Sam Allardyce was full of praise for his side after a 2-1 win at West Brom on Tuesday night, even joking post match that "we're gonna win the league!"
West Ham now have 24 points, one more point than they had at the same stage in the 1998-99 season. After the first 14 games that season the Hammers had 23 points and went on to finish fifth that year, which is still their best Premier League finish and their second-best placing ever in the top-flight. That team, managed by Harry Redknapp, had Shaka Hislop (Hammer of the Year) in goal, Rio Ferdinand and Neil Ruddock in defence, Frank Lampard and Eyal Berkovic in midfield, Trevor Sinclair on the wing, with Paolo Di Canio and Ian Wright up front. The season also saw the emergence of a highly promising young midfielder, Joe Cole, who played his first eight league games for the club that campaign.
Sam Allardyce is building a team that could potentially turn out to be as good as that one. West Ham have beaten last season's Premier League runners-up Liverpool and reigning champions Manchester City at home this season. "I think it's my second best squad," Allardyce said. “The first one was the last three years at Bolton. That was littered with outstanding world-class talent. Djorkaeff, Hierro, Okocha, Anelka, Campo. And then Gary Speed, Nolan scoring goals all the time as a young lad. That one was probably a little better but this one has the potential. We’ve signed lots of young players with ambition. I think the rest of the players who have accepted these players have got better as well. They have raised their level.”
Winston Reid, James Tomkins, Mark Noble and Stewart Downing have all been in fine form, with Downing flourishing in a new role spearheading a midfield diamond earning him a recent recall to the England squad. This seasons new signings Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho, Cheikhou Kouyate, Aaron Cresswell, and keeper Adrian have all settled in quickly and made vital contributions. The club have also benefitted greatly from the quality and experience in the midfield of loan signings Alex Song and Morgan Amalfitano. The team are scoring goals, playing entertaining football and are winning games.
West Ham face a tough fixture list over the Christmas period when they will play Arsenal and Chelsea in the space of three days, but an opportunity is starting to present itself. Allardyce and West Ham are daring to dream once more.
Source: DSG
