It seems an age ago that the club signed Argentine striker Mauro Zarate.
The 27-year-old was the first player to be brought in back in May after details emerged of the board’s increased insistence on seeing more attacking football from West Ham.
Having finished last season as top-scorer in Argentina, with 20 goals in 35 matches in all competitions, hopes we high of Zarate becoming the consistent poacher the team has missed for almost a decade now.
It was therefore a surprising to some that Sam Allardyce was considering playing him in a creative role behind the strikers.
Speaking after Zarate’s goal against Wellington Phoenix during pre-season, the manager said: “I thought he played some lovely touches around the final third, and is certainly a player that we haven’t had at the club.
“We wanted Joe Cole to be that sort of player for us but it didn’t quite work last season for Joe.”
Many felt it was a shame the ‘second coming’ never really worked out for Cole, and it was sad to see him quietly walk away from the club at the end of his contract.
But he was always very much considered a midfielder who could chip in with goals, not an out-and-out striker.
The concern was Zarate would be restricted to the wings or play too far away from the six-yard box to have any real impact.
Those concerns were eased against Crystal Palace at the weekend, though thanks to a fine volley and overall dynamic display.
Playing in a role vacated by the often more static Kevin Nolan, Zarate drove forward with purpose and skill, and showed signs he can be the one to provide the impetus that has been so lacking through the middle in recent seasons.
He appears to have a genuine striker’s instinct, and hopefully he can provide the firepower in the attacking third to propel the team up the league.
