Michail Antonio's goalscoring, Dimitri Payet's return and Simone Zaza's debut are among today's topics for discussion...
Dimi’s back!
While he ended up on the losing side, there is no doubt that Dimitri Payet’s return made West Ham United into a far more potent attacking force.
The France international set up both of Michail Antonio’s first-half goals – the second with an outrageous Rabona – and made six key passes overall.
Payet also touched the ball 91 times – 19 more than any other player on the pitch – put in a team-high eight crosses and unleashed five shots on the Watford goal.
If that type of output continues, the No27 will undoubtedly keep creating and start scoring goals going forward.
Michail’s using his head (again)
Michail Antonio is by no means a giant of a man, but his goalscoring record since his arrival at West Ham United suggests he is the best header of the ball in the Premier League.
The No30 has nodded in ten goals since the start of the 2015/16 season, three ahead of Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud and five more than teammate Andy Carroll.
Antonio’s athleticism and spring give him an advantage over many defenders, but it is his anticipation, movement and willingness to come off his wing to get inside the far post to attack crosses that set him apart from his fellow Premier League widemen.
The Londoner’s start to the season suggest his scoring ratio from last season is sustainable, so long as he keeps using his head!
A promising debut
He might not have scored, and picked up a unique booking for slapping the ball into the face of his marker, but Simone Zaza’s debut was still a promising one.
The Italy striker had one shot, made three key passes and touched the ball 34 times, while his willingness to run the channels, link up play with his pack to goal and work hard to regain possession were appreciated by the Claret and Blue Army.
Zaza’s chemistry with the creative forces behind him will only improve with game-time, too.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes?
Whenever your team loses a football match, supporters demand an inquest into what went wrong and, more often than not, changes to the team.
With players returning from injury and full internationals manning the substitutes’ bench during the 4-2 Premier League defeat by Watford, Slaven Bilic certainly has the option of shaking up his starting XI for Saturday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion.
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph, Italy centre-half Angelo Ogbonna and Norway defensive midfielder Havard Nordtveit went unused against the Hornets as Bilic sent on attacking replacements as West Ham chased the game.
All three could be called upon at The Hawthorns, where Bilic could be tempted to play a less attack-minded team from the start.
Alternatively, the manager insisted his team have not lost the ability and confidence they showed last season, and he may therefore choose to keep faith with those who started the game so well on Saturday.
Don’t panic!
Last season, West Ham United lost two of their opening three Premier League matches, but bounced back to spend virtually the whole season in the top half of the table.
The Hammers were beaten on home turf by Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth, but did not panic and bounced back to win five and draw two of their next seven league matches.
That run started with a 3-0 win at Liverpool so why, with a stronger squad on paper than a year ago, can’t West Ham pull off a similarly impressive result at West Bromwich Albion this weekend and start another unbeaten run?
Having won 3-0 at The Hawthorns as recently as 30 April, too, the Hammers will have fond memories of their last trip to face the Baggies.
The underlying message is – don’t panic!