Hammers need that touch of magic to match their great expectations

 
Tom Collomosse20 November 2012

Gradual development is the key for any club promoted to the Premier League but so quickly have West Ham adapted on their return to the top division that they suddenly find themselves with a new challenge to overcome.

There are many ways to make sure your team are difficult to beat, and Sam Allardyce is one of the smartest managers in the country at instilling these qualities among a group of players.

Learning how to win games regularly — and well — is a more difficult task altogether.

West Ham have had a fabulous start to the season. Any fans who predicted their team would be sixth after 12 matches might have been accused of foolishness by more cautious supporters. Here’s the catch, though: the longer Allardyce’s team remain in the higher section of the table, the more teams will come to Upton Park seeking simply to resist rather than to attack.

Do West Ham have enough class to prosper when opponents target their strengths and seek to draw their attacking sting? Without the subtlety of Yossi Benayoun or the skilful wing play of Matt Jarvis, Allardyce’s team lacked flair in last night’s draw with Stoke.

Those players will eventually return from hip injuries but it remains to be seen whether they can provide enough inspiration to ensure their team keep pace with those around them.

A glance at the teams close to West Ham — from Everton in fifth to Liverpool in 11th — is enough to remind them of the size of the task.

Many of those sides lack West Ham’s organisation or forceful personality and some of the managers have nothing on Allardyce’s top-flight experience and acumen.

What most of the clubs do possess, however, is a game-breaker, a man who can find the answers when his colleagues cannot or when the team are outwitted by their opponents’ tactics: Marouane Fellaini, Gareth Bale, Santi Cazorla, Dimitar Berbatov, Michu, Luis Suarez. You get the idea.

This is not to criticise West Ham, whose spending potential does not match some of these rivals and whose summer transfer policy is proving fruitful. Allardyce knows, though, that impressive results raise expectations, especially at a club with the Hammers’ history.

On the District Line train back towards central London from Upton Park, some fans were complaining about their team’s failure to take all three points against Stoke, who have not won any of their six away games in the league this season. No matter that West Ham are below Arsenal on goal difference alone and two points ahead of Tottenham.

These fans certainly see the importance of Kevin Nolan, the club’s top scorer with five. Andy Carroll was brought in on loan from Liverpool but does not give the impression he will find the net regularly and is still to get off the mark.

Allardyce understands where the difficulties might lie. “Creating chances is difficult enough, but taking them is the most difficult thing to do in this league,” he said.

“The quality of player and composure needed to score is hugely expensive.

“There was £50million spent by Chelsea on Fernando Torres and then £24m on Robin van Persie, who was in the last year of his contract, by Manchester United, so it shows you how expensive it is to find the man who will put the ball in the net.

“At the moment, Kevin Nolan is the only one doing it on a regular basis for us, and he will be disappointed with the chance he missed against Stoke.

“I can’t be over-critical of the players but we couldn’t quite find the winning touch in front of goal.”

Despite their lack of precision, Allardyce could be forgiven for fancying his side’s chances at Tottenham on Sunday. Spurs struggle at home against sides who adopt West Ham’s uncomplicated tactics, their confidence is fragile and they will have had only two days to recover from Thursday’s Europa League tie at Lazio.

Thereafter, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, West Brom, Everton and Arsenal must be tackled in a five-week period that may reveal much about this West Ham squad.

The challenges they present will be different from those offered by Stoke, who took the lead through Jonathan Walters from a 13th-minute corner routine.

West Ham might have fallen further behind before Joey O’Brien’s first Premier League goal levelled the score shortly after half-time.

West Ham have the spirit, commitment, athleticism and durability required for comfortable survival. Whether they have the magic to aim for higher targets is another matter.

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