stay at Tottenham for most of his career.

Oliver Can....and he will!

But even though the Hammers will blame tragic Tottenham for Defoes conversion to cannibalism, there can be no doubting that Oliver Kahn's 1999 carnivornous attack on Borussia Dortmund's Heiko Herrlich occured whilst wearing a Hammers away jersey. Such behaviour is unacceptable - even in the Bundesliga.








BTW that's Neil Ruddock looking on nonchalantly.

All of this could have been snuffed out if only the footballing world hadn't misinterpreted John Hartson's attempted purge of gnasher-related footballing offences when he attempted to kick teammate Eyal Berkovic's teeth out during a training ground routine in 1998. This was almost certainly a (vain) attempt to remove dental problems from the game for once and for all.

However, once again  the ruling authorities got it all wrong, horribly horribly wrong.

Hammers Top of the League....But Who Baked All the Pies?

While the Hammers on-field exploits this season have seen them drift perilously close to the relegation zone, it has emerged that the club are now top of the Premiership table in terms of the cost of the traditional pie on match day!

Hammers Head Honchos, Messers Sullivan and Gold will no doubt be quick to defend the cost of your steak and kidney feast as an important source of much-needed funds to eventually buy a reliable Premiership-standard striker, but our intrepid on-line sleuths at VERYWESTHAM have identified the REAL reason that our match day pies are so expensive.

While there is no guarantee that every pie is lovingly prepared by our popular net minder, Adrian's recent form between the sticks suggests that he may soon have plenty of time to indulge his culinary inclinations as Darren Randolph looks set to usurp Adrian as our first choice keeper. An online poll conducted by the science department at VWH found that two-thirds of fans responding think Randolph should start against Tottenham at the weekend.



The cost of the pies has also likely impacted upon the club's placing in another Premiership League table - the fattest fans ratings. Last conducted in 2010, the Hammers ranked 7th highest in terms of percentage of fans who reported being obese - outweighed by mighty Sunderland, Everton and Man City! No doubt the punitively-high price of pies will have forced Hammers fans to consider foregoing their half-time snack. Interestingly, the table also highlights just how many of the class of 2010 are no longer in the Premiership as nine of those ranked are now departed from the top flight!

For now though, fans can rejoice that our exorbitantly expensive pies ensure that at least in one respect West Ham top the premiership rankings! 



 

Miserable Moyes Back to His Best

David Moyes got just the boost he needed in injury time yesterday as his Sunderland side were denied a hard earned point by Winston Reid's stunning strike just 7 seconds from the end. The incident provided Moyes with an ideal opportunity to demonstrate his considerable curmudgeonly talents, indulging in a delicious piece of righteous indignation as he growled about 'interfering with play' highlighting how the referee had been visibly uncertain and looked to his linesmen for guidance.


In reality, West Ham were very fortunate that the goal was allowed as two Hammers players (Calleri and Kouyate) were offside and clearly impeding the Sunderland goalkeeper's view of proceedings.

SuperSlav may well point to the overall performance in which Sunderland rarely threatened and could have been three goals down after 25 minutes, but the truth is that West Ham remain without a cutting edge up front and looked like they could have played out there for days without scoring. The sooner Sakho, Carroll and Ayew are available the better. 

On the plus side, our defence looks tighter again - something that will be put to the test over our next six games where we face a remarkably tough series of fixtures. After Chelsea in the cup, we have Premierships matches with Everton (A), Stoke (H), Spurs (A), Man United (A), Arsenal (H), Liverpool (A). The three points from yesterday will be vital as we still sit in a lowly 15th and look likely to nosedive over the coming weeks where points will surely be at a premium.

So it's a case of tough times ahead, but there are encouraging signs of late as Winston Reid is back to his best and the three man centre back formation looks tight. Adrian has survived his wobbly period and looks sharp again. Obiang and newbie Fernandez offer options in midfield. While many fans have been really disappointed with this year's transfer arrivals, fit-again Sofiane Feghouli looks to be the most impressive of them and added an extra width when he came on yesterday.

