Recorder Group Hammers correspondent Dave Evans looks at the start of the season and a successful transfer window
The Recorder Group's West Ham United correspondent Dave Evans reflects on the Hammers' start to the season and looks at a successful transfer window...
In some ways the start of the season has been very West Ham, but then winning at Anfield is not very West Ham as we all know.
That has to be one of the highlights for me, covering West Ham. It wasn't just a smash and grab raid, but a superb performance. They outplayed Liverpool and could have scored more.
They couldn't have complained had it been five. Liverpool barely had a chance and that's not like West Ham games that I have seen there over the years.
At home it has been a very different story so far, which is a bit of a surprise because in recent times West Ham have been fairly good at home, especially at the start of a season.
It's a bit of a puzzler. It seems that maybe the way Slaven has set up the team has been great for away games, but if you set up the same way at home it hasn't quite worked because teams sit back on you.
Perhaps he has to change things and perhaps these new signings will help do that.
It certainly is strength in depth now, but also what West Ham have now is something a bit different. Apart from Matt Jarvis they didn't really have a winger. Now they've got two wingers and there's a lot of pace in that team.
I think that's going to help. He might have to play a slightly different formation to play these wingers, but it gives him different options and if Andy Carroll is coming back soon you're going to need wingers.
I'm hopeful for the season ahead, especially with the people he has added to the squad. If there are injuries there are players to cover now.
I'm hoping for a little bit better than mid-table, although mid-table would be fine this season because the most important thing is to stay in the Premier League.
I'm thinking eighth, ninth, seventh. Who knows? But I think that would be a good first season with the squad that he's got.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United
In some ways the start of the season has been very West Ham, but then winning at Anfield is not very West Ham as we all know.
That has to be one of the highlights for me, covering West Ham. It wasn't just a smash and grab raid, but a superb performance. They outplayed Liverpool and could have scored more.
They couldn't have complained had it been five. Liverpool barely had a chance and that's not like West Ham games that I have seen there over the years.
At home it has been a very different story so far, which is a bit of a surprise because in recent times West Ham have been fairly good at home, especially at the start of a season.
It's a bit of a puzzler. It seems that maybe the way Slaven has set up the team has been great for away games, but if you set up the same way at home it hasn't quite worked because teams sit back on you.
Perhaps he has to change things and perhaps these new signings will help do that.
It certainly is strength in depth now, but also what West Ham have now is something a bit different. Apart from Matt Jarvis they didn't really have a winger. Now they've got two wingers and there's a lot of pace in that team.
I think that's going to help. He might have to play a slightly different formation to play these wingers, but it gives him different options and if Andy Carroll is coming back soon you're going to need wingers.
I'm hopeful for the season ahead, especially with the people he has added to the squad. If there are injuries there are players to cover now.
I'm hoping for a little bit better than mid-table, although mid-table would be fine this season because the most important thing is to stay in the Premier League.
I'm thinking eighth, ninth, seventh. Who knows? But I think that would be a good first season with the squad that he's got.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United