Written by : Nick Gillett @TheGinge10

Apart from a silly error late in stoppage, September would’ve been a brilliant month for us!

Three wins including an historic 8-0 victory in the cup along with a draw & defeat lifted the mood no end. There were some bad parts – the Wolves game was horrible viewing, which was not helped by the lapse in concentration by Carlos Sanchez (who now seems unlikely to take part in anymore of this season’s action!)

However, we’ve swiftly put that opening month to bed, and the win at Everton plus the four points at home against Chelsea & Man Utd have coincided with the reintroduction of Declan Rice alongside Pedro Obiang & Mr West Ham – Mark Noble in the middle of the park. We look a completely different outfit with those three in place. Composed on the ball for a guy who’s age belies him, Rice has proven he is good enough to be a first teamer again.

The move to push forward Noble has also been inspiring as we don’t seem to give those silly fouls just outside our box anymore, and he is orchestrating the attacks like Pirlo did in his Italian team. The ball through to Zaba on Saturday v Man Utd for Anderson’s excellently taken goal and then the assist for Arnie’s match winner are exactly why I’ve always championed Noble to be a starter!

The introduction of Yarmolenko alongside Arnie & Anderson has been well timed, as we look so fluid going forward, and it puts Antonio & Snoddy on the bench – which is what they deserve at best. Yarmo may not be someone who will track back, but give him the ball and he will frighten defences.

The defence for the last three weeks on the trot, marshalled by Fabianski, have stepped up. In the blossoming partnership between “The General” Balbuena and, newly named by Jose Mourinho, “The Monster” Issa Diop, we look like we’ve found an unlikely partnership yet one that has presence, both youth and experience and raw power. I’ve not seen many centre backs dismiss Lukaku the way these two did and it’s still early in their West Ham careers.

We have some tough games this month with Spurs twice (once in the league and once in the cup) sandwiched either side of the Leicester away game so it was disappointing we couldn’t get the three points in our last game before the international break at Brighton. We certainly had the chances again and – especially in the second half – the momentum, too but just couldn’t get the equaliser. Had Balbeuna scored the chance with his head we would’ve gone on to get all three points. It was unlike Arnie to blaze his injury time sitter over the bar – but we move on.

Next game is that lot from North London – so let’s get the atmosphere right and hope we can get back to winning ways!!

Come On You Irons!!