And his finishing, thus far, has been clinical.

Summer signing Sakho has now scored seven goals in nine Premier League games for the Hammers

The Premier League table in 1999 when the Hammers were third with the likes of Joe Cole, and now (below)

Hammers striker Carroll celebrates scoring his first league goal in 878 minutes of football

Stewart Downing (right) is playing some of the best football of his career this season

THE COACHES

Much has been made of Teddy Sheringham’s influence, since he was appointed as a specialist coach to work with the strikers, and it is difficult to argue with the goals. Sahko, Valencia, Carroll, Carlton Cole and Mauro Zarate have all hit the target.

John Hartson on BBC Match of the Day was impressed by the subtleties of Carroll’s movement inthe penalty box. Sheringham’s great asset was the way he read the game. If he can get any of that across to the five strikers, he will improve them.

It was also good to see Carroll sprint to celebrate with the coaching team, and the medics who helped him through the dark days of recovery from injuries. Harmony and togetherness will generate the spirit required to pull teams through when they are not playing so well, or when fortune turns against them.

Sam Allardyce has steered West Ham to third in the Premier League after 15 games

Teddy Sheringham was appointed as a specialist coach to work with the West Ham strikers

This goes for the relationship between Allardyce and the boardroom, too. At the moment, all is calm. The signings have