Allardyce hails Hammers new boys

06 October 2014 01:46

Sam Allardyce has hailed the impact of West Ham's summer signings and admits he is shocked at how fast his new recruits have taken to life in the Barclays Premier League.

The Hammers rose to seventh in the table, level on points with Arsenal and Liverpool, after a 2-0 victory over struggling QPR on Sunday.

West Ham's starting line-up featured six players brought in over the summer and a convincing performance was rounded off when Diafra Sakho sealed the win with his fifth goal in as many games.

Sakho has been the most eye-catching of the Hammers' new arrivals but Enner Valencia, Alex Song, Morgan Amalfitano and Aaron Cresswell have all impressed in the early part of the season.

"I have to say they have surprised me," Allardyce said.

"If you have one or two doing it from the start, particularly from abroad, then you are satisfied - but all of them have had an impact.

"Valencia and especially Sakho with the goals, Mauro Zarate has done well, and Aaron Cresswell looks as though he belongs in the Premier League.

"We all know about Songy and he is not even fit now - when he gets fit we will see even more from him."

Allardyce continued: "We have a very welcoming dressing room for new players here. (Captain) Kevin Nolan builds a strong bond between the players and because of that togetherness and because we try to do as much as we can for the players, they grow willing."

The Hammers struggled for goals last season, particularly while club-record signing Andy Carroll was out injured.

The powerful England forward is back on the sidelines again but Allardyce believes his side now have the cutting edge to cope.

"The thing is how much of a goal-threat do you have and what can you do to build a goal-threat?" Allardyce said.

"If you struggle in that regard then the rest of the team comes under that extra pressure and eventually cracks.

"I think QPR had one good attempt from Charlie Austin but when you haven't got a real goalscorer in your team it makes so much of a difference.

"In Sakho and Valencia we might have two, hopefully and that's without Andy Carroll back as well."

Source: PA