Bilic likes to play as the underdog and catch teams on the counter - there will be plenty of opportunities to test that strategy over the next six weeks!

COYI!!!

Bilic Looks to Youth as Hammers Seek to Finally Get Season Started

SuperSlav has made an unusual change to the starting XI for the visit of Sunderland with 20 year old Edimilson Fernandes starting - presumably taking the Manny Lanzini attacking midfield role. Fernandes arrived during the Summer in a 5 million deal from Sion in Switzerland and has impressed to the extent of grabbing 2 substitute appearances in recent games before today's starting debut.

It's unclear how West Ham will cover the full back positions with no natural left or right back in the starting line up? With the 'clinical' finishing of ex-Hammer Jermain Defoe leading the line for David Moyes' Sunderland, Slav will need to be wary of a smash n grab raid from the Black Cats.

Up front, Simone Zaza will hope to build on last week's improved performance against Crystal Palace and get his Hammers goalscoring career off to a start. With the return of Andre Ayew and Diafra Sakho now imminent, he will need to kick on very soon if he is to retain a starting place in Bilic's side.

We are going for a 2-1 home win, with Defoe netting for the Cats.

COYI!!!

The Team is: Adrián, Ogbonna, Reid, Antonio, Fernandes, Kouyaté, Lanzini, Noble, Obiang, Payet, Zaza.

Substitutes: Spiegel, Collins, Oxford, Feghouli, Nordtveit,  Calleri, Fletcher.

JOB well done

This week saw the end of the Hammers dream for a dozen players, with utility defender Joey O'Brien the most senior amongst the pack. His appearances at the start of the season in the Europa League seemed to auger well but he dropped down the pecking order and, once again, injuries prevented him from seizing the opportunity at right back when Carl Jenkinson departed.

O'Brien will be fondly remembered for his important contributions during the first two years of the Allardyce era when he played over 30 times during each of the promotion year (2011-12) and Premiership bedding down year that followed. All in all, he accrued 101 appearances in all competitions.

O'Brien perhaps suffered for his versatility, switching between right and left back but also with some appearances at centre half during that awful injury crisis of the season before last. Defensively tenacious, Joey perhaps lacked the nous coming forward that Bilic desires from his full backs. At 30, O'Brien still has plenty to offer but will be hoping to stay injury-free - something that has eluded him both at West Ham and Bolton, and limited his Republic of Ireland appearances to 5 turn outs.

No doubt the bookies will cite Big Sam's Sunderland as a likely next destination for O'Brien. Farewell Joey and the very best of luck with the next chapter.

Sak-No! to Slumberland Switch

It's a measure of how little is going on at West Ham right now that the main story of late has been about a possible switch to Sunderland for Diafra Sakho. With Sunderland reported to have tabled a bid of £11 million he speculation has grown. However, Hammers fans will hardly be losing sleep about these rumours as the whole episode makes little sense.

Firstly, Sakho is on a four year contact until the Summer of 2018. Secondly, £11 million would be a total steal for a striker with proven premiership quality. Thirdly, having moved on Emannuel Emineke and Nikica Jelavic the Hammers have lots of space in their attacking department. Fourthly, Enner Valencia continues to struggle to find consistency and would seem considerably more likely to move elsewhere in the Summer. Fifthly, although Sakho experienced some issues in his personal life during the season, it was clear that Slaven Bilic wanted to support his talented striker rather than freeze him out in the way that Morgan Amalfitano was managed.

Finally, Bilic is way too smart to let out most abrasive attacking talent leave. Although Sakks only scored 7 goals last season, this was from a wider role than previously as Andy Carroll spent less time on the injury list. In that role Sakho is a constant nuisance that unsettles opposition defences and creates the confusion and space in which the likes of Payet and Lanzini can thrive.

No, No, No. Complete nonsense. Move on, there's nothing to see here.

Mixed News for Hammers in Premier League run in

After three big wins in a row it's truly game on for West ham as they push for a Champions League spot that would likely generate £50 million-plus for the rapidly rising club! With just nine games to go the Hammers are a point off Man City in fourth and with the Gooners stuttering, anything looks possible!

