West Ham United a growing list of admirers after an impressive start to the new season.
West Ham were thrashed 5-0 by reigning champions Manchester City on the opening day.
There was a distinct sense of ‘same old West Ham’ after the predictable result.
But the Hammers have recovered well since.
Pellegrini’s side drew at bogey team Brighton. They then won 3-1 away at Watford before advancing in the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 victory at Newport County.
West Ham on the up
That was followed by the dismantling of Norwich in another 2-0 win which could and should have been by a more handsome scoreline.
West Ham go into the international break seventh in the fledgling league table and will play Oxford later this month for a place in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.
But it is the balance, control and genuine attacking threat which has won Manuel Pellegrini’s side plenty of admirers already.
Dave Kidd, The Sun’s chief sports writer, says West Ham are capable of gatecrashing the top four, read the full story here.
He is not the only one who thinks Pellegrini is building something special.
Lead by new record signing Sebastien Haller West Ham are looking potent with the likes of Manuel Lanzini, Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson supporting him. Backed up by Declan Rice, captain reliable Mark Noble, Issa Diop and goalkeeper Fabianski they look balanced too.
talkSPORT pundit backs Hammers for top six
talkSPORT pundit Darren Gough was complimentary about the Hammers on Thursday evening.
And he believes they are capable of competing for the top six.
“West Ham deserved to be mentioned in that (the shake-up for the top six),” Gough said on talkSPORT Drive.
“West Ham are in the best shape they have been in for a long time. That top four that they’ve got there – and that’s not including Michail Antonio who is injured – they’ve got Anderson, Lanzini, Yarmolenko and Haller. That’s a good four that! That’s a very good four.
“When you consider that and the way Pellegrini has gone about it and the money that’s been invested. Realistically fifth or sixth place is not out of the question for me.
‘They’ve got a chance’
“Top four I think is perhaps too far but (certainly top six). The problem with (David) Gold and (David) Sullivan they kept signing strikers who didn’t score but now (they’ve got Haller).
“You’ve got to say what Pellegrini has done at West Ham the last two years (is impressive). He’s been backed and it’s going well.
“He’s got to do it all season but the way the new striker has started off for confidence is massive for West Ham. They’ve got Mr West Ham in midfield, Noble, give him a penalty all day long.
“Momentum gets you (a long way), if they get on a run they’ve got a chance.”
Let’s hope Gough has called this one right.
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