Was interviewed outside the London Stadium for Premier League Today on Monday — the TV show goes out across the world to non-UK rights holders. The discussion with Lynsey Hooper centred on West Ham's first seven games, which were meant to see WHU with no points according to lots of pundits. It was difficult to cite any particular player as standing out, which made me realise what a team effort it's been.
Antonio has been important because of his goals and hold-up play, essentially being two forwards in one. But it's not just Michail, Aaron Cresswell has looked reborn as a third centre back, making goals and firing in shots and had Jermain Jenas advocating an England recall for him on MOTD; Pablo Fornals has started to score goals and is also making them; Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen have both played with workaholic intensity; Arthur Masuaku has come in at wing-back and fired in a series of dangerous crosses; Ogbonna has been solid; Coufal has adapted well; and Declan Rice has responded well to being made captain at such a young age. Even the fringe players who have come in such as Balbuena have done a job for the team and Fabian started our revival at Tottenham. While among the subs Manuel Lanzini has contributed the best goal of his career against Mourinho's men.
It's a less flaky side where players perform consistently each week. Moyes has also made it difficult to get into the team. If you're a £45 million striker like Haller you have to wait for your chance. It's early days after just eight games, but there's a definite sense of the squad working together, as exemplified by that team celebration after Lanzini's equaliser at Spurs.
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