Meanwhile, the statsgeeks at footballwebpages.co.uk have put akl available data into a supercomputer to predict a final table. Hammers fans will undoubtedly be delighted with the predicted 4th place finish, but their celebrations might be tempered by the fact that the computer reckoning is for arch-rivals Spurs to nobble Leicester on goal difference for the title...perish the thought!

Interestingly, although the bookies rate Arsenal as the side most likely to buckle during the run in, the computer reckons that Man City will slip behind the Hammers.

However, with 9 tough games to go, West ham would need to win four, draw 4 and lose just one game if they are to reach the predicted 65 points haul.

Meanwhile, both Newcastle and Sunderland are predicted to make the drop, with Norwich scraping home in 17th. Big Sam 's love of statistics may thus be a little dampened but, in all honesty, most Hammers fans would bet on Sam keeping Sunderland up.

Beware: computers know nought about injuries and a simple hamstring or calf tear to Dimitri Payet or Harry Kane could massively change all of this. All the same, it's great to be in this position...dream on Hammerheads!

Sam Speechless as Police Called in to Investigate

 

The proceedings at Upton Park seemed pretty routine yesterday as the Hammers again struggled against lesser opposition but, like better sides do, managed to get ahead through a piece of brilliance. Sunderland, meanwhile, were experiencing the frustrations of relegation-threatened sides by dominating but without seeming able to convert their increasing number of opportunities.

At such times the great and the gifted step up. These are the valiant men who can change the game, upset the pattern of things and create success where frustration had prevailed. Sunderland needed such a player, one with the chutzpah to take responsibility and try the unexpected. As their fans searched down the team sheet they came to Wahbi Khazri - the one player who had looked likely to provide that moment of genius.

With a matter of mere minutes left on the clock, Khazri came marauding down the left side of the Hammers box and looking up spied an onrushing team-mate in space. Instead of succumbing to the obvious - he spurned the simple pass across the box, instead opting for a swashbuckling manoeuvre that would kickstart a flamboyant thrust for glory for his beloved Black Cats. There would be no simple cross from Khazri - no, my friends, he opted for a scintillating and bodacious RRRRRRRABONA!!!!!...

and duly fell over himself as he miskicked the ball into touch.

The Police are presently conducting a thorough search of Upton Park and the surrounding area for any evidence of his credibility but so far have drawn a blank. Big Sam has refused to comment for fear of saying something he might regret!

Allardyce finally goes a step too far!!!

West Ham fans are very familiar with the defensive-minded tactics of Mr Allardici, at one stage last season even using an injury crisis to field a strikerless side! However, the tactical genius is trying to pioneer an even more defensive formation today by dressing his outfield players as goalkeepers!

Unfortunately, Sunderland will need at least some attacking impact if they are to get anything out of today's game as they are one down to a slinky Antonio strike. Surprisingly, Sunderland's best player Patrick Van Aanholt displaying some green defending by allowing the muscular Antonio brush past him.

Hammers are unbeaten at home over the past six months. They will be looking to push on and extend that record in the second half!
 

Selection Headaches for Slav Key to Kickstarting Eurodrive

While much of the attention will focus on the return of Sam Allardyce, today's clash is vital for both West ham and Sunderland, albeit for very different reasons.

The Hammers are still well positioned to make a late season charge for a European place. These efforts will undoubtedly be buoyed by the host of key players returning from injury. Although Diafra Sakho is not yet ready to enter the fray, Winston Reid and Andy Carroll may well enter from the subs bench today, while Manny Lanzini will possibly start.

At right back, Sam Byram and Michail Antonio are both in the running for a starting berth. Sunderland are offensively strong on the left side with Van Aanholt being their best performer this season such that the Hammers will need to be well organised at right back.

Up front, Emmanuel Emenike found his form with a brace against Blackburn last weekend and should get the starting berth with Andy Carroll ready to shake it up from the bench if needed.

Mike Dean will preside over proceedings and Bilic will be expecting him to police Sunderland's efforts to contain the other-worldly talents of Mr Payet. No doubt the ever-vocal home fans will provide every assistance in his important efforts!

