For the past few weeks I have felt that West Ham needed to do something to address the alarming negativity around the club which has been rife since last season.
It would seem that as we enter October things are finally beginning to look brighter even after a narrow 2-1 defeat away at Manchester United on Saturday.
Many West Ham fans were wondering if all this talk of a new approach to games would actually manifest itself into reality but I believe I have already seen enough to show me that things are changing.
This is not to say I expect immediate success as I appreciate these things do take time, especially given the radical nature of what West Ham are trying to achieve.
Whilst it was disappointing not to have taken at least a point from Old Trafford, there were still many positives to take from the game and for me the fact that the Hammers look like a team who can score and are willing to take the game to opponents is highly satisfying.
I have previously touched on the point that the fuss made by West Ham fans last season has had a major part to play in the way the team and Sam Allardyce has altered the style and I still continue to stick by that. Ultimately I ask, if there had not been such dissension by the supporters would Allardyce have changed anything about the way he set up his team? I seriously doubt it.
Whilst this might come across as a churlish to offer the manager little praise I still retain those memories of how disenchanted I found myself last season and it may take some time yet to be truly convinced that Allardyce is now suddenly this innovative messiah.
Allardyce though, would argue that he now has a better standard of player at the club and has more options to choose from. Whilst it is Enner Valencia who has been given most of the media hype it is another summer signing, Diafra Sahko, who has impressed with his work rate and most importantly, his goals.
Against Manchester United there were two key players missing in Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate. I was pleased that Allardyce decided to turn to Diego Poyet. It was a tough game to make your full Premiership debut in but it was great experience for a player who I believe come the end of this season will have forced his way into the team.
West Ham may have lacked a bit of composure in front of goal to get back into the game in Manchester but the approach play was impressive and I cannot remember the last time I saw a West Ham team go and dominate an entire 45 minutes at Old Trafford. If it wasn’t for a questionable decision from the linesman I would be talking about a deserved point.
Next up for the Hammers is the visit of Queens Park Rangers, who have looked anything but impressive this season. Everyone in the league feels they should be winning their home games and after such a great display against Liverpool it is not unrealistic to think that West Ham should be beating their West London neighbours and keeping the positive vibes around Upton Park.
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