Official Programme columnist Ken Dyer is a lifelong West Ham United supporter who covered the Hammers’ fortunes over land and sea for the London Evening Standard for over three decades...
Look around you if you come to Saturday's Premier League fixture with Manchester City.
Notice anything different as you walk around London Stadium’s concourse, or linger for a drink or something to eat before taking your seat for the match?
I have certainly seen a change in some of my West Ham mates, a certain spring in the step, a feeling of optimism.
It began in early summer, after that momentous night in Prague. It took days – weeks – before the contented look on thousands of faces began to fade, perhaps with the realisation that another Premier League season was rapidly approaching.
A look at the first bunch of fixtures hardly helped and there was some understandable trepidation as the season began with a trip to Bournemouth.
Most of us could still remember the previous season, when the team started slowly – very slowly – and from then on was playing catch-up.
A late equaliser from Bournemouth in this season’s opening fixture meant it was just a point instead of three, but at least David Moyes’ boys were on the board.
Next came the first of only two home games in the first six – I’m still not sure how that can happen – against a Chelsea side with a new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, and lots of new players including Moisés Caicedo, who cost a British transfer record fee of £115million when he signed from Brighton.
West Ham, though, showing lashings of resolve and resilience, scored three against their West London rivals to take the points.
It was then I did something which was against my principles – I took a peep at the Premier League table.
I had always argued vehemently that the table means next to nothing until at least the end of September but here I was, quietly loving the sight of the Hammers right up there amongst the elite.
I looked at the table again a week later when, after beating Brighton 3-1, West Ham were top, at least until Saturday’s opponents Manchester City played the following day.
That victory down on the south coast will take some beating. It was a technical, counter-attacking master class and Jarrod Bowen’s two touches, first to kill the ball and then caress it into the far corner for West Ham’s second goal, were simply sublime.
Next came Premier League newcomers Luton Town in their first home game of the season. Cue memories of the previous season and a similar situation with Nottingham Forest.
This West Ham team, though, seems to have found an extra, indefinable quality which has been honed in successive seasons in European competition and finally polished in Prague.
It’s neither arrogance nor pomposity but rather a quiet self confidence that these players can now really compete with the best.
Last season, it took West Ham nine games to reach ten Premier League points but they’ve done it in four.
The trick now is to maintain that upward trend and that is far from straightforward, particularly with this afternoon’s game against treble winners Manchester City followed by an away trip to Liverpool.
There is, however, a certain satisfying symmetry about Saturday's game since we are able to watch two of the three European club champions in action.
Those of us fortunate enough to have been on Prague in June will never forget that night and I know friends of mine who, periodically, feel a pressing need to watch the highlights reel again – climaxing with the drama of Jarrod’s winning goal.
The players – and the fans if they are honest – know just how big the challenge is this afternoon, against arguably the best club side in the world.
We have seen enough in the first four games though, to look forward to the contest with anticipation, rather than outright anxiety.
