You will forgive me, if I don’t turn cartwheels following our three-one win over Crystal Palace.
There’s an opening line that will, immediately, turn many against me.
Yes, of course, a win is a win and we should be grateful after the few three point hauls we managed to achieve last season. But, I believe, The Capital One Cup defeat to Sheffield Utd, albeit on penalties, might be more indicative of where we are going into September. More than a victory against a rudderless Palace who, now, have delighted all Hammers fans with their appointment of the pantomime villain Neil Warnock.
Let’s face the facts, aside from that unexpected, but most welcome, purple patch in February, we have only won back to back games once in the last 12 months…the epitome of a Jekyll and Hyde team if ever there was one.
What’s happened to fortress Upton Park? There used to be genuine fear and trepidation amongst visiting teams in the not-too-distant past about playing at the Boleyn…but now they accept taking three points away from East London as a matter of routine.
Some will point to the fact that the pitch as not as intimately placed as it once was with the ‘Chicken Run’ being further away from the action, so, consequently, the intimidation factor is not as prevalent as it used to be ..but I put it more down to the style of play we adopt at home.
Instead of setting our stall out for three points – the tactical genius that is Sam Allardyce seems happy for us to escape with a point and there are no genuine signs that that is about to change.
Yes, we heard all the bluster about Teddy Sheringham coming in as an attack minded coach – but that was a move designed, only, to take the heat off Big Sam and try and hoodwink us to thinking that we could look forward to a more expansive style in season 2014/15.
On the evidence of the game against Spurs and the Cup defeat to the Blades, it’s not happening and I don’t expect under this manager it ever will.
The fact that, in the run up to the transfer window closing, all he could talk about was bringing in defenders and was happy with our forward options, filled me with dread and fear that once again we are in for a season of dull, uninspiring football.
Much as I wouldn’t wish harm on anyone, the injury to Kevin Nolan does mean that Allardyce has to be a bit more creative you’d hope. That name isn’t inked in on the team sheet every week so other options have to be explored.
That penalty miss aside, Ennar Valencia has looked a great acquisition, though why he wasn’t introduced when Spurs were reduced to ten men on the opening day, is beyond me. He is one of the players who gives me just the tiniest crumb of comfort about how the next 7 months might pan out – but it is just a morsel.
I have been very vociferous, as have many of you, about the long term strategy at the club and that we are going nowhere fast with the approach of this manager.
His arrogance and disdain for anyone who doesn’t buy into his philosophy on football is both galling and perplexing.
We have the players who can and I’m sure would adapt well to a more expansive and creative system, but you can’t see them being given the chance to show it. That, in turn, must limit who we can attract to the club under the current regime. Whilst Joe Cole didn’t have the most sparkling of seasons last year, I would rather see him wearing the Claret and Blue of West Ham than Aston Villa.
And, if last season is anything to go by, we can’t even hope for a good FA Cup run as our manager seems to view that competition as an inconvenience. In all my many years of supporting the club, which was formed out of watching our 1966 heroes, I have never felt so downbeat about our chances.
I would sincerely love to be proved wrong, but the early indications aren’t good.