Let's give Sam Allardyce real credit for West Ham's performances

Perhaps I've missed it, or been looking in the wrong places, but I'm yet to see a Sam Allardyce get the credit he deserves for West Ham's promising start to the season, upon their Premier League return.

Sixth place may not be something the squad can maintain, but a top half finish now has to be considered achievable, which would be a tremendous achievement for the newly promoted side.

Allardyce is a manager too often derided in the past; he went from being a contender for the England job to take over from Sven, to managing in the Championship, after successive sackings at Newcastle and Blackburn.

Both clubs were relegated after dismissing him. Would they have been had they kept him? We doubt it. In fact getting rid of Allardyce was the single worst decision the Venky's made at Rovers.

Newcastle may be back on their feet now, but the Hammers had a satisfactory victory over them at the weekend, to show they are too pushing in the same direction.

I've got to hold my hands up at this point and say I worried for Allardyce this season.

He never completely won over the West Ham support in the Championship, throwing away an automatic promotion spot which at one stage seemed guaranteed, having to negotiate the tricky playoffs.

He had a poor home record, which if it carried onto this season would have been a real worry - And then there were the whole 'style of football' issues too.

If West Ham had got off to a bad start this year, the pressure would have been on, but he has really turned last season's form book on it's head.

The Hammers have lost just one of their six home games, winning more in front of their own fans than both Tottenham and Arsenal.

The most impressive thing is that many of West Ham's attackers have barely found their feet. Andy Carroll is yet to score for the club, while last season's hero Ricardo Vaz Te has scored just the once.

New signing Modibo Maiga also has just one to his name, while Carlton Cole is yet to net.

Instead of looking at it from a concerning point of view, Hammers fans should feel positive that their strikers are due some luck in front of goal, and when it happens, they will only be a stronger side.

Kevin Nolan has gained the plaudits for his match-winning performances, but the partnership of Diame and Noble have been just as important, while the defence has impressed everybody.

Jaaskelainen in for Green has been a certain upgrade, further proof than Allardyce knows what he's doing. Even if the stadium issue remains in limbo and uncertainty, the future looks bright for West Ham.

We wonder what the Venky's might make of Allardyce's success...

image: © Ben Sutherland