West ham look increasingly capable of scoring right now, with a variety of potential sources of supply for goals. As such, if they can dominate possession they should translate that into scores with Payet, Emenike, Antonio, Lanzini and Moses all more than capable. Cheikidh Kouyate's rescinded red card is thus a key midweek development as it will add muscle in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, Hammers fans will enjoy ribbing both Allardyce and Defoe as the pantomime villains in what should be another passionate day at the Boleyn. Kick off is 12.45.

Sunderland will try to keep it tight but we expect our gamechangers to make the difference. Put your cash on 2-0.

COYI!!!

Fletcher Fails Medical due to Bad Feet

As Norman Stanley Fletcher famously remarked when confronted by the Slade prison medics as to his disability "with these bad feet who'd have me".

And so it is as the rumour mill gathers suggesting that West Ham are about to swoop for wantaway Sunderland striker Stephen Kenneth Fletcher, one wonders at the wisdom of taking on board a player who has amassed a mere 12 goals in 76 league and cup games over the last three seasons.

As a comparison, Andy Carroll, hardly the most prolific striker, has scored 17 goals in just 45 games many of which have been as a substitute when returning from injury. Even more illuminating is that his scoring rate (0.15 per game) is less than Carlton Cole's has been for West Ham (0.16) during the same period.

Moreover, its hard to see how Fletcher can add more to the squad than the departing Jelavic or departed Zarate. if we really do harbour Champions league pretentions we surely need to look fmore closely at our up and coming players rather than fading (modest) talents. All of this must be very frustrating for Elliot Lee and Jaanai Gordon who are out on loan at Colchester and Sligo Rovers respectively.

Lawro gets his claws into the Hammers

Put em up!

BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson has again provoked the ire of many Hammers fans with comments ahead of Today's Premiership clash away to bottom of the table AFC Slumberland.

In a move surely designed to raise eyebrows, Lawro has predicted a win for the Black Cats to end the Hammers three in a row away winning sequence while halting a three in a row defeat rating for Advocaats troubled side.

These are the kind of psychological tactics used by Lawrenson's Liverpool during their glory days a few decades ago, but as West Ham's recent 3-0 Anfield humbling of the once great Reds demonstrates, other sides have wised up the fact that its not so hard to turn the Scouse support against their 'heroes' these days.

Meanwhile, word is that this will be Advocaat's final game in charge as bottom of the table Sunderland have looked well short of the Premiership mark this year. With Winston Reid reportedly recovered from a midweek training knock, West ham can continue with their best XI today.

However, what's the odds that Jermain Defoe doesn't score against his former employees as the Hammers seem capable of all kinds of inconsistency in terms of expected results this season!

We reckon 2-1 to the Hammers.

Hammers Stars Out for Burnley Clash

Curb your enthusiasm!

West ham's season continues to peter out with the possibility of a front door entrance to Europe long gone. Stranded in mid table without any remaining purpose, the team have struggled to find the fire that is needed in order to get anything out of fixtures against sides caught up in the relegation mix.

Burnley visit the Boleyn ground today looking to get points that might propel them away from second bottom of the table. Surprisingly, after a series of insipid displays, the game is a sell out.

However, the fans enthusiasm has not been matched by the players, with a number of potential absentees due to life threatening injuries such as an "acute attack of being really bored", "grade 3 cudnt b arsed" and most worryingly an outbreak of "Chronically fatigued of it" syndrome. The players involved have not been named but expect some big name absenteeism today! Bad news for QPR, Sunderland, Hull City and Leicester.

On the positive front, last week's draw against the Queens and Park Rangers was achieved without a single disciplinary caution whilst our nearest rivals in the fair play league - today's visitors Burnley picked up two yellow cards. With the ratings soon to end, the Hammers look set to stay top as long as they dont get pulled into any disciplinary bloodbaths. Perhaps the recent on-field indifference is for a good reason?

Otherwise, Hammers fans are hoping to get a further viewing of Reece Burke and maybe even a look at Diego Poyet in midfield?

GOSH!!! Wasn't that Exciting!

No, not the scrap at Upton Park, but the rugby. The action was simply spellbinding as France and England went toe to toe and Ireland watched on hoping the crazy French wouldn't be too... crazy. And so it was, the game went right to the final play as England came within a whisker of an unlikely result.



Oh Dear!

Back at Upton Park, the action was a little less compelling as a grim first half  was livened up most by the failure of Jermain Defoe to take a gilt edged opportunity to put one over on his former employers. Hammers fans sighed with relief followed by a hearty chuckle or two. If Sunderland go down one wonders whether he will wait for the following day to deliver his transfer request  or maybe get it over and done with on the team bus on the way home after the match?

The second half trundled along aimlessly until the 88th minute when Diafra Sakho pounced to slot home the only goal of the game. It was harsh on Sunderland and their new manager Dick Advocaat, but the Premiership is no playschool and as West Ham know only too well, you've gotta keep playing until that oversized chanteuse breaks into song.

Speaking of which, what has gone wrong with Alex? Another performance where he looked out of sorts. The rush to find £100K a week to keep him at the Boleyn next year has slowed considerably. Similarly, what's up with Stewie Downing?

42 points and, after a few fumbled efforts, we are finally safe. Surely its time to let some of the up and coming talent have a run out. Of these, only Diego Poyet was named amongst the subs today and didn't get on. We want and need to get a look at the Likes of Elliot Lee, Josh Cullen, Dan Potts and the two Reeces. Speaking of up and coming talent, on loan Sean Maguire scored for Accrington Stanley today adding to the Irish cheer! 

Next a break and then Leicester away. We have a relatively 'soft' run in but, as we will be facing relegation threatened sides, we might prepare for more dour encounters as our opponents will be desperate for results.

Would you prefer to be in the relegation mix or drifting in mid-table obscurity? Sometimes it's hard to tell!

Finally, congratulations to Ireland on winning back to back Six Nations Championships!

 

Ireland do Hammers fans a big favour ahead of Sunderland clash

You're welcome!

Many Hammer's fans are facing the dilemma of whether to keep a sly eye on the rugby during the match with Sunderland this evening but, after Ireland thumped Scotland by 30 points in Murrayfield, England will need to squash Les Bleus by a margin of at least 26 points if they are to take the Six Nations trophy.

For Ireland, this would be a rare consecutive season's win but unless England can produce something remarkable at Twickenham the title will be going west. As such, Hammers fans can (probably) safely keep their full attentions on the footy!

Meanwhile, the Hammers will want to get back to winning ways against a Sunderland side who are in crisis and start the match on the edge of the relegation zone. The teamsheets have just be released:

West Ham United XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Kouyate, Cresswell, Song, Noble, Nolan (c), Jarvis, Downing, Sakho
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Demel, O'Brien, Poyet, Amalfitano, Nene, Cole

Sunderland XI: Pantilimon, Reveillere, van Aanholt, O'Shea (c), Brown, Larsson, Gomez, Rodwell, Defoe, Wickham, Fletcher
Subs: Jones, Bridcutt, Johnson, Graham, Vergini, Watmore, Mannone

COYI!!!

It's the Wounded versus the Weary as West Ham and Sunderland discover the Harsh Truth about Squad Depth



Each year, the transfer windows provide all sorts of excitement and for clubs with even a modicum of ambition, the inevitable arrival of a handful of potential 'legends'. The top signings prov=oke all sorts of speculation and fantasy, but in reality, these newbies often take time to settle in, especially if they hail from foreign leagues where the pace and physicality is often considerably less than the Premiership. And even as these hopefuls arrive, the more average players get quietly pushed down the squad rankings. The upshot is, that when everyone is fit and available, most sides can put out a first eleven that on its day will have a rattle at beating most of their Premiership competitors.

However, as the season reaches its final third, the clubs with less resources find themselves having to dip deeper and deeper into the squad. As a consequence, the points haul during the run in is often decided more by how good the Matt Jarvis' and Joey O'Brien's perform, rather than whether Alex Song or Diafra Sakho hit top gear. At Christmas, Hammers fans were outraged to learn that despite the Hammers fourth-placed position,both Arsenal and LIverpool were still predicted to finish 15 plus points ahead of them in the final table. But let's face it - as we look to Matt and Joey and the like, they can rely on World Cup stars to come in and do a shift.

And so it is for tommorrow's clash wioth Sunderland - both sides are missing half of their preferred starting XIs. For West Ham, our fate may well be decided by the performances of a makeshift centre back pairing and whether Carlton Cole can produce something up front. Sunderland, meanwhile, will probably be forced to do battle without John O’Shea, Sebastian Larsson and Lee Cattermole, with the under a cloud Adam Johnson possibly thrown into action in a desperate bid to produce something incisive up front.

Next Summer, look out for the movement down the squad as well as the marque signings - these squadfillers are the ones we ultimately rely on to get the results when the chips are really down!

COYI!!!

 

Hammers Prepare for Champions League Showdown with Exhausted Arsenal

Under fire manager at lowly Slumberland FC- Gus Poyet - has slammed the congested Premiership fixture list and spoken out in support of our underpaid and overworked stars who are forced to play a gruelling two games in three days!

Traditional Wear side Crimbo scene

Top experts have revealed that it is not just the impact of having to run around for an hour and a half twice in 72 hours, but also the propensity for cold and muddy conditions poses an unacceptable burden upon the players, with some of the more feisty types having to deal with really hard to shift mud stains on their kits.

Moreover, in contrast to players in the 70s and 80s, today's players have to also manage the cleaning of body armour and gloves- essential elements of today's kit that weren't even invented in the era of Norman Hunter and Tommy Smith!

Top Hammers chillin' ahead of the Arsenal clash

Happily, the current West Ham squad is so strong that crafty Sam Allardyce was able to rest two of his top stars for the Boxing day mudfest versus Chelski, knowing that Diafra Sakho and Alex Song were relishing the opportunity to torment an exhausted and threadbare Arsenal side.

Sam Respects the Point

West Ham have an excellent record against Sunderland over recent years - both home and away, such that we travelled to the Stadium of Light in expectation of at least a point if not snatching all three. As it turned out we came away with a decent point in a game that really could have gone either way. West Ham will undoubtedly feel aggrieved at the Sunderland penalty award, which was soft in the extreme, but in all fairness a sharper strike force would have slotted at least one of the other chances that Sunderland created.

 The Andy Carroll-Diafra Sakho partnership looks impressive and will give opposition sides lots to think about in their pre-match preparations for encounters with the Bubbles boys. the combined physicality and pace will force sides to adopt a cautious stance and already we are seeing this translate into increased ball possession for Sam's lads. Downing was again splendid – it’s easy to underestimate just how fast he is and his ability to bring theball forward quickly on the counterattack is really exciting and inevitably led to much panic and foul play from retreating Sunderland defenders on a number of occasions yesterday. Unusually, we also got to see Stewart’s nastier side as he picked up a booking for a quite ruthless and deliberate swipe tackle!  

 In midfield, Alex Song continues to look majestic with Cheikidh Kouyate adding muscular presence. Even at the best of times Kevin Nolan can look a little pedestrian and yesterday was no exception as the fluidity of our current side contrasts with his more direct style. Nolan will need to start notching goals if he wants to really justify his continued inclusion in the side, especially with Noble returning soon (hopefully!).

At the back, we looked solid with both full backs adding plenty in terms of attacking overlaps. Carl Jenkinson almost opened his Hammers’ goalscoring account in the first half, while Aaron Cresswell  linked in beautifully with Diafra Sakho to create a great chance in the second. Sadly, neither came off but there is no doubt that we are a considerably more potent force at full back than in previous years.

Sam didn’t whinge too much about the penalty in post match interviews, belying the fact that he was mostly satisfied with another point on the road. In terms of Japanese respect rituals, this game warranted a keirei bow.

Next up, its Leicester at the Boleyn. Let’s hope this is the start of a major charge over the Christmas period…