The Mirror sports writer says the Hammers deserve far more credit for the astute signings that have put them on course for a top-four finish
The most striking aspect of this season’s changing of the Premier League guard is the unwillingness of so many to accept it.
As a result, the competition this season has been routinely described as “bonkers”, “uncompetitive” and the worst for years.
Actually, the playing field is being levelled by good leadership, complacency in some sections of the established order and intelligent spending.
Which is where West Ham come in.
Should they avoid defeat at Newcastle this weekend Slaven Bilic and his men will break the Hammers’ own record for the longest unbeaten run in the Premier League of nine games.
Their shrewd transfer dealings over the last two years have put them in a strong position to defy their doubters and challenge for the top four. For that they deserve credit, not the claim that the top flight isn’t what it once was.
There can only be one place to start – Dimitri Payet.
Set against the sums being laid out for some players over the last couple of windows, the £10.75m paid for the 28-year-old is a well-documented steal.
His 17 assists for Marseille last season were the best in France and the fourth best in any major European league.
He arrived at Upton Park having created more chances last season than Lionel Messi and Premier League title-winning Eden Hazard.
Monday night at Bournemouth – where he scored one, made another and completely changed the game – was just the latest example of why the money spent on him was a bargain.
Liverpool spent over £60m on Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino yet neither has been able to have anything like the impact on the Reds that Payet has had on West Ham.
Pedro was involved in a tug-of-war between Manchester United and Chelsea, eventually ending up in SW3.
At £21m, he cost the Blues nearly double the amount paid for Payet but, again, has been unable to have anything like the Frenchman’s influence on his team.
Jonjo Shelvey cost Newcastle £12m from Swansea but has done little in the last two years to justify that outlay and shows little sign of that changing.
The exorbitant sum represents his age (23), his passport and the fact that he has played for England. Swansea will be delighted to have raked in so much for a player that has done so little.
Memphis Depay, the title-winning top-scorer in Holland last season, possibly deserves sympathy after having the misfortune to quit attack-minded PSV for defensively-minded Louis van Gaal at United.
Again, however, West Ham have had far more return for their investment in Payet than United have had in their previously-flying Dutchman.
In fact, the Hammers clearly knew what they were doing when they allowed Ghana forward Andre Ayew to join Swansea on a free transfer and a huge deal.
With the Welsh club now steeling themselves for a fight against relegation, Ayew is already casting admiring glances at clubs higher up in the league.
West Ham, however, are now dreaming of a tilt at the top four – with some justification.
It isn’t all down to Payet. Angelo Ogbonna has added steel to the defence following his summer move from Champions League finalists Juventus.
In their last seven Premier League games West Ham have conceded just three goals. At left-back Aaron Cresswell, admired by both Manchester clubs along with Chelsea, cost £3.75m from Ipswich 18 months ago.
Last summer Spurs tried to sign midfielder Cheikou Kouyate, bought for £7m from Anderlecht and now worth upwards of £15m.
While Crystal Palace were paying £9m for striker Connor Wickham, West Ham were preparing to go into another season with £3.5m Diafra Sakho leading the line.
The Senegal striker had scored 12 goals in 26 appearances over the previous campaign, including seven in as many games before a back injury struck. This season, despite his fitness issues, he has still managed five in 14 appearances.
Overall, West Ham have coped with injury far better because of their work last summer to replace the departing deadwood with players capable of holding their own in the Premier League.
It is the reason why the club bristle at suggestions that they were ungrateful in allowing Sam Allardyce to leave when his contract expired last summer.
Yes, he led them to promotion and kept them in the top flight.
The club, however, stood by injury-prone Andy Carroll – rejecting the likes of Wilfried Bony, who was £8m at the time – at Allardyce’s behest.
Big Sam was only able to keep his job for the final year of his contract after the Hammers, disappointed at the standard of their signings, took a more hands-on approach to transfers.
Co-chairman David Sullivan has worked in conjunction with head of recruitment Tony Henry and agents such as Mark McKay – whose company Excelfoot specialises in deals involving French players – to launch an overhaul.
The result is a stronger squad which is far less reliant on one player than it has been in previous seasons.
They have won at Arsenal, City and Liverpool this season. They have also beaten Chelsea and drawn at United.
In total West Ham have been defeated just four times in the league, the same number as Arsenal and fewer than both Manchester clubs. In fact, only Spurs and Leicester have lost on even fewer occasions.
The Irons are seven points off the lead and, with their consistency, have proven that they are not likely to fall away as they have done in previous seasons any time soon.
Sure, Slaven Bilic has done a fine job steering the ship with a cool head in the setbacks that have hit the club at crucial points. But he has had quality to work with because of the efforts behind the scenes.
It means that the club can afford to dream big.
With Chelsea floundering and United treading water, this is their chance to start life at the Olympic Stadium next season with Champions League football.
They intend to take it